4. Losing Dipo hurt them, but didn’t break them
After losing their All-Star guard midway through the year, the Pacers managed to salvage a 16-19 record to finish out the year. While it’s certainly not the ideal record they would’ve wanted since Jan. 23, the Pacers did manage some big wins over top teams like the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, where they were clearly not favored without Vic.
No team looks quite the same without its leader, and it was more clear than ever during the four-game losing streak that followed Oladipo’s injury. The Pacers’ schedule was not kind to them after the All-Star Break either, and they faced tough stretches that led to undesirable losses, including a tough four-game road trip in mid-March against four Western Conference playoff contenders.
Thad Young extends the @Pacers lead to 107-104!
— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2019
7.8 seconds remaining, IND ball. pic.twitter.com/V4cdwAIZ4K
The takeaway here is that the Indiana Pacers play hard regardless of circumstances. This type of resolve is what fosters a winning culture.
Instead of letting injuries defeat them and feeling sorry for themselves, the Pacers had a group of players who didn’t waver under pressure, and when fully healthy, that is an X-factor that could make a difference.