What to watch for from every NBA team in the second half

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 23: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against Kyrie Irving #11 during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 23, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

13 of 31

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Indiana Pacers: The growing chemistry of their backcourt

The Jan. 29 return of Victor Oladipo was a welcomed sight for both the Indiana Pacers and the NBA world as a whole. What followed, however, wasn’t exactly as great a story.

Indiana lost six of eight heading into the All-Star break — Oladipo did miss a loss to New Orleans — to drop to sixth in the Eastern Conference following an impressive 30-17 start.

Malcolm Brogdon, who was playing at an All-Star caliber level for much of the season as Indy’s lead guard, averaged 14.6 points per game while shooting just 43.5 percent from the field and 25.6 percent from downtown.

In 162 minutes together, Oladipo and Brogdon have a net rating of minus-10.2. This comes with the former having yet to play more than 28 minutes in any single game and the latter dealing with a string of injury-related absences as well, but it’s still worth noting the factors that led to the Pacers’ struggles.

https://twitter.com/PacersNationCP/status/1227619324233310209?s=20

Indiana’s front office wouldn’t have brought in Brogdon if it didn’t think he could play alongside their franchise star.

Brogdon rose to recognition playing off the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Oladipo is a modest outside shooter and intelligent off-ball cutter, having ranked inside the 85th percentile in such situations with Russell Westbrook dominating the ball in OKC.

There’s a realistic scenario in which these two come to thrive as a duo. It just might take a bit more time than Pacers fans hoped for and could come at the expense of playoff seeding down the line.