NBA power rankings week 13: Halfway mark, OKC Thunder hold steady

Indiana Pacers:

Offense: (109.9) tied13th
Defense: (106.7) tied 9th
Net: (plus +3.2) tied 11th

Games Week 13 (4-0): Won vs. 76ers: 101-95, at Wolves: 104-99, Wolves: 116-114, Nuggets: 115-107
Games Week 14 (4 games): Mon at Jazz | Weds at Suns | Fri at Warriors | Sun at Blazers

Indiana took the home and home series against the Wolves but the more impressive victories were against the 76ers and Nuggets.

Domantas Sabonis got his first career triple-double in the victory versus the Nuggets. It snapped a 10 game losing streak in Denver that stretched back to November 2007. But it was the steady hand of Malcolm Brogdon who kept the team calm as he deliberately ran the system. And it’s Brogdon who is the constant, serving up whatever is required be it as a primary scorer, facilitator or via game management.

What makes Indiana difficult to defend is it could be a different player every game who steps up as a primary or secondary offensive source.

Case in point – in the match versus the 76ers, TJ Warren and Malcolm Brogdon each scored 21 points. At Minnesota it was Sabonis (29) and Brogdon (21). The second Wolves match at Indiana featured Warren (28) and Jeremy Lamb (18). In Denver four players scored 20 plus as Sabonis, Warren and Brogdon each scored 22 and Doug McDermott led the way off the bench with 24.

Victor Oladipo confirmed the projected return date for him is January 29th (versus Bulls). And, while teams will make trades to shore up their rosters at the trade deadline the Pacers could be adding the most valuable player of all with his return.