Indiana Pacers: Aaron Holiday brings energy to Indiana for the Holidays

Aaron Holiday’s recent play has helped keep the Indiana Pacers above water as they continue to nurse multiple key injuries

The Indiana Pacers are overachieving so far this season. Through teamwork, Indiana has beat some of the best in the league including the Boston Celtics, the Toronto Raptors, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

While the entire team has been productive, nothing has caused more hope than the recent play of second-year point guard Aaron Holiday. The youngest of the NBA Holiday brothers has found his niche with the Pacers and is becoming a threat on the floor.

Early in the season, Aaron Holiday lost his spot in the rotation. There was no sign of him for a few games, but when he worked his way back into the rotation the UCLA Alumnus came back firing.

On the season, he is averaging 10.9 points and 3.1 assists per game on 42.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc, but his true impact has been felt in the past month and a half. Holiday’s first sign of resurgence came on November 18 when he started in place of the injured point guard Malcolm Brogdon against the Brooklyn Nets.

Holiday led the blue and gold to a 115-86 route over Brooklyn with his first double-double of the season (23 points and 13 assists). While he had solid play following that night, his next stand out game came on December 15 against the Charlotte Hornets when he came off the bench. He led the Pacers in scoring with 23 points in a 107-85 point victory.

Recently, with Malcolm Brogdon hurt again, Aaron Holiday stepped back into the starting lineup against the defending champions, the Raptors. On the second night of a back-to-back, Holiday took charge during overtime. First, he assisted center Myles Turner on a 25 foot 3-pointer that gave the Pacers a 113-111 lead.

The next time down the court Holiday pulled up from the 3-point line and gave Indiana a 116-113 lead. He then sealed the victory with another 3-pointer with less than a minute left to give the blue and gold a 119-115 lead. The Pacers won 120-115 and Holiday earned his second double-double of the season (19 points and 10 assists).

In a 113-112 loss to the Miami Heat, Holiday did his best to will the Pacers to a victory on the road. He missed a game-winning shot, but almost had his third double-double of the season with 17 points and nine assists.

Aaron Holiday has become one of the key contributors for the Pacers this season and there is no sign of him slowing down. The electricity that he brings off the bench and in his spot starting for the injured Malcolm Brogdon has proven to be invaluable for the Pacers.

His development has been a key to success for the Pacers while All-Star Victor Oladipo has been recovering from knee surgery. The Pacers organization should be excited for the future of the youngest Holiday.