Pacers Report Cards: Grading every Pacers player's first-round performance
By Mueez Azfar
Obi Toppin
Stats: 6 Games, 19.3 MPG, 12.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 0.7 TOV, 1.7 FPG 49.2/28.1/77.8 Splits on 58.8% TS
Obi Toppin's case is similar to T.J. McConnell's in the sense that he saved his best performance for last. However, in Toppin's case, his performance in the entire series was far better, as he was perhaps Indiana's best bench player in the series.
This would have been hard to imagine in February, as Toppin's name was circulating in trade talks as Indiana was looking to perhaps offload some forwards after trading for Pascal Siakam. Eventually, the Pacers decided to keep Toppin, and he remained a Pacer for the rest of the season heading into the playoffs.
Looking back, this was a fantastic move, as Toppin's play translated beautifully to the playoffs. As the most athletic player on a transition-heavy team, Obi Toppin thrived in the postseason as a transition scorer, averaging 12.3 points in Games 2 through 5 and shooting 50% from the field. While his three-point shooting wasn't the greatest, at only 33%, Toppin brought plenty more to the table, even upping his rebound numbers to 5.5 per game and having a few typical Obi Toppin highlight plays.
Despite losing his starting spot rather early in the season, Toppin never complained once and changed his play to that of a high-energy bench player, playing in all 82 games and even having some big nights such as his 27-point outing in Philly. While he wasn't the center of attention, Toppin was very reliable in the regular season, as he was one of the most efficient shooters in the league and a go-to lob target for anyone on the fast break.
However, just like McConnell, Obi Toppin had his defining moment in Game 6 of the first round. With Indiana needing a bench spark, Obi Toppin provided just that, scoring 21 points off the bench to lead the team while grabbing eight rebounds and shooting 8/15 from the field including an incredible alley-oop layup to end the first half. While he only shot 3/10 from deep, Toppin's reputation as a transition magician and athletic beast shone through as he had his way with Milwaukee's defense and looked like a star in the process.
In the offseason, re-signing Obi Toppin has to be a priority for the Pacers, as he is the perfect energy bench player who can be placed as a starter if called upon. With the second round bringing Toppin's old team in the New York Knicks, he will surely have more to prove going forward, and Indiana certainly won't mind another performance like Game 6 from Toppin.