Indiana Pacers: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season

5. Their defense was what made them hard to beat

The Pacers have stated outright that they aren’t prowling for superstar free agents to come in and make an impact. Rather, they’re developing studs of their own, who have bought into head coach Nate McMillan‘s defense-first philosophy.

With their exit from the postseason, Indiana’s defensive rating (103.7) was good for sixth in the NBA, and they proved all season long that they can hang with the best because of their hustle on that side of the ball.

This didn’t happen by accident. Players like Turner, Thaddeus Young and Darren Collison have led the way on the defensive end and inspired an all-around team effort on that side of the floor. Turner finished as the league’s leading shot-blocker this year, and many of his blocks turned into easy offense for the Pacers. When healthy, Oladipo’s quick hands and knack for steals don’t go unnoticed, either.

Barring any more major injuries, this is the type of defense we can expect from the Pacers for years to come.