NBA Power Rankings Week 4: Race to the top is heating up
By Jack Simone
Week 4 NBA Power Rankings: 21. Indiana Pacers (6-8)
6-8. Previous: 23rd. Indiana Pacers. 21. team. 100.
Last week: (3-1) – @ SAC (W), @ DEN (L), @ UTA (W), vs. PHI (W)
Offensive rating: 109.3 (6th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 109.1 (22nd in NBA)
After a very slow start to the season, the Indiana Pacers are finally starting to figure things out a bit. They’re looking like the fringe playoff team that a lot of people expected them to be.
The biggest difference for Indiana has been their defense. They struggled on that end at the beginning of the year, but have been a top-ten defense over the past week.
Considering the opponents they have faced, that’s a pretty impressive feat. This team has the pieces to be a quality team in the East, and now they’re finally playing like it.
Malcolm Brogdon has been on fire lately, and the return of Caris LeVert has been a huge boost. Both of them ranked first and second on the team in scoring over the last four games.
Season outlook: With their recent resurgence, the Pacers could easily find themselves back in the mix for a play-in spot. That’s where many projected them to be at the start of the season, and it’s looking like that’s where they’ll end up. Whether or not that’s a good thing is in the eye of the beholder.