NBA Power Rankings Week 2: Scorching hot Miami Heat and what scares me
100. . 1-6. Previous: 21st. Indiana Pacers. 25. team
Last Week: (L) to MIL, (L) to TOR, (L) to BKN, (L) to TOR
The Indiana Pacers are one of the better 1-6 teams you will see out there, but the reality is that injuries have hit them hard and they haven’t been able to rise above. TJ Warren is yet to play a game as he rehabs, Caris LeVert has played in just one for 16 minutes, and Malcolm Brogdon has missed two games.
Even so the Pacers are hanging tough, with two one-point losses and only one (against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday) was more than 10 points. They have a good coach, a solid roster, and their one win was against the league’s hottest team. It’s not crazy to think they will turn this season around, but given the strength of the East this year that’s no easy task, even this early.
Scares Me: They don’t know who their best big is. Domantas Sabonis scores the most points and get the All-Star nods, but Myles Turner is the Pacers’ best big man is. His combination of rim protection and floor spacing is exactly what you want from a modern big. He is averaging 2.9 blocks per game and 1.4 3-pointers despite playing just 27.1 minutes per game. In multiple games Rick Carlisle has elected to close with Sabonis as the only big despite Turner’s skillset. Instead of marginalizing them, what about trading him?