8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

7 stats from the Indiana Pacers’ 7-game win streak

By Ben Gibson

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates with Domantas Sabonis #11 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 3, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates with Domantas Sabonis #11 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 3, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 2
Next
Bojan Bogdanovic of the Indiana Pacer
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 10: Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers looks on in the fourth period of the game against the Washington Wizards at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 10, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

Bojan Bogdanovic led the team in scoring with 18 points a game

This Bojan Bogdanovic isn’t streaky. This Bojan is a legitimate scoring threat.

A more aggressive Bojan existed all season, but he stepped up his game during the streak, and really, before that when Oladipo went down.

His 18 points a game came on 48.4 percent shooting from the field and 41.2 percent from deep. Those long-range efforts are impressive, but one reason Bojan’s more effective as a scorer this season is his scoring inside the arc. He is driving to the basket as often as a season ago, but now he isn’t afraid to finish the play himself.

When Oladipo was down this was more pronounced, but even in his return during the streak, the more aggressive Bogdanovic remained.

As big as Turner’s additional rebounds are Indiana’s need for non-Oladipo scoring options might be the more important development from the streak, and this season.

Domantas Sabonis shot 54.4 percent from the floor

The points off his 54.4 percent shooting were 12.2 a game, but the efficiency of Domantas Sabonis is what makes him so special. He only needs 24 minutes to nearly average a double-double during the streak with 9.3 rebounds a game.

Domantas is the constant force coming off the bench for Indiana. Good nights from Tyreke Evans or Doug McDermott may come and go, but it always seems like Sabonis is in the hunt for a double-double.

With his food poisoning episode interrupting the streak, it’s not hard to see how he could have done even more if 100 percent throughout.

The Indiana Pacers had an 11.3 net rating

It’s easier to keep up a win streak when you are outscoring opponents by double-digits.

More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds

The Pacers actually averaged a 12.1 +/- during the streak, but looking at their 11.3 net rating from that time tells us more. If the Pacers played that well all season, their net rating would be 3 points higher than the regular-season leading Bucks.

Indiana’s 108.7 offensive rating during that span his a point better than their season-long average, but their 97.4 defensive rating was nearly 5 whole points better than their season average.

The Pacers defense is stupidly good this season, but during the streak, it improved to impenetrable wall status.

Myles Turner’s block parties and improved defense pushed the Pacers beyond their normal expectations. With him patrolling the paint, Thaddeus Young locking down other big men, and Corey Joseph’s constant effort in the backcourt, it was hard for Indiana’s opponents to get into any sort of rhythm.

Next. New Year's resolutions for the Indiana Pacers. dark

Will this end up being the best win streak of the Indiana Pacers season? Only time will tell.

Home/Pacers News