Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 20.4 points and 11.3 assists per game in 19 appearances since the All-Star break.
The Indiana Pacers are peaking at the right time and looking like a team no one wants to face in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
Indiana has gone 8-2 over its last 10 games following a solid 125-120 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, despite missing one of their best players in Pascal Siakam, who didn’t play due to a right shoulder injury. Given the standings with so few games remaining, the Pacers might not be able to steal the third seed in the East from the New York Knicks, but it wouldn’t be the best idea to sleep on what they can do during the playoffs.
The Pacers are preparing for the playoffs and have a bigger goal than just ending the season on a strong note. Last year, the Pacers earned the No. 6 seed and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks on the way to the Eastern Conference finals where they lost to the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
This time, though, the Pacers have even more weapons on both ends of the floor. Most of their success has been built on continuity, and the team’s chemistry continues to develop. Tyrese Haliburton remains one of the most gifted passers in the NBA and has unlocked a new level of his play in recent weeks, with the star floor general averaging 20.4 points and 11.3 assists per game in 19 appearances since the All-Star break. That figure ranks him second in the NBA in that stretch, only behind Trae Young’s 11.8 dimes per contest.
The frontcourt pairing of Siakam and Myles Turner has looked much better than last season, and now it seems each player understands in which area either can be helpful. Siakam thrives as a scoring weapon that roams around the perimeter on offense, often stretching the floor to create space near the rim. At the same time, Turner is a solid finisher and elite blocker who, at times, can also cause damage from beyond the arc. Turner is shooting 40.7% from 3-point range since the All-Star break, and he also leads the league in blocks per game over that span with 2.3 swats per contest.
The Pacers’ biggest improvement over last season is their depth. Bennedict Mathurin, one of the best pure scorers in the league when at his best, can be an option off the bench. Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker have made strides in their game, and the ultra-reliable T.J. McConnell is an option to run the offense when Haliburton needs a breather, too. The Pacers can go nine players deep in their rotation without going through many troubles.
Only time will tell whether they’ll end up being as dangerous in the playoffs as last season. However, there’s no doubt Indiana is peaking at the perfect time, and if the team carries this momentum into the playoffs, then the Pacers will be a tough matchup for any team in the East.
The Pacers close out the season with games against the Wizards and Magic, along with two games against the Cavaliers.
