3 playoff teams the Indiana Pacers could emulate next season
By Luke Parrish
The Indiana Pacers could try to copy the Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is arguably the best big man in the NBA with a wide array of skills on the offensive end of the floor. His ability to knock down shots from anywhere on the floor and make mind-blowing passes in transition will always be his calling card. Indiana has a player with a similar skill set in Domantas Sabonis, though he still has a ways to go before he reaches the level of Jokic.
Sabonis shined once again for Indiana last season and is the clear leader to be the team’s building block moving forward. While he does have his problems defensively, Sabonis is an excellent rebounder and signal-caller on offense.
Domas runs the offense more often than not when he is on the floor and his presence at the top of the key is enough to keep defenses honest. He led the team in rebounds and assists last season while also being third on the team with 20.3 points per game.
Denver runs through Jokic, enough so that he should take home the MVP Award this season. They also have done a great job of hitting on other draft picks despite not picking in the top five. They landed Michael Porter with the 14th overall pick in 2018 and Jamal Murray with the seventh pick in 2016. Murray was a bit higher of a pick but his impact has been massive.
If Indiana can land a scoring machine and a wing with as much upside as Porter with a late lottery pick, they could be in serious business. Obviously, that is a tough task for a team with a poor draft history.
Denver has become one of the steadiest teams in the NBA thanks to hitting on draft picks and building around a versatile big man that changes the game. Can the Pacers do that with Sabonis?