Indiana Pacers: 5 keys to series vs. Celtics

4. Attempt (and make) more 3s

Despite the last two matchups against Boston being losses, the team shot very well from beyond the arc in both games. Their combined total was 24-for-50, or 48 percent, which makes it hard to believe one of those games was a 20-point blowout.

While the Celtics’ defense is a force in and of itself, no one on the Pacers has an excuse to not shoot at least 1-2 more 3s each. Although the bulk of them come from Bojan Bogdanovic, players like Doug McDermott, Cory Joseph and Wesley Matthews are all capable long-range shooters and should add some more 3-point attempts.

For what it’s worth, the Pacers are 11th in the league in offensive rebounds per game, so even if the 3s aren’t going in, players like Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis can clean up the glass.

The Pacers’ best option to increase the volume of scoring is to increase the volume of 3s.