How the Indiana Pacers can ‘win’ the upcoming road trip

Despite enduring a brutal stretch, the Indiana Pacers have a good opportunity to turn things around with their upcoming road trip. After dropping three straight and four of their last 12, Indiana has to get back on track before it’s too late.

Injuries were the staple of the Pacers’ season from the outset but the guys who are healthy have not done a great job of shouldering the load lately. With no timetable for T.J. Warren and Caris LeVert to return, the guys who are available cannot sit back and let the record slip even lower.

The Indiana Pacers can take advantage during this road trip

With games against the Nets, Pistons, and Hawks, Indiana can knock off some Eastern Conference competitors. The Nets will be without superstar Kevin Durant due to safety protocols but they still have the phenomenal duo of James Harden and Kyrie Irving. While it will be no easy task, Indiana can make a statement with a big-time win in Brooklyn.

Obviously, Brooklyn is everything Indiana struggles with. They have two guards who can score from all over the floor, especially on the perimeter. If Myles Turner makes life difficult near the basket, Brooklyn will have no problem staying outside and scoring from there.

Detroit, the second game of the three, is an opportunity for the Pacers to post a dominant win that they have been searching for. The Pistons are currently dead last in the NBA with a record of 5-18. Indiana can’t take anyone lightly but this is a great chance to dominate for 48 minutes and get their guys back on track.

Finally, the road trip wraps up with the Hawks, currently just one win behind the Pacers at 11-12. The Hawks have their own star in Trae Young who is not shy when it comes to scoring. His offensive prowess has helped Atlanta score 112.6 points per game this season, good for middle of the pack in the league.

Young is averaging 26.7 points and 9.2 assists per game but is also prone to turning the ball over. His 4.3 giveaways per game are the most in the league which is good news for the Indiana defense. The Pacers thrive off of turnovers and will take defensive stops whenever they can get them.

This is not going to be an easy road trip for the Pacers but that’s exactly what they need. If they want to prove that they belong in the conversation with Eastern Conference competitors, they must first beat the teams that are surrounding them in the standings. Falling below .500 on this trip will be another sign of disappointing things to come.