3 Indiana Pacers who need to perform better in December

3 Indiana Pacers who need to perform better in December

2. Jalen Smith

The Indiana Pacers have been one of the most prolific three-point shooting teams in the league, but not a single soul would mostly pin that on third-year forward Jalen Smith‘s marksmanship, as he has really struggled from downtown to open the campaign.

Canning three-pointers at a measly 29.9 percent rate, Smith has yet to regain the solid shooting touch that he showed late last season when he shot 37.3 percent from rainbow country. And given how the Pacers operate offensively, it is almost imperative for the young big man to reassert himself as a bona fide threat from three-point land and keep defenses honest.

Fortunately, he seems to be on track to doing just that. In his last four games, Smith managed to drain 47.4 percent of his 4.8 three-point tries per game. The Pacers will need more of that this month, as an upturn in his outside shooting would deter opponents from helping off of him to contain the team’s primary playmakers.