Indiana Pacers are looking Dangerous!

 Paul George looks great. Not saying I’m completely surprised, but he is on pace to crush the Pacers’ PER record, and looks like he will be a factor in the MVP race if he keeps this up. 

 Paul George looks great. Not saying I’m completely surprised, but he is on pace to crush the Pacers’ PER record, and looks like he will be a factor in the MVP race if he keeps this up. 

 It’s great to see Paul George healthy again.  I was stunned when I saw him break his leg just as he was blooming into a superstar.  

 It’s great to see Paul George healthy again.  I was stunned when I saw him break his leg just as he was blooming into a superstar.  

Crazy to think that despite how awesome the Pacers have looked this season, they’re only in 3rd in their division right now (although 4th in the East). Very excited about what this team can do. I could see them being even better when the playoffs roll around since they’re really still adjusting to this new system. Paul George is playing like a sure-fire All Star starter right now and contender for the MVP. CJ Miles’s improvement this season has been a huge X-factor for this team. Saw a stat today too that the Pacers are now leading the league in 3PT%. Who would’ve ever thought that was possible about Indiana a couple seasons ago?

Crazy to think that despite how awesome the Pacers have looked this season, they’re only in 3rd in their division right now (although 4th in the East). Very excited about what this team can do. I could see them being even better when the playoffs roll around since they’re really still adjusting to this new system. Paul George is playing like a sure-fire All Star starter right now and contender for the MVP. CJ Miles’s improvement this season has been a huge X-factor for this team. Saw a stat today too that the Pacers are now leading the league in 3PT%. Who would’ve ever thought that was possible about Indiana a couple seasons ago?

 Props to the coach and the FO for adapting and successfully implenting a new system as well.  I always appreciate evolution.

 Props to the coach and the FO for adapting and successfully implenting a new system as well.  I always appreciate evolution.

 I have watched one of their games and Monta seemed lost. He couldnt get to the rim through the lane. Just couldn’t break free from the guy guarding him. I don’t even remember who they were playing. His scoring is way down 12 per game right now. He needs to find his groove and score more. He needs the ball in his hands type of player but PG is MVP caliber so he just dosen’t get it as much. Hopefully the coach can find a way to get him going. He should be averaging like 16 to 18 points a game. 

 I have watched one of their games and Monta seemed lost. He couldnt get to the rim through the lane. Just couldn’t break free from the guy guarding him. I don’t even remember who they were playing. His scoring is way down 12 per game right now. He needs to find his groove and score more. He needs the ball in his hands type of player but PG is MVP caliber so he just dosen’t get it as much. Hopefully the coach can find a way to get him going. He should be averaging like 16 to 18 points a game. 

 all I can say this year looks like EAST teams are  BACK

 all I can say this year looks like EAST teams are  BACK

Defensively, the drop off hasn’t been as big as people predicted. They lost Hibbert’s rim protection, but they’re so much faster, quicker and versatile on the perimeter. Mahinmi is no Hibbert in regards to rim protection, but he’s the more agile, athletic, active and quicker defender. Plus his defense isn’t impacted by the amount of offensive touches he gets. Turner’s return will be huge. He was already holding opponents to 47.5% shooting at the rim. The Pacers are currently 4th in points allowed giving up just 95.3 per game. The sample size is small, but I like what I see, especially considering defense wasn’t the primary focus during training camp. George hasn’t lost a step defensively. He’ll be in the running for DPOY. 

Offensively, the days of averaging 90 points are over. There’s so much more spacing, bigger driving lanes, movement, screens and just overall offensive creativity hence why George is having a career year offensively and the team is shooting 42% from three early on. There’s no doubt George is a top ten player and the 3rd best small forward in the league. He’s improved skill wise, especially his ball handling. His handle is lower/tighter and he’s added several change of speed/gear and direction moves to his arsenal. His touch and footwork (utilizing jabs, stepbacks, pivots, etc from all spots on the floor) are all improved. The way he’s chaining moves together is impressive. He’s a better all-around player and playmaker than he’s ever been. Top five MVP candidate. Ellis is coming along slowly after having off-season knee surgery, but I love the fact he’s letting the game come to him and he’s playing unselfish. He could actually be more aggressive at times. He’s had his moments. Ellis and George up top in the P&P, with G Hill and Miles on the wings and Turner on the floor as well is going to be devastating eventually. They’ll spread even the best defenses out. 

