To say the Pacers are hurting would be an understatement. They’ve lost three straight overall. They’ve made it worse by not being able to win at home (five of six). They are gasping for air when it comes to trying to again qualify for the playoffs.
As coach Nate Bjorkgren said, “It’s a challenge.”
Bjorkgren was speaking after a home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. For Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers will again be without Domantas Sabonis (back), Myles Turner (toe) and of course, T.J. Warren (foot, out for year).
Doug McDermott (ankle), Goga Bitadze (ankle) and Jeremy Lamb (knee) are all questionable. Add up all those injuries, and the Pacers (26-31) are becoming one big body of pain.
On the bright side, they still have guards Caris LeVert and Malcolm Brogdon, two of the most underrated backcourt players in the good, ol’ NBA. For the time being, they are also clearly the Pacers’ two greatest reasons for hope.
Here are a few things to keep in mind entering Wednesday’s game:
1. Can the Pacers win at home? It’s a fair question, given that they are just 9-17 on the year. Making the playoffs (or the play-in game) will hardly benefit them if the fans inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse can’t see them win a game there.
2. Who will play center? Since Turner can’t go (and seemingly won’t be able to for some time), the ball is in Bitadze’s court. Then again, Bitadze sprained his ankle on Monday, and had to leave the game. That leaves JaKarr Sampson. Oh, wait. He’s been suspended for tonight’s game. So …
3. Who will score? LeVert and Brogdon each finished with 18 points in Monday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs. But other than that, little-known forward Oshae Brissett (13 points) was the only other Pacer to reach double-figures. Without the defense of Turner, the Pacers will mostly have to resort to trying to outscore the opponent. So somebody new is really gonna have to light it up.
