Grade the Game: 3 Studs, 2 duds from Indiana Pacers win vs. Milwaukee Bucks
By Jack Simone
Dud - Obi Toppin
For the second game in a row, Obi Toppin failed to stay in the game for significant time despite being a part of the starting lineup for the Indiana Pacers.
Last game, against the Utah Jazz, Toppin was relatively ineffective. Despite starting at the power forward position, he played the second-least minutes in the game.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks, it was more of the same from Toppin in that department. He started but only played 12:55 - the third-smallest total in the game, ahead of just Isaiah Jackson and Daniel Theis, both of whom came off the bench.
Like Myles Turner, Toppin also struggled when guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, but again, that’s not exactly a matchup most players are comfortable taking on.
Unlike Turner, Toppin’s stats didn’t make up for his struggles on the defensive side of the ball. Toppin finished the game with seven points while shooting 2-of-3 from the floor and 1-of-2 from deep.
His efficiency was fine, but it was on extremely low volume, as head coach Rick Carlisle chose to play guys like Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson, and Daniel Theis over him on the bench.
It was just an all-around rough game for Toppin, who could be in jeopardy of losing his starting spot sooner rather than later.
Grade: C-