Indiana Pacers: There’s reason for excitement beyond 2018

The Indiana Pacers continue to blow past their pre-season expectations, and the future looks very bright for them well beyond 2018

The Indiana Pacers are currently shattering everyone’s expectations right now. They are currently 5th in the Eastern Conference, just one half game beyond the 3rd-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

Victor Oladipo has been one of the best two guards in the league and most likely will win the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year award.

While Indiana is playing well this year, is this the starting point of something special for the Pacers in the coming years? Do we see a team that can improve over the next five seasons or is it just a little blip on the radar?

With Oladipo, people have a concern whether or not that he would improve as a player. As long as he keeps improving on this ball-handling and his pull up 3-pointers, then we could be looking at a potential top 20 player in the NBA. His scoring has slowed down a bit lately, like the tough night he had in Philadelphia. He did hit the big shot at the end of that game, but he only put up 11 points in that game.

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If he simply maintains the way he has been playing this season, he can be a big contributor to this team in the future. He can improve at being a playmaker since he was a good playmaker in his days with Magic, but he hasn’t been that type of player since then. If he can combine some of that older skill set with this new scoring ability, he should be a well-respected player.

Nobody saw this big jump from a talent standpoint this year. When he was scouted during the NBA Draft process, most scouts said that he had a good work ethic. Even though it took longer for him to realize who he is as a player, it is just nice to see him finally hit his potential.

The funny thing is that those scouts thought that he would be a top-tier defender and would have to grow into an offensive threat. Now he is an offensive threat, and defensively he may be a top 15 perimeter defender in the league but he no elite defender. Overall, he should improve into the next season and should be a great number one option for the Pacers.

Now to take a look at Myles Turner, who is most likely the No. 2 guy on this team. He is 21 years old, and his 3-point shot has gradually gotten better as the season has progressed. As of right now, he should be a good 3-point shooter since he is currently shooting 53 percent on long 2’s and 42 percent from 10 to 16 feet. There should be no reason for him not to being a big time 3-point shooter, but he is making improvements.

Right now, he is shooting about two 3-pointers a game and making about 38 percent of them. He is taking more 3’s along with hitting them at a higher percentage compared to last year. There currently aren’t a lot of centers that can stretch the floor, and comfortably shoot the ball outside of the paint. If he can evolve into a player like DeMarcus Cousins, who just knocks down 3’s at a consistent rate. Then, Turner can become a huge matchup problem for so many opposing centers since they have to fear his 3-point shot.

Players have a difficult time defending him with his jump shot since he has such a high quick release, if he continues to shoot from a distance, then he can cause a world of problems on opposing defenses, and it could open up Indiana’s offense. Turner is also a pretty good pick-and-pop player, but needs to improve at being a roller to the basket. On advanced statistics, he is currently in the 50th percentile when it comes to attacking the basket. If he can improve at attacking the basket, Turner and Oladipo can be a devasting pick-and-roll combo.

Defensively, Turner is a good defender. He is no elite defender, but his block percentage is close to Rudy Gobert’s, and he can move his feet well for a big man. Over the last two seasons, the Pacers have been a better team defensively with Turner in the game compared to when he is not.

One of the other players that have been a key part of the Indiana Pacers is Domantas Sabonis. He is a good free throw shooter, and a good mid-range shooter (making 40 percent of shots from 10 to 16 feet). He is also a very good rebounder.  He is currently ranked 12th in offensive rebounding percentage, and he is also one of the better defensive rebounders. He doesn’t have the offensive capabilities that Myles Turner delivers but is a good third option for them.

When we look at the rest of the roster, players like Glen Robinson III can be a nice role player for them. Thaddeus Young is a good veteran role player that does an excellent job of cutting to the basket. Their point guard rotation consists of Darren Collison and Corey Joseph, which is a respectable pair. Also, have the veteran leadership of Lance Stephenson with his lockdown defense and energy he brings to the floor.

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The goal for the Pacers is to hang on to the veterans that they believe would help them over the next couple of seasons. Then, to groom Oldapio into a top 10 player in the NBA, along with developing Turner into a top 20 type player in the NBA. Then, to try to make Sabonis into a reliable role player. They should look into Aaron Gordon during free agency to make their own young big 3 in Indiana.

Overall, there are good things down the road for the Indiana Pacers. They should make some noise in the playoffs along with a bright future ahead of them. The young trio should bring plenty of playoff appearances for the next 5-10 years.