NBA: One x-factor for every team heading into the restart

Indiana Pacers

X-factor: Doug McDermott

Finding an x-factor for the Indiana Pacers is a no-brainer. It’s important not to overthink here. If there’s one player on this team that can change the trajectory of the season, it’s Victor Oladipo who was barely coming back from injury when the season hit the pause button.

While he still hasn’t made a decision on returning or not, if he does opt-in, it could make all the difference for the Pacers and the rest of the Eastern Conference. If he plays, no team will want to face-off against this Pacers team in the first round of the playoffs. We don’t know what this team will look like at full strength (after the addition of Malcolm Brogdon).

However, now that Oladipo has opted against returning in the bubble, a player like Doug McDermott could see an uptick in minutes and (hopefully production). It’s a shame that we won’t see the Pacers at full strength but that doesn’t mean they still won’t be a tough out in the playoffs.