The Indiana Pacers hosted the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. In a game without T.J. Warren and Luka Dončić, the Mavericks gave the Pacers their second consecutive loss at home.
The Indiana Pacers suffered its second consecutive loss in Bankers Life Fieldhouse against Kristaps Porziņģis and the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
The Pacers were looking to bounce back after an uncharacteristic loss to the New York Knicks on Saturday but unfortunately, Dallas had other plans.
The contest would present a wonderful opportunity for the Pacers.
Even though the Pacers would be without small forward T.J. Warren due to a concussion, Dallas would be missing their star player Luka Dončić due to an ankle sprain.
But Dallas had other pieces step up.
In a game where Porziņģis would have 38 points, the Pacers ultimately had no answer for the Mavericks for all four quarters.
Tim Hardaway Jr. would also have a great performance as he finished with 25 points and five assists.
However, with Victor Oladipo added back to the mix, the Pacers are in a stage where they are reconfiguring the rotation and the role of players within it.
That was evident in this bout versus the Mavericks.
Despite a solid performance by Myles Turner on both sides of the floor and another double-double for Domantas Sabonis, the Pacers’ frontcourt was unable to bring the Pacers within reach.
Here are three takeaways from the Pacers’ 112-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Bankers:
Inability to defend the perimeter
This is nothing new for the Pacers this season but Monday’s game against Dallas was a clear indicator that the team has some work to do in defending the perimeter.
Dallas came to Indiana as the second most frequent three-point shooting team in the league and the Mavericks held up to that standard.
According to TeamRankings.com, the Mavericks average 41.1 three-point attempts per game. Against the Pacers, Dallas had 45 attempts and connected on 18.
A clear indication that this team is continuing to struggle to defend the perimeter.
Porziņģis was a matchup nightmare against the Pacers due to his ability to stretch the floor. The Pacers failed to disrupt the 7’3 shooter early which allowed him to find a rhythm.
Despite Turner using his best effort to thwart his success, Porziņģis would finish with six 3-pointers and exposed the Pacers as a team opponents can have success when shooting from beyond the arc.
When it comes to defending the perimeter, communication is paramount. With the new rotations being implemented by Coach Nate McMillan, the ability to talk through matchups and screens has been poor which has lead to open opportunities for shooters.
As the team continues to mesh and find its new identity, Pacers fans hope that this problem will eventually alleviate itself.
The schedule only gets tougher and it is imperative for the team to find a quick fix.
Myles Turner is also an anchor for the Pacers
Rightfully so, Sabonis has been the foundation for the Pacers this season but Turner shined against the Mavericks on Monday.
Despite having the responsibility of defending Porziņģis and other bigs for Dallas, the center showed his ability to impact the game on both sides of the floor.
Turner would only finish with 11 points, five rebounds, and three blocks but his impact on the game was more than what the stat sheet indicated.
The center exerted full effort against Dallas and showcased his athleticism and willingness to put the ball on the floor.
Early in the contest Turner also had success on the block. Using a bevy of post moves, Turner used his size to gain separation.
It has been an interesting season so far for Turner but with the influx of changes, the Pacers have endured it can be expected for a rhythm to come gradually.
Hopefully, in this second half of the season, Turner will be able to build on his confidence and allow the Pacers to flourish in the Eastern Conference.
Rebounding is an issue
The Pacers have one of the best rebounders in Sabonis, but the big man can’t do it all.
As of late, the team has struggled to rebound at a consistent rate. That has allowed opponents to have a slew of second-chance opportunities.
Last night, the Mavericks took full advantage.
Dallas would outrebound the Pacers handily. The Mavericks would have 51 total rebounds compared to the Pacers’ 40.
Of those 51 team rebounds by the Mavericks, 12 of those were offensive boards. The Pacers would finish with 8 offensive rebounds.
It may not seem like much but those extra possessions were the difference in the Pacers potentially escaping with a win.
The Pacers have the size to compete on the glass which is a frustrating aspect of the issue. Many believe that rebounding boils down to effort.
If that is the case, the Pacers desperately need to pick up the pace to sustain or improve their status within the conference.
As the team heads to Toronto to take on the Raptors on Wednesday night a sense of urgency should surround the Pacers in regard to rebounding the basketball.
The Pacers are too talented to have issues like rebounding hold them back from their full potential.
Pacers fans must continue to have faith in the coaching staff and the players. Things have drastically changed throughout the season and the team is still adjusting to it. Hopefully, after two consecutive losses, the Pacers can right the ship against the Raptors.