With their 119-103 victory over the Timberwolves on Tuesday, the Pacers won five in a row. This is the second time they have strung together five wins this season. In their last contest, the Lakers ended Indiana’s winning run in a one-point victory. Sitting only three games behind the Knicks in the playoff picture, the Pacers are making a legitimate case for the three-seed.
One key to the Pacers’ recent flourish is having the second-highest pace of the league in the last five games. This faster play style is not always sustainable, but a young Haliburton and crew have found a successful stride.
Transition points, shooting at a high clip, and a faster rate of play have kept the Pacers within striking distance down the stretch. Two of the last five games have been won in overtime, and four of the last five have been decided by six points or less. If their stamina does not falter, there are not many teams in the league that can keep up.
Another essential to Indiana defending home court is their non-star players having breakout performances and knocking down big shots. The past five games have not only been entertaining to watch, but also have provided valuable crunch-time experience. Closing out games is a much-needed attribute if a team wants to make a deep playoff run.
As things stand in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers are one and a half games ahead of Detroit and three games behind the Knicks. Just ten days ago, the Pacers were tied with the Bucks at the fourth-seed and five games behind New York. There is still much work to be done if Indiana is to snag the third spot, but they are building momentum at the right time.
Looking ahead, the Pacers have some tough competition between them and the playoffs. The Thunder, Nuggets, and Cavaliers are the main thwarts to Indiana’s success. According to Tankathon.com, however, the Pacers rank only 15th in remaining strength of schedule. Compared to the Knicks and Cavs ranking seventh and eighth respectively, this only adds to Indiana’s case for ranking up in the Eastern Conference.
Some fans have raised doubts surrounding the Pacers’ defense. These are legitimate concerns as Indiana sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to their defensive rating. Thankfully, the Pacers’ offense has been able to compensate for this more often than not. If a deep playoff run is what Indiana seeks, then they need to up their defensive intensity.
A couple of highlights in Indiana’s defense have been Nembhard and Haliburton. In their most recent victory, Nembhard was able to hold Anthony Edwards to just 17 points when he averages 27.3 on the season. Nembhard has also received high praise from teammate Obi Toppin, who says, “Drew’s the best defensive player in this league.” If he continues to take a defense-forward approach, Nembhard could give the Pacers the defensive spark they need.
A component of defense some may not take into consideration is taking care of the ball on the other end of the floor. Limiting turnovers, and opponent’s points off of those turnovers, can make or break a game. That is why Haliburton is also a big contributor on the defensive end. He boasts the highest assist-to-turnover ratio in the league, while also ranking fourth in assists per game. Being that efficient of a facilitator is not only down right impressive, but also keeps the ball out of the opponents hands.
Not many considered the Pacers as a playoff threat as they lingered around the middle of the conference. With a recent five-game win streak, and an upward trend in the standings, opinions are beginning to change. It is entirely likely with the Pacers’ remaining strength of schedule that they take command of the third-seed. Their recipe for success does need to include a continued defensive effort. The tools are there, the players are capable, now they just need to put it all together when it matters most.
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