This season has been a bit of a roller coaster for Isaiah Jackson. He was the Indiana Pacers' starting center on opening night, but he has since been relegated to being a bench warmer. However, the Michigan native had an opportunity to remind the Pacers what he brings to the table during Monday's game against the Houston Rockets, and he made the most of it.
In the loss, Jackson recorded six points on 2-for-5 shooting, six rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks in 25 minutes. He did get into foul trouble, ending the game with five fouls, but he made a big impact nonetheless.
Jay Huff also recorded five fouls in the game and got bullied on the boards all night. This led to him playing just 12 minutes, and it forced Indiana to rely on Jackson a bit more.
After the game, head coach Rick Carlisle praised Jackson and his ability to step up when the team needed him to (h/t Tony East of Forbes and Circle City Spin).
"Tonight, it was pretty clear we needed him right away. Isaiah did well right when he came in the game... this is one of his more productive games in terms of how he helped the team," Carlisle said about Jackson.
What does Isaiah Jackson's performance mean moving forward?
One game isn't going to completely change Jackson's outlook in Indiana. This season has still mostly been a disappointment for him, given that he hasn't shown much development or ability to be the Pacers' full-time starting center. However, at the very least, the Kentucky alum reminded the team what exactly he can bring to the table.
The Pacers gave Jackson the starting spot to begin the season for a reason. He is incredibly athletic, is a great presence in the paint on both sides of the ball, and he plays with a lot of heart and energy. All of this was true even though he is fresh off an Achilles tear.
Still, there is a lot going against Jackson, and that's why it's hard to know for sure what his future in Indiana will look like. He is not a floor-spacer. He still gets into foul trouble way too often (he currently leads the NBA with 8.2 fouls per 100 possessions). And he isn't someone who can elevate his game against the top centers in the league.
Additionally, given that he is in the first year of his three-year, $21 million contract, it might be hard to justify keeping him around moving forward if he's going to be Indiana's third-string center (assuming it upgrades over Huff and moves him down the depth chart).
There is a lot to like about Jackson, and his performance on Monday was proof of why. But it's all about whether he can keep the momentum going that will decide whether he's going to be a long-term contributor in Indiana.