The Indiana Pacers are playing the best basketball of the season up to this point. After a slow start to the campaign, the Pacers won five straight games in December and ran through the first week of the calendar year undefeated. After going through their fair share of ups and downs this season, the Pacers seem to be turning things around and are getting closer to reaching their level from last season.
Much of the Pacers' success has to do with simply getting healthy. Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard missed a significant amount of time due to injuries, but they have provided a huge boost to the team since returning to the court. Additionally, Tyrese Haliburton has returned to his star form, even playing a historic level of basketball.
There are are lot of reasons the Pacers are playing well right now. However, head coach Rick Carlisle recently praised a player who has been overlooked the past few weeks but is playing a "winning brand of basketball."
Rick Carlisle acknowledges Bennedict Mathurin's growth
Though he has cooled off from his sizzling-hot start to the season, nobody is denying that Bennedict Mathurin provides a lot of value on the court for Indiana. On the year, he is averaging 16.7 points on 46.6% shooting, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Though he is capable of tearing the roof off the arena and scoring at will, he has settled into a role very well, something Carlisle clearly appreciates.
"This is a winning brand of basketball that he's playing now," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "You know? He's learned some things. He's realized some things. He and I have spent a lot of time talking about it and watching things. If he's willing to run and take open shots, avoid the temptation to drive into crowds and try to draw fouls and play tough, hard-nosed defense, that's a winning formula for a young player."
Furthermore, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star brings up an excellent point about Mathurin's evolution as a player. Naturally an iso scorer, Mathurin is capable of creating his own shot. However, this does not always translate to winning basketball.
Dopirak noted that Mathurin scored multiple times off catch-and-shoot three-pointers via an assist from T.J. McConnell. This is more proof that he is changing his game and becoming more of a team player.
"Mathurin's performance Monday was another sign of progress. His three made 3-pointers, including a big early in the fourth quarter off a T.J. McConnell steal in the backcourt, were of the pure catch-and-shoot variety, without a single dribble involved," Dopirak wrote.
Because of Aaron Nesmith's injury that has sidelined him since the beginning of November, Mathurin has gotten a great opportunity to showcase his talents. Though he has no concrete timetable, Nesmith is set to return at some point this season. Once he does, it will be interesting to see how Mathuri continues to develop, assuming they move him back to the bench.
Regardless, Mathurin has likely shed the "top trade candidate" label many people gave him entering the season. He is proving to be useful to the Pacers and should only continue to grow from here. The sky is the limit for the 22-year-old, and based on Carlisle's comments, the Pacers organization is well aware of this and hopes he can be a long-term asset for the team as they aim to bring an NBA title to Indiana.