Indiana Pacers: Isaiah Jackson shows promise in extended playing time

Indiana Pacers’ rookie Isaiah Jackson has seen more minutes due to ongoing injury issues with  Pacers’ big men Myles Turner, Goga Bitadze, and previously Domantas Sabonis.

Isaiah Jackson’s athletic abilities bring an interesting dynamic to the Indiana Pacers roster that they have not seen in seasons past.

Jackson was drafted as a 19-year-old from the University of Kentucky with the 23rd pick in the 2021 NBA draft. There were a lot of questions about the pacers drafting another center when they started two and drafted Goga Bitadze in 2019.

However, with a down season in Indiana and multiple injuries lingering throughout the team, Jackson has been able to see the court more recently.

He has made a few appearances in the G-League as well earlier this season, where he led the entire league in blocks per game after a short three-game stint.

If you don’t remember, Isaiah Jackson actually suffered what was a scary injury at the time earlier this season. He hyperextended his knee against the Toronto Raptors back in October and missed 13 games rehabbing that knee.

Although not playing on Jan. 28 2022 in the win against OKC, he has put together an impressive five-game stretch for the Indiana Pacers.

Isaiah Jackson has seen more in-game time due to the recent injury bug concerning the Pacers’ centers. Since the victory to Golen State earlier this month, Jackson has played ten or more minutes in each game he was active.

In that time, he is averaging 11.2 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, and shooting 51.4% from the field. He also posted a new career-high in blocks, with three against the Dallas Mavericks.

When you watch Jackson on the court, there is a different feel within the Pacers’ offense. What are usually drive and kicks become drive and lobs, as well as his ability to keep a play alive on the offensive end.

Before the season even began, Rick Carlisle talked about using Myles Turner as a lob threat. That has maybe happened one time this season. A more realistic statement would have been in the direction of Jackson – he averages at least one lob a game (probably).

Jackson has a great feel in the pick and roll, but he often time won’t actually set the full screen. Usually just a flare and roll right to the rim, which he did a few times in Dallas.

It isn’t just the lob threat that makes Jackson so intriguing. His ability to stay with a shot under the rim is something I’ve seen him and Sabonis do for the Pacers a few times this season.

He feels out the defense well and when he makes up his mind, he is getting downhill which is what creates these extra options within the Pacers’ offense.

It may be in how Carlisle wants Jackson to play and his role is being used as the single-center, unlike Turner’s situation where he isn’t used as a true center.

His instincts around the rim are just good and most times It feels as if he is jumping on springs. The 20-year-old rookie continues to show these flashes of athleticism in each game.

Not only is he able to get to the rim out of the roll, but he has also shown the defensive ability to take the ball and score in transition. His handle reminds me a lot of Myles Turner in that way – he looks very comfortable/loose with the ball for his size.

Rick Carlisle has given Isaiah Jackson high praise since he was drafted and his quote couldn’t be more accurate for how Jackson’s season has played out.

"“His defensive versatility is absolutely breathtaking. I just have not seen a guy move, block shots, change shots and be able to guard any position the way I’ve seen him be able to do. Offensively, he just has a really terrific feel for the game.If you can get him the ball moving toward the rim, he can finish, he can pass, and then he has really worked on his 3-point shooting. That’ll be a big part of his development as a two-position player in this league. He can guard any position on the floor but he also gives us a rim-rolling lob presence that they just have not had on this team”."

Jackson has only played in 17 of the Pacers 51 games so far this season. In my eyes, he should see more time to develop as the season comes to an end for Indiana.

Goga Bitadze has had another injury that kept him out for last night’s game in Dallas (sore right foot) so we will see what his status is going forward.

The Indiana Pacers are now 18-33 on the season, looking to the future is more important than the win column, and the team should focus in that direction.