NBA Power Rankings week 17: OKC Thunder and peers enter break
100. . 32-23. Previous: 13th. Indiana Pacers. 13. team
Indiana Pacers:
Offense: (110.2) 16th
Defense: (108.1) 11th
Net: (plus +2.1) 13th
Results Week 17: (1-1) Won vs. Bucks: 118-111, Lost vs Nets: 105-106
Games Week 18: (2 games) Fri at Knicks | Sun at Raptors
All season we awaited the return of Victor Oladipo and how his presence would affect the Pacers. Serious injuries of the nature Dipo dealt with mean he’ll need time to get back to his former self.
Perhaps, I jumped the gun a bit but still believe the combination of Malcolm Brogdon and Dipo will be a factor whether this season or next.
Unfortunately, his return coincided with a tough segment where Indy lost six games in a row (and six of eight matches with him back).
This week the Pacers will get another shot at the Raptors who took two of those matches in the home and home series with both highly competitive games. The difference this time, however, is the Raptors were short-handed (due to injury) in the games versus Indy and by Friday they might have both Marc Gasol and Norman Powell back which will make them even more difficult to beat.
Still, even without Antetokounmpo, the defeat of the Bucks was an important victory to send the Pacers into the break on a positive note.