14.9

Turnovers per game

It’s been this team’s misadventure since the “core five” grew together. That five that we’re referring to includes George Hill, Lance Stephenson, Paul George, David West, and Roy Hibbert. Four of those players haven’t laced up for a single game in a Pacers uniform this season.

Stephenson, who left for Charlotte, is feeling the misery of being left out of the loving culture he was part of in Indianapolis. Now, I’m sure he feels that he fits right in with Michael Jordan‘s Hornets, but he was the unleashed predator for Larry Bird. That may be the only instance you choose Bird over Jordan if you had to pick.

But, regardless if the team doesn’t mirror the same rotation as last year, turnovers are still an issue they can’t resolve.

Indiana has coughed up the ball 14.9 times per game, which is the eighth worst in the entire league. Ranking 23rd overall in such a pivotal category, per ESPN.com, is unacceptable for a team trying to reach the postseason. However, one would look at the bottom of the turnover department, and be surprised to find two championship contenders near the end. The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, two Western Conference juggernauts, turn over the ball more than Indiana.

Houston gives up 17.8 turnovers per night, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.10. Golden State, on the other hand, is the worst team in the league in regards to turnovers. They accumulate 19.3 per game, ranking 30th overall. Nevertheless, their assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.32 is acceptable for them, seeing as how they share the ball and have a rotation full of exceptional passers and play-makers.

While having a top 10 defense yet again, the Pacers have struggled with something else that’s been quite surprising.

They are fantastic defending the paint, and Roy Hibbert has been on his same level of last year when it pertains to affecting shots. Whether it’s blocks or just frightening other guards to death when they get in the middle, he’s been locking it down.

But, they struggle to force opponents into turnovers.

Through 12 games this season, Indiana has only forced opponents into 10.7 turnovers per game, also per ESPN.com. That’s the worst mark out of all 30 teams, with only Detroit and Utah barely being ahead. To put it into perspective, the top 10 of “turnovers forced per game” is a bit wacky. Eight of the 11 leaders — Dallas, Washington, Toronto, Memphis, Golden State, Phoenix, the Clippers, and Houston — are all playoff-caliber teams. The two others — Philadelphia and Milwaukee — aren’t considered playoff threats in the East (even though the Bucks have started nicely).

Last season, the Pacers ranked 26th in the league in turnovers forced, with just 13.2 per game. That was with a fully healthy roster, and it didn’t match what you expect from a No. 1 defense. But, that’s just the Pacers’ way of doing things. They don’t rely on creating turnovers. Vogel would rather them contest every single shot with intense pressure, and rotate effectively to prevent anything easy near the rim.

It’s hard to just get the ball near the restricted area against any Indiana team, and it doesn’t matter if they have most of their personnel in a suit and tie.