Head Coach: Nate McMillan (4th Season)
Record: 39-26 (5th in Eastern Conference)
All-Stars: 1 (Domantas Sabonis – 1st)
Scoring Leaders: T.J. Warren (18.7 PPG), Domantas Sabonis (18.5 PPG), Malcolm Brogdon (16.3 PPG)
Rebounding Leaders: Sabonis (12.4 RPG), Myles Turner (6.5 RPG), Brogdon (4.7 RPG)
Assists Leaders: Brogdon (7.1 APG), Sabonis (5.0 APG), T.J. McConnell (5.0 APG)
Offense: 109.3 Points Scored/Game (22nd)
Defense: 107.4 Points Allowed/Game (T-5th)
Key Wins: Lakers (105-102, Dec. 17), Raptors (120-115, OT, Dec. 23), Bucks (118-111, Feb. 12), Nuggets (115-107, Jan. 19), Celtics (122-117, Dec. 11), Jazz (121-102, Nov. 27)
Season Summary: Indiana’s success is predicated by controlling games with a team ranked seventh in defensive rating behind a core of Victor Oladipo, Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis. The Pacers’ defense is also anchored by Myles Turner, one of the best shot blockers in the league with 2.2 BPG. Offensively, Indiana shares the ball effectively. They have seven players averaging double-digit points and are the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio team in the league. As a reliable three-point shooting option, Doug McDermott comes off the bench hitting 44.5% from deep this season. But, the lineup of the Pacers could potentially shift as Malcolm Brogdon tested positive for COVID-19.
Despite missing Oladipo for much of the season, veteran coach Nate McMillan has done a fantastic job keeping the Pacers competitive. The Pacers depth – headlined by McConnell, McDermott and brothers Justin & Aaron Holiday – is solid, but took a huge blow after losing Jeremy Lamb to a season-ending knee injury in late-February. In the last 11 games before the NBA hiatus, the Pacers posted an 8-3 record with wins against the Bucks, Trail Blazers, Spurs and Mavericks. They may not be the favorites to emerge from the East, but the Pacers have shown they can fight through adversity and make scoring tough on opposing offenses.
Memorable Moment: On January 23, 2019, Victor Oladipo suffered a ruptured quad tendon, which ended his season and hopes to compete at the start of the 2019-20 NBA season. Over a year later, on January 29, 2020, the Pacers took on the Bulls at home in which Oladipo was slated back into the lineup for the first time since the injury. In his debut, despite only scoring nine points, Oladipo drained a deep, game-tying three-pointer with nine seconds remaining. After Oladipo was showered with applause, the Pacers rolled to victory in OT, 115-106. T.J. Warren added 25 points as the game’s leading scorer and Domantas Sabonis provided a double-double.
Player To Watch: Malcolm Brogdon – The Pacers added the former Bucks guard Brogdon – a 40-50-90 club member and 2017 Rookie of the Year – in the offseason by trade. Brogdon has cemented himself as a solid second-to-third option offensive player with a smooth shooting stroke, an ability to attack the rim and a knack for defending multiple positions. Brogdon stepped up when it mattered in big wins this season, scoring at a high clip against Philadelphia on Nov. 30 (28 PTS), Boston on Dec. 11 (29 PTS), and Denver on Jan. 19 (22 PTS). The question with Brogdon is health. On five separate occasions this season, he missed two or more consecutive games (17 inactive games total). When on the court, Brogdon has shown he can distribute as the Pacers lead assist-getter (7.1 APG). He tallied 13 assists three times this season, all three games resulting in a Pacers win. Brogdon also holds a steady rate at the free-throw line (89.5%). A proven, young role player, Brogdon is key to keeping the Pacers offense going.
