The season is unfolding and things are just starting to heat up. Right now, the NBA’s hottest team is not in South Beach. Currently, the NBA’s best team is in a small market area, Indiana. The Indiana Pacers are better than ever and playing like the best team in the NBA.
What makes the Indiana Pacers so good? Here is why.
SOLID BENCH PLAYERS
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
Who is on your bench is one of the most important things to a successful NBA franchise. Team’s can have an amazing starting line up but without a proper rotation, games can fall apart. The Pacers have lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, by one game, for the past two seasons. Where were the Pacer’s shortcomings? On the bench.
This offseason, the small market Pacers, made better moves than anyone body. Though they received little to no attention. The Pacers strengthened their weaknesses this offseason by adding depth to their bench. The Pacer’s weak bench does not appear to be their Achilles heal this season.
The Pacers are distributing more bench minutes among more players so far this season, then they have in recent years. This offseason, key editions by the Pacers were Luis Scola, C.J. Watson, Donald Sloan and Chris Copeland.
The Pacers are currently 9-1 and a big part of that is their bench.
SUPERSTARS
Let’s face it; you cannot win an NBA title without having a couple superstars in your lineup. The Pacers are lucky and have just that.
Paul George has been emerging as a superstar. This season, per game, he is averaging 23.3 PTS, 7.0REBS, 3.2ASTS, and 1.4STLS. Coming off Most Improved Player of the Year, George is still getting better. The Pacers lucked out when drafting George and he is a huge reason to their success.
Indiana also has its superstar big man, Roy Hibbert. He is currently making a lot of noise on the defensive end and is a strong contender for Defensive Player of the Year. Per game, Hibbert is averaging 11.7PTS, 9.0REBS and 4.6BLKS. So far, in ten games, he has 46 blocks. The closest to Hibbert is Anthony Davis, who has 36 blocks this season. Hibbert ask has a 31.8% rim protection (opp FG% at rim).
Recently, Lance Stephenson has become a very important swingman for the Pacers. He has developed this year on both the offensive and defensive end. He emerged with the injury to Danny Granger and should end up staying in the starting lineup after proving himself.
T
HE RIGHT COACH
The Indiana Pacers have the right coach. Frank Vogel has done an amazing job with the Indiana Pacers. He previously served a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Wizards. Frank also was assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics.
He began coaching the Pacers in the 2010-2011 NBA season, when the Pacers let go of head coach O’Brien. His current record is 120-75. Vogel has done an outstanding job in making the Pacer’s transition game one of the best in the league. Securing the number one seed in the East could play a major role in making the NBA Finals for Indiana.
Courtesy: NY Daily News
GREAT DEFENSE
So far this year, the Pacers have been great on the defensive end of the court. Yes, they have Roy Hibbert, but everyone on the Pacers team has a high defensive IQ.
Unlike most franchises, that have a few players, that lack defensive ability, all of the Pacers players know how to play defense. This year, the Pacers are playing defense at a historical rate.
The Pacers have the best defensive rating in the league, 91.4. They are holding opposing teams to 39% shooting from the field and allowing an average of 86.3PPG. For opposing players, less than five feet away from the rim, the Pacers are holding them to 48.0% shooting.
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Overall, the Pacers are better than last year and have what it takes to make a run at the title this year. Without a doubt, the Pacers are the biggest threat to Miami’s three peat. Right now, I believe the Pacers have enough to take down the Heat, win first place in the East and make it to the NBA Finals.
All statistics credited to NBA.com and Basketball-reference.com