They’re 9-2 their last 11 games, both of their losses coming on the road to the Bulls by 1 point and the Cavs by 4… During the last 11 games, Turner and Stuckey have missed 5, and Hill and Miles have missed 3. Even during their 3 game losing streak to start the season, they were in all of those games except vs Utah despite George and Ellis struggling. They played their worst basketball of the season in the 2nd half vs Utah (credit Gobert and the Utah defense for that). I really think the Pacers can finish as a top five seed in the East, maybe even getting homecourt advantage in the first round. My only issue with them is defensive rebounding (26nd in the league), which has suffered a huge drop off going small. 

Defensively, the drop off hasn’t been as big as people predicted. They lost Hibbert’s rim protection, but they’re so much faster, quicker and versatile on the perimeter. Mahinmi is no Hibbert in regards to rim protection, but he’s the more agile, athletic, active and quicker defender. Plus his defense isn’t impacted by the amount of offensive touches he gets. Turner’s return will be huge. He was already holding opponents to 47.5% shooting at the rim. The Pacers are currently 4th in points allowed giving up just 95.3 per game. The sample size is small, but I like what I see, especially considering defense wasn’t the primary focus during training camp. George hasn’t lost a step defensively. He’ll be in the running for DPOY. 

Offensively, the days of averaging 90 points are over. There’s so much more spacing, bigger driving lanes, movement, screens and just overall offensive creativity hence why George is having a career year offensively and the team is shooting 42% from three early on. There’s no doubt George is a top ten player and the 3rd best small forward in the league. He’s improved skill wise, especially his ball handling. His handle is lower/tighter and he’s added several change of speed/gear and direction moves to his arsenal. His touch and footwork (utilizing jabs, stepbacks, pivots, etc from all spots on the floor) are all improved. The way he’s chaining moves together is impressive. He’s a better all-around player and playmaker than he’s ever been. Top five MVP candidate. Ellis is coming along slowly after having off-season knee surgery, but I love the fact he’s letting the game come to him and he’s playing unselfish. He could actually be more aggressive at times. He’s had his moments. Ellis and George up top in the P&P, with G Hill and Miles on the wings and Turner on the floor as well is going to be devastating eventually. They’ll spread even the best defenses out. 

They’re 9-2 their last 11 games, both of their losses coming on the road to the Bulls by 1 point and the Cavs by 4… During the last 11 games, Turner and Stuckey have missed 5, and Hill and Miles have missed 3. Even during their 3 game losing streak to start the season, they were in all of those games except vs Utah despite George and Ellis struggling. They played their worst basketball of the season in the 2nd half vs Utah (credit Gobert and the Utah defense for that). I really think the Pacers can finish as a top five seed in the East, maybe even getting homecourt advantage in the first round. My only issue with them is defensive rebounding (26nd in the league), which has suffered a huge drop off going small. 

 Bird does seem to know the game.  He thought P George at power forward would make them hard to stop, for offense, and he is right.  Turner and J Young are good picks.  M Ellis is yet to really hit shots like he can, but he does lead the team in steals and assists.

Their top four players for 3point makes are all shooting them at over 40%, that sounds like a way to win.

 Bird does seem to know the game.  He thought P George at power forward would make them hard to stop, for offense, and he is right.  Turner and J Young are good picks.  M Ellis is yet to really hit shots like he can, but he does lead the team in steals and assists.

Their top four players for 3point makes are all shooting them at over 40%, that sounds like a way to win.

 George looks incredible right now. More well-rounded player than he ever was before the injury. On the forum recently there was a question about whether he was a true superstar. I said that I wasn’t comfortable putting him in that category with the truly elite quite yet. However, if he keeps playing at this level for the entire season I will have to change my stance.

 George looks incredible right now. More well-rounded player than he ever was before the injury. On the forum recently there was a question about whether he was a true superstar. I said that I wasn’t comfortable putting him in that category with the truly elite quite yet. However, if he keeps playing at this level for the entire season I will have to change my stance.

 Mahinmi has always been stellar defensive metrics.  The collapse of their defense was wildly overstated, and George is putting up fairly historic numbers. 4s just can’t cover him at all.

 Mahinmi has always been stellar defensive metrics.  The collapse of their defense was wildly overstated, and George is putting up fairly historic numbers. 4s just can’t cover him at all.