During Monday's loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers turned the ball over 17 times. After the game, head coach Rick Carlisle spoke about the amount of turnovers the team had and made it clear they cannot win games that way, especially against the top teams in the league.
Fortunately for the Pacers, there is not much to worry about. They average just 12.5 turnovers per game. Only the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks average fewer turnovers per game. However, even so, turnovers are something the Pacers must be extra cautious of as they could be what leads to the team's downfall.
The Pacers must prioritize not turning the ball over
In theory, it is obvious to say that the Pacers should take care of the ball and not turn it over. However, some games are just more challenging than others. This is especially true if they are up against a top defensive team, where turnovers are inevitable. Unfortunately for the Pacers, once they reach a certain amount of turnovers in a game, a loss seems like a guarantee, and this is something the team must keep in mind.
This season, the Pacers have had 14 or more turnovers in a game 20 times. In those games, they are 5-15, according to Statmuse. Furthermore, they are just 1-5 if that number reaches 18 or more, with their one win being against the Boston Celtics in an overtime thriller in October. During the regular season, this is not something the Pacers need to worry about much. However, it is a bit of a different story in the playoffs, when they are taking on the best of the best in the league.
Generally, the Pacers are good at being careful with the ball. When things get bad, though, they get really bad for the team. Regardless, this is more so just something to keep and mind and follow rather than genuinely worry about. The Pacers are a top team in the Eastern Conference and may secure home-court advantage by the end of the season.
If the playoffs began today, they would take on the No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks in a rematch from the first round last year. In addition to Milwaukee, the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, and Miami Heat are all potential first-round opponents for Indiana. There is a lot of basketball left, but it is not too soon to keep an eye around the league and see who may stand in the Pacers' way of a championship.