Indiana Pacers: Why Domantas Sabonis will dictate how far the team can go

For the Indiana Pacers to succeed, Sabonis has to get better defensively

The biggest knack on Domantas Sabonis’ game is his below-average defensive prowess. Last season, among all players who played more than half of the total number of games, the Lithuanian ranked 347th on defensive rating, tallying a paltry 111.5 mark on that department. This was powered by his poor defense from six feet and in, allowing opponents to shoot a staggering 62 percent from that area.

Mind you, Domas isn’t particularly immobile. In fact, he ranked fourth in total distance covered last season, a mind-boggling stat that fortifies how Bjorkgren’s schemes were more acceptable in theory than in practice.

That being said, as a key piece in a dangling frontcourt combination with Myles Turner as the defensive anchor, Sabonis has to be at least passable on team defense, which he hasn’t been in recent years. As he needs to defend the perimeter to give the former a lot of leeway to defend the rim, his awareness has to improve, especially as a help defender. Corralling the boards simply won’t be enough.

His physical tools like his unimpressive wingspan probably won’t help him protect the paint better, but much of that can be averted by honing instincts and becoming a smarter defender. Ultimately, if Sabonis improves his defense, the Pacers could return to being one of the league’s better defensive clubs.