They say that role players play better at home in the playoffs, and as the NBA Finals head to Indiana for the first time this series, the Pacers need this narrative to come true.
The series is tied 1-1, but the Oklahoma City Thunder have mostly outplayed the Pacers. In Game 1, Indiana walked away with a victory after another fantastic late-game comeback, and that should not be taken away from them. However, the Thunder ended the regular season with the best record in the NBA for a reason, and by most accounts, they are objectively the better team.
Despite Oklahoma City's dominance, especially on the defensive side of the ball, there were a lot of advantages the Pacers had going into the series. This includes their depth as they are one of just a few teams that are as deep as the Thunder are. However, through the first two games, the Pacers' second unit has left a lot to be desired. Now that they are headed home, the Pacers will have a great opportunity to get their bench back on track. Otherwise, the series, and ultimately their championship dreams, may already be over for them.
The Pacers' bench is getting outplayed in the NBA Finals
The Thunder's bench has largely outplayed the Pacers' throughout the series. This was especially true in Game 2, where their bench outscored Indiana's 48-34. Against a team like the Thunder, the Pacers need as many advantages as possible, and getting the most out of their second unit would be a huge help for them.
It is a small sample size, and he was fantastic in Game 1, but the Pacers would greatly benefit from a bounce-back performance from Obi Toppin. The Brooklyn native recorded 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting, five rebounds, and two assists in Indiana's Game 1 victory. However, he was significantly worse in Game 2, only scoring three points on 1-for-8 shooting and ending the game with a +/- of -9.
Toppin is one of the Pacers' most important bench players. When he is hot, he can be dangerous on the offensive side of the ball, and he also brings great energy on the court. Toppin is arguably the Pacers' most dynamic player, so him turning it back around in Games 3 and 4 would be huge for the team.
In addition to Toppin, the Pacers need guys like T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin to step up as well. The Pacers need all the help they can get against a team like the Thunder, and everybody needs to bring their A-game.
Fortunately for the Pacers, they have a lot going well for them. While Game 2 was disappointing for them, heading back to Indiana with the series tied is a win in its own right. They are now just three wins away from their first-ever NBA Championship, but they still need a lot of things to go their way from here on out. Their title dreams mostly fall on the top guys, but that does not mean their role players and second unit will not play a crucial role from here on out. As the Pacers look to pull off the upset, it's all hands on deck, and whether their role players step up or not may be what decides their NBA Finals fate.