With a pause in the action, let’s pick one thing about each Indiana Pacers player that we really like.
The Indiana Pacers are, truthfully, a really lovable group. None of these players outside of Victor Oladipo get much national respect, but it’s made up for with the endearment the local fanbase gives to each and every player on the team.
We could list multiple reasons to love every single player, but what if we solely consider the very best thing?
Let’s look at the best thing about every player on the roster.
Goga Bitadze
The best thing about Goga Bitadze has to be his blocking and defensive upside. In just 8.4 minutes per game this season, Bitadze was second on the team in blocks per game with 0.7. Per 36 minutes he leads the team with 2.8 blocks.
Aaron Holiday
Aaron Holiday’s all-around offensive game, especially in just his sophomore season, is extremely encouraging.
He can shoot the ball from beyond the arc, scoring at a decent clip, and most impressively defer to his teammates facilitating the ball while keeping it safe.
T.J. Leaf
Pretty cool name.
Edmond Sumner
There’s not much to pull from here given that Sumner has played less than 400 minutes this season, but his readiness when his name is called is a respectable trait.
Malcolm Brogdon
This might sound like an insult, but I mean it in the most genuine way, Brogdon’s professionalism is his best trait.
He’s struggled from the floor this year and I genuinely think he’ll have a bit of a bounceback year next season, but respectable, likable guys like Brogdon that will always show up and put the work in to the best of their abilities do not come around in droves.
Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis‘s willingness to use his frame to facilitate this season through dribble hand-offs has been his very best trait. His 5.0 assists per game is second on the Pacers.
JaKarr Sampson
JaKarr Sampson’s defense is extremely effective in bursts, something that allows the Pacers to roll him out in specific lineups and situations in the hopes of shutting down an oppositional player.
Myles Turner
Myles Turner’s defensive anchoring is key. His ability to be the failsafe at the rim is like no other player in the league, and he forces opponents to shoot over 11 percent worse within 6 feet of the rim than they do normally.
T.J. McConnell
T.J. McConnell’s tenacity is arguably the main reason he’s stuck around in the league for so long.
It shows in his game, but most of all it calls his teammates to be better, too. If McConnell is on the floor, you know you’re probably going to get an earful during a break in the action about how the unit can best attack the opposing team.
T.J. Warren
T.J. Warren’s best trait is by far his shooting. It’s hard to nail down one specific shot with Warren and say that’s his shot, because he’s an all-around, three-level shooter that has improved each season of his career.
If you need a bucket in a punch, Warren is not a bad option.
Doug McDermott
Doug McDermott’s 3-point shooting and the spacing it provides are key. McDermott averages 44.5 percent shooting beyond the arc and takes 54 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.
Victor Oladipo
There’s much to be said about Victor Oladipo as a player and the skill set he brings to the floor. At his best, Oladipo is a dominant scorer and a lethal finisher. The very best thing he brings to the Pacers, though, is his leadership and steady mindset.
Mentally and in his daily cadence, he’s exactly what you want from your star player.
Justin Holiday
Justin Holiday’s defensive awareness has been a major asset for the Pacers this year. First on the team in defensive box plus/minus of players with substantial minutes played (greater than 500), Holiday has shown a keen foresight for what the opposition will do and uses that to put himself in the right place at the right time.
Jeremy Lamb
Jeremy Lamb’s pickpocketing skills are key. He leads the team in steals per game.