5 preseason stats that (sorta) matter for the Indiana Pacers
By Ben Gibson
The Pacers played faster in the preseason
Are we finally getting those long-awaited Pace-and-Space Pacers? In the preseason Indiana kicked it up to 103 possessions per a game, well ahead of their 96 from the last regular season.
The Pacers played faster, but so did everyone else in the NBA.
It’s partially the lax defense, partially guys being amped up to be back on the court, but no matter the reason, preseason basketball is faster paced.
In the regular season last year, only 5 teams played more than 100 possessions a game on average. In this preseason, only 2 teams player slower than that.
Much like the mid-range/points in the paint numbers, it’s hard to look at this and think anything has changed for Indiana.
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And maybe that’s why we shouldn’t over think any of this. Yes, there are subtle things from the preseason that might matter. But exhibition games are just that. They aren’t natural basketball by any means.
The Pacers didn’t drastically change their team this offseason. They fortified their positions. The bench felt like Domantas Sabonis, Cory Joseph, and Lance Stephenson were the only ones that deserved time on the court last season. Indiana said bye to Lance but added Tyreke Evans, Doug McDermott, and Kyle O’Quinn, all of which deserve minutes.
The veterans on the bench make Indiana a deeper squad, but the performances of young players like T.J. Leaf, Aaron Holiday, and Edmond Sumner add to that. Even if they made a trade and sacrificed some depth, the Pacers would likely get contributions from its youngest members.
They didn’t overhaul the team. As far as style, Indiana is going to look a lot like they did last season unless someone breaks out. And there’s nothing wrong with that as Indiana exceeded expectations and nearly grabbed the No. 4 spot in the conference.
Next. Edmond Sumner's stock on the rise. dark
But if you’re looking at pace or shooting distribution and hoping for evolution, preseason numbers aren’t the place to look. They aren’t worthless, but they aren’t a crystal ball, either.