Indiana Pacers: 2 strengths, 1 weakness from win over LA Clippers

The Indiana Pacers won in thrilling fashion against a superior team in the Clipper on New Year’s Eve. In doing so, the Pacers capped a highly successful couple of weeks. What went well and what did they struggle with? We recap here with two strengths the Pacers showed and 1 weakness they still need to improve on after the win against the Clippers.

Strength 1: Indiana has a closer in Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese Haliburton is on a collision course with superstardom. We are at a point where we are no longer talking about all-star but rather NBA First Team and MVP level voting. The point guard is leading the Pacers to heights not imagined for this season. Against the Clippers, Haliburton went toe to toe with two certified superstars in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and won.

He is the star we’ve been waiting for in Indiana. He’s HIM.

Strength 2: Indiana has the big man of their future….if they can extend him.

In the game against the Clippers, Myles Turner had himself a night. Turner finished the game with 34 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Now admittedly, that rebounding number could be much better, and will need to be better consistently. But in recent weeks, Turner’s rebounding has been a bit better than his career average.

What Turner brings to the defensive side of the floor is well-known. But his three-point shooting this year has been phenomenal. The Pacers would be very smart to consider extending him and trying to lock him up for years to come. We shall see what they decide to do.

Weakness: Letting teams get back into games.

One weakness we have seen from this team time and time again is allowing teams to get back into games. Early in the season the weakness was slow starts, but the Pacers have largely been able to address this issue. Moving forward, something the team will need to work on is how to continue to put the foot on the gas when they have a lead.

Ultimately, it didn’t cost them this Clippers win, even though they let the Clippers back into the game after going up by 14. But in the playoffs, many teams will take comeback momentum and end up potentially ending your season.

We shall see what the coming week brings.