Three most important players for the Indiana Pacers for their end of season run

3. T.J. McConnell

T.J. McConnell is a fan-favorite for a reason. He plays with 100% effort all of the time and never takes a play off. The way he controls the tempo of the game with his speed is what makes him special. He pushes the ball while still being under control and really stresses the defense.

McConnell's offense has been at another level recently. In his last three games, he's scored 16, 22, and 17 points respectively. He has been exactly what the bench unit needs. His ability to create his own shot, especially when the offense breaks down, is something that's invaluable for the Pacers.

It's gotten to the point where Rick Carlisle has started to bring McConnell in to play with Haliburton at the end of the first quarter so that Haliburton can play off the ball. He also puts McConnell in any time that the pace or the energy is lacking. Simply put, McConnell has become Carlisle's security blanket.

To think that McConnell was out of the rotation when the year started is wild. That doesn't even make sense at this point. The Pacers need McConnell to keep doing what he's doing in the final couple of games of the regular season and into the playoffs. He's a key cog in this machine.

If McConnell keeps doing what he's doing and even adds a three-pointer every now and then, this Pacers team can beat anybody at any given time. The offense is so hard to stop when McConnell is penetrating the paint and making those shots in the 6-8 foot range. His teammates love watching it too.

The Pacers need all of these guys to play the absolute best that they can for them to advance in the playoffs. Right now though, they are just focused on staying away from the play-in.