The Indiana Pacers may not be the most stacked team in the NBA, but they are among the most successful because of their willingness to do what other teams around the league are not willing to do. This especially includes double-teaming the opposing team's best player in full-court pickups and applying pressure for the duration of a full game.
Head coach Rick Carlisle is well aware of this, and he believes this is what separates Indiana from other teams.
"I don't know the exact number, we were in the mid-900s last year...we had three guys picking up full-court in the backcourt, and this is regular season, I believe, and playoffs. And the next closest team was somewhere in the 400s. The separator for us is what we were willing to do that a lot of other teams were unwilling to do," Carlisle said.
Resilience will continue to play a big role in Indiana's success
The Pacers are fresh off their most successful two-season run in years, making two conference finals appearances and one NBA Finals run. However, they only had two total All-Stars during that time. Indiana is successful for numerous reasons, but its ability to excel at all the little things and make things difficult for opponents is what makes it stand out.
It is no secret that the Pacers' fast-paced offense works to their benefit because it tires out their opponents, making it harder for them to give it their all for the full length of a game. This was even true for stars like Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who spoke about just how difficult it was to face Indiana in the 2024 Playoffs.
Additionally, while their defense is greatly improving (they finished 13th in DRTG last season after three consecutive seasons ranked in the 20s), the Pacers are still far from a lockdown team. However, because of the pressure they put on opposing teams, they are able to exhaust them and force them to be on their toes for a whole game. This greatly works in Indiana's benefit as its resilience has helped the team succeed in recent years.
As the Pacers look to remain title contenders, it is important for them not to change their identity too much. This is true even though they will have to experiment this season with Tyrese Haliburton on the shelf due to an Achilles injury. While most will monitor the Pacers' system (particularly offensively), it will also be important to see how their full-game strategy changes as well, if at all.
The Pacers have developed a reputation as one of the most resilient teams in the NBA, and that is one of the biggest reasons they have constantly exceeded expectations and enjoyed success. As they look to re-insert themselves into the title picture, it will be crucial for them to continue doing what makes them so special.