Another Indiana Pacers loss has become all too regular for the team this year. In the 16th game of the season, head coach Rick Carlisle and company have 10 losses to just six wins.
This loss proved to be costly. Following the results of all the games on Friday night, the Pacers are no longer in the Top 10 in the Eastern Conference Standings.
That's right! If the season ended at this point, this Central Division offensive juggernaut would be a lottery team instead of playoff-bound for a second season in a row.
Let's tale a look at the shining stars and dimming lights from the contest at Milwaukee against the Bucks.
Winner: Pascal Siakam
Perhaps the most consistent player on the Pacers' roster (and starting lineup), the former NBA champion has delivered for Indiana once again.
Siakam has been the team's leading scorer with an average 20.8 points a game. He scored 25 more on Friday in Milwaukee. He was just one of three players for the Pacers to shoot over 50% in the contest. Siakam also cleared eight rebounds against the Bucks. His season average is 6.4 boards a game.
In all 16 games for Indiana, Siakam has played in every game and scored at least 12 points or more. Friday night was his fourth game in a row scoring at least 21 points. His season best (29 points) came in the overtime win against the defending NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics. Performances from Siakam may be enough to get a win every now and then.
However, the losses seem to be more common since he is getting little help lighting up the scoreboard and preventing their opponents from doing so instead.
Winners: Myles Turner and T.J. McConnell
Myles Turner & T.J. McConnell were the only other two players for Indiana to make more than half of their shots. Just like Siakam, the Pacers' starting center also finished the game on Friday night with eight rebounds. Both did so while pulling down seven defensive rebounds and just one offensive board a piece.
Turner scored 15 points including three of his five attempts from behind the arc going in. The 10-year veteran added two more blocks to his stats. He is just one of five players in the league averaging two blocks or more per game entering Saturday's games.
McConnell missed just twice in the night after taking eight shots in total. His 12 points were the best from the second unit. He also recorded eight assists.
Indiana's backup point guard was responsible for three of the Pacers' 11 steals on the night. He even recorded a block, too. This was his third of the year.
The season is not over yet. Turner, McConnell, and their team only sit one full game behind Milwaukee for the sixth seed. That's exactly where the Pacers finished the regular season last year.
If they are to leap from the four teams ahead of them (and others), more wins have to be coming, and soon.
Loser: The Pacers' defense
Both Indiana and Milwaukee entered Friday night's game with a record of six wins and nine losses. The Pacers' opponent got to their seventh win before they could themselves.
Coach Carlisle had a reputation of having defensive-minded teams during his 13-year tenure with the Dallas Mavericks. He helped his team capture the franchise's first and only NBA title in 2011. This current Pacers team has a much flashier team offensively. Unfortunately, they aren't stopping teams with much luck.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had himself another triple-double on Friday. He torched Indiana for 37 points to go with 11 boards and 10 dimes. Five other players for the Bucks scored in double figures as the Pacers allowed 53.7% of their field goal attempts to go in.
Indiana has given up at least 124 points or more on four different occasions in their last five games. The exception was in the rematch against Miami when they won 119-110.
Last year's Eastern Conference runner-ups are looking miserable on defense this year. They are a bottom-five team in terms of points per game allowed. They also allow the seventh-highest field goal percentage in the league.
Furthermore, the Pacers are tied for fifth in most free throw attempts taken by an opponent. A commitment to playing better defense has to take place. Otherwise, it will not matter how many points Indiana scores since they are struggling to win games.
Loser: Tyrese Haliburton
Not often do we look at a player's stat line and scratch our heads when they turn in an 18-point and 9-assist performance. When you are the Pacers' All-Star point guard, making just six of your 14 shots definitely raises eyebrows in any team loss.
Tyrese Haliburton was one assist away from his eighth triple-double of the season. However, the wins are not only more important but less than that total.
Indiana has won just six games this season. Since getting back to .500 after their win against the New York Knicks on November 10, the Pacers have won just once more in their last six games.
Carlisle and his coaching staff have a multitude of issues to fix including returning regular starters Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith back to health. Until then, Haliburton has to step up and be the type of leader and superstar needed to turn this season around, and quickly.