Halfway point- How do the Pacers stack up?
By TYLER SMITH
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers have reached the halfway point of their season. 41 games down. 41 games to go. Despite some typical ups and downs, it’s tough to complain about a 27-14 record- on pace for 54 wins.
Here’s how the Pacers rank in several categories after the first half of the season:
- 16th in Offensive Rating (109.1)
- 3rd in Defensive Rating (104.1)
- Tied for 4th in Net rating (5.0)
- 11th in Assist/Turnover ratio (1.77)
- 7th in Assists per game (25.7)
- 7th in Effective FG% (53.4%)
- 5th in 3-point% (36.9%)
- 3rd in Points off Turnovers (19.7)
- 24th in Free Throw Attempt rate (.242)
- 3rd in Opponent Free Throw Attempt rate (.233)
- 28th in Strength of Schedule (.477)
-Other key stats:
- 21 games of six or more players in double-figures (Best in the NBA).
- 16-5 when Tyreke Evans scores 10+ points.
- 29.5 Net rating in “Clutch time” (Best in the NBA).
- 11-7 when Oladipo scores 20+, 8-3 when he scores under 20.
-Subtracting home losses from road wins:
- Raptors +10
- Pacers/Nuggets +8
- Bucks/Sixers/Thunder +6
Despite having a weaker strength of schedule, the Pacers also dealt with several key injuries. They had to play three games in four night seven different times. They’ve also played three more games on the road than at home.
Whether winning or losing, this Pacers team has managed to keep a calm approach. That comes from the leadership of Nate McMillan and Victor Oladipo. I can’t count how many times Victor Oladipo has said the phrase, “It’s just one game. We’ve got to continue to keep getting better.” He says it after wins. He says it after losses. It’s the right approach to the game, and another reason you can expect the Pacers to thrive in the second half.
No matter how the numbers look, at the end of the day it’s about wins and losses. The Pacers would really benefit from securing a top 3-seed in the East. That would ensure an easier opponent in round 1, and would also keep them away from the 1-seed in round 2.
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