Indiana Pacers: Week 2 preview and predictions
By Tony East
The Indiana Pacers went 1-2 during the first week of the 2017-18 NBA season. With a tough schedule coming for them in Week 2, how will they hold up?
Only one team in the league dropped 140 points during the first week of the NBA season: the Indiana Pacers. That’s quite a number, surely, but it would mean much more if they showed any modicum of consistency on offense or any skills on the defensive end.
The Pacers went 1-2 in the first week of the season, winning the game they scored 140 in and losing the other two. Their defensive rating is currently 114.7, which is 27th in the league, so if they want to be more competitive going forward, that is the end of the floor they need to focus on most.
An added challenge for the Pacers is Myles Turner‘s health. The skilled center has a concussion and a neck injury and it is currently unknown when he will return, though it is expected to be sooner rather than later.
With a slate of three tough games on the cards this week, can they improve their defense enough to compete without Turner? Let’s take a look.
Tuesday, Oct. 24 — Minnesota Timberwolves
The Pacers open up the week in Minnesota. The Wolves are coming off a game in which Andrew Wiggins banked in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to sink the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team currently sits at 2-1. Through their first three games, they have a net rating of -1.
Biggest Pacers X-Factor: Domantas Sabonis
With Myles Turner out, Sabonis assumes a big role in this game. He has been the starting center over the Pacers last two games, but in this matchup, he will has his hands full.
His big challenge is that he will be guarding Karl-Anthony Towns, a monster in the paint and on the perimeter. The big man is currently averaging 21.7 points per game on 65.4 percent true shooting.
The second challenge for Sabonis is that the Wolves are eighth in the league in free throw attempts per game. Sabonis is known for fouling too frequently, so the Wolves could go right at him and get him to foul his way right off the court. If Sabonis can keep Towns in check and keep his fouls down, the Pacers have a chance to be competitive in this game.
Most likely Pacers butcher: Andrew Wiggins
Change this answer to Jimmy Butler if Bojan Bogdanovic ends up guarding Jimmy Buckets instead, but I imagine that Nate McMillan will put Bogdanovic on Wiggins.
It’s early, but Wiggins is having a career season through three games. He is averaging 24.7 points per game and has a 28.1 percent usage rate. The Wolves frequently give him the ball and he does something good with it. Being guarded by Bojan Bogdanovic means he will have no trouble getting his shots up, and he will have all the confidence in the world after sinking the game-winner against OKC. Wiggins looks like he is due for a big game.
Wednesday, Oct. 25 — Oklahoma City Thunder
The Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis revenge game!
This game is littered with narratives, between those two players returning to their old team’s stadium and the Pacers playing against Paul George for the first time ever.
The Thunder closed out their first week going 1-2, with their sole win coming over the lowly New York Knicks. All three of their newly formed Big Three have led the team in scoring one time so far, and their defense has been as strong as advertised; they lead the league in steals.
Biggest Pacers X-Factor: Darren Collison
Like previously mentioned, the Thunder snag steals at the highest rate in the league, with 12.3 per game. When you have Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, getting steals is huge because your offense is so potent.
Collison and Cory Joseph need to do a good job taking care of the ball so the Pacers can have as many possessions as possible against the high-powered Thunder offense.
Most likely Pacers butcher: Russell Westbrook
Does this even require an explanation?
Last season against the Pacers, Westbrook averaged 29 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 12 assists per game. Those are just insane numbers. Factor in that the Pacers will be playing lethargically because this game is the second game of a road back-to-back, and Westbrook should have no problem taking over this game.
The former MVP still leads the Thunder in VORP. Even with the new-look roster, he’s still the unquestioned leader and should be a tough matchup for the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
Sunday, Oct. 29 – San Antonio Spurs
Everyone scoffed at the Spurs‘ offseason and wrote them in as a declining team. With an aging team, few notable additions and an injured Kawhi Leonard, it was understandable why.
But they still have Gregg Popovich, and they still have an undefeated record. Somehow, year after year, the Spurs just keep churning out wins, and this year is no exception. The Indiana Pacers will have their hands full on Sunday.
Biggest Pacers X-Factor: General scoring
The most simple objective, putting the ball in the basket, is somehow incredibly hard against the Spurs year after year. Their first two games have been no exception, giving up an average of just 93 points per game on their way to a 92.6 defensive rating.
Thanks in large part to the 140-point game against Brooklyn, the Pacers have a 110.5 offensive rating. Something has got to give between these two ratings, and if its the Spurs defensive rating, then the Indiana Pacers have a shot to win.
Most likely Pacers butcher: Danny Green
The real answer is Kawhi Leonard, but we still have no idea if he is going to play.
Danny Green is a terrific 3-point shooter (44.4 percent this season so far) and a staunch defender (92 Defensive Rating this season). Because of that defense, he can shut down Oladipo with minimal problems.
His 3-point shooting is the most dangerous part of his offensive game. Currently, the Pacers are 27th in the league in opponent 3-point percentage, giving up 42.2 percent shooting from deep. Green could have a ton of open looks and could knock them down with no problems, especially since the Pacers’ defense will likely focus on stopping LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay (or Kawhi if he plays).
Next: Ranking all 30 starting NBA centers for 2017-18
A back-to-back and three tough opponents projects to be a tough week for the Indiana Pacers. If they can snag a win in any one of these games, that has to be considered a success. Hopefully they can do so, since the schedule appears to get a little easier in Week 3. If all goes well, Myles Turner returns this week and leads the team to some victories.