"This is a much different Pacers team than the one that surprised the NBA with a compelling run to the finals full of miraculous moments in last season's playoffs. It started, of course, with Tyrese Haliburton's tragic Achilles tear in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then Myles Turner signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency. Since the Pacers have grappled with a barrage of injuries to start the season - they lead the league in man games missed - including notable injuries to starters Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith."
"Nembhard has taken on lead ball-handler duties and Siakam is also shouldering an increased creation load without Haliburton. This paired with the pair's defensive responsibilities is a huge load to bear. And even though they're both outstanding players, the stress fractures are showing. Both players have higher usage, lower efficiency and worse defensive impact numbers. The good: The Pacers have still been taking care of the ball, averaging the fourth-fewest turnovers per game and have also grabbed the third most o-boards. They've done well to win the possession battle."
The Raptors enter Indiana buoyed by a quality road win over Cleveland and aim to close the trip with another victory. The Pacers are a markedly different team after Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear and Myles Turner leaving in free agency, compounded by numerous early-season injuries to starters including Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith. Indiana sits 1-11 with poor offensive and defensive ratings. Nembhard and Pascal Siakam have taken on greater creation and defensive burdens, showing increased usage and decreased efficiency. The Pacers still protect the ball and crash for offensive rebounds but struggle to convert possessions into effective halfcourt and transition offense.
Read at Raptors Republic
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]