Indiana Pacers: Who’s hot, who’s not after first 3 games

The Indiana Pacers have now played three regular season games. Let’s take a look at who is playing well, and who is struggling to begin the 2017-18 campaign.

The Indiana Pacers have begun the 2017-18 season with a 1-2 record. The team’s offense was on full display during their 140-131 win over the Brooklyn Nets on opening night, but they have stumbled since then.

The Portland Trail Blazers came into Bankers Life Fieldhouse and outgunned Indiana 114-96, and in the second night of a back-to-back, the Pacers’ late rally fell short in a 112-108 defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat.

Indiana now has a brief respite before continuing its current road trip, so let’s take a look at the players who have started off well in 2017-18, and those who are still trying to find their way.

Who’s Hot

Point guard Darren Collison is showing that he is indeed happy to be back in Indiana. Collison’s numbers are very good early, as he is posting averages of 15.0 points and 7.7 assists per contest.

He is shooting 56.7 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from 3-point land and 77.8 percent from the free throw line. Collison is limiting his turnovers (1.7 per game) and running the team efficiently from the lead guard spot.

Another player who is stepping up to begin the season is power forward/center Domantas Sabonis. Sabonis played off the bench in the opener, but he’s been inserted into the starting lineup since then due to Myles Turner‘s injury.

Sabonis is producing 12.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game at this juncture, while shooting a blistering 63.9 percent from the field.

He’s also contributing heavily in terms of toughness and fight, which are important intangibles that should not be overlooked. Sabonis is also showing that he is an extremely smart basketball player, routinely making quick and correct decisions on the court.

Rookie power forward T.J. Leaf shook off some early nerves and is already looking much more comfortable and confident on the floor. Leaf is tallying 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per night in limited minutes.

Leaf is also proving that he is not afraid to put up shots when he is in the game, and he’s making them so far — 60 percent overall and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Who’s Not

Swingman Lance Stephenson was expected to be a force off the bench for Indiana, but he has yet to be unleashed in the opening games of the regular season.

Stephenson’s overall productivity has not been there (8.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game), and his shooting numbers have been particularly dreadful so far.

Stephenson is only hitting 27.3 percent of his field goal attempts, including an anemic 15.4 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. His shot selection has left much to be desired, but he should come around as the season progresses.

Myles Turner had a tremendous first game for the Pacers, scoring 21 points, hauling down 14 rebounds and blocking four shots. The problem is that he also sustained a neck/head injury that has kept him out of the last two contests.

It’s not Turner’s fault that he is hurt, but his absence has really been felt and he has to stay on the floor for Indiana to have any chance of success this season.

Next: Ranking all 30 starting NBA centers for 2017-18

A great deal is expected of Myles Turner this year, and remaining healthy is near the top of that list — so missing two of the team’s first three games is an area of concern for the 6’11” center.