Coming into the season, the Indiana Pacers were an elite offensive team but were among the worst defensive units in the league. Throughout the first few months of the season (most notably when Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith were sidelined), this notion mostly remained true. The Pacers were not good on defense, and it looked like a major weakness once again. However, they turned things around in January, when their 111.6 DRTG was ranked fourth-best in the league, according to StatMuse.
At the time, many wondered if this was a fluke, or if the Pacers had really turned things around on defense. They were finally healthy and clicking on all cylinders. Despite not being a good defensive team overall, the Pacers have many players who can contribute on that side of the ball. While the debate is still up in the air, it is trending in a direction that does not bode well for the Pacers.
Pacers' defensive issues come back with a month left in the season
After a red-hot January, the Pacers have heavily regressed on the defensive side of the ball. This is especially true to begin March. Their 116.2 DRTG through the first five games of March rank as the 13th-worst in the league, per StatMuse.
Some of this does have to do with Tyrese Haliburton's absence as he missed a few games in the month. Despite not being known as a good defender, Haliburton turned it up in a major way after the All-Star break. This made things significantly easier for Nembhard in the backcourt as well as the rest of the team. However, even in Haliburton's absence, the Pacers' defense looks brutal.
The Pacers are one of the worst teams in the NBA when it comes to giving up points in the paint, and this trend has not gotten better. Additionally, they look lost at times and do not look remotely like the team they were in January.
Given how the Pacers are in a three-way battle between the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons for home-court advantage, this is as bad of a time as any the rest of the way for their defensive problems to come back. For teams bound for the playoffs, this is a time for them to gain momentum. Unfortunately for the Pacers, they seem to be moving in the opposite direction.
There is still plenty of time before the season is officially over. However, as things stand right now, the Pacers are not putting themselves in a great position to replicate last year's playoff success.