Pacers becoming one of NBA's best at accumulating assists

By now, it should be known how well the Indiana Pacers have performed since the start of February, winning 12-of-14, the best winning percentage in the NBA over that time. However, the scope of this superb play shows in places where the Pacers haven't always belonged.

Since the start of their hot streak, the Pacers have averaged 23.7 assists per game, ranked fourth in the league and good enough to sit at the same lunch table as offensive-minded cool kids from Golden State (26.3), Houston (24.6) and Atlanta (24.6).

Considering that Indiana has not been known for its ball movement in the Frank Vogel era — never averaging more than 19.9 assists per game and even finishing last in the league during the 2011-12 season — this latest surge in sharing has been a revelation. Nevertheless, a well designed revelation.

"I think the All-Star break helped every one ... (to) come back with a different perspective, knowing that every game matters, trying to make the playoffs and I think every guy came back with the mentality of creating for others instead of looking for something for themselves first," George Hill said. "The confidence that we're playing with is at an all-time high."

On Tuesday night during a 118-86 win over the Orlando Magic, the Pacers' offense produced 37 assists to set a season-high mark. Three starters collected five assists or more and the hottest shooter on the floor, Rodney Stuckey, still led the team with seven.

"The coaches have just been emphasizing, if you don't have the initial offense that we run, then just move it," said Stuckey, who scored a game-high 34 points on 13-of-19 shots against the Magic. "It's just been ball movement. I think we've just been doing a good job."

Stuckey leading the team in scoring and assists wasn't just a statistical anomaly on a balanced offensive night. In spite of performing as one of the best in team total assists since Feb. 1, not one Pacer ranks among the top 20 of individual leaders.

Hill, who does not hold the ball long as the starting point guard, sits just outside that top 20 realm by averaging 5.8 assists. According to player tracking statistics, he averages 63.8 touches per game. By comparison, the lead ball handlers for the three other top assisting teams since Feb. 1 (Stephen Curry, James Harden and Jeff Teague) all average 76.8 or more touches per game — which shows the Pacers are sharing more as a unit than relying on a single player.

"Playing as a team," Vogel said. "We're not a one guy dominates the ball type of a team, we're a team-first team. That's what we're hoping to achieve."

That's a goal carried over from the earliest days of the 2014-15 season. During the team's Media Day session in October, center Roy Hibbert twice name-dropped the San Antonio Spurs as a fluid offensive team the Pacers should emulate.

"Just look at how San Antonio did it," Hibbert said five months ago. "They passed up shots just to get somebody else an open shot. I really respect that. So hopefully we can bring that more into our game. I think guys would really like that."

Now Indiana has achieved its own Spurs-like offense. To an extent.

"Not yet, we ain't won a championship with it," Hill, a former Spur, said pumping the brakes on overstating the Pacers' recent ball movement. "So hopefully when we get to that level when we're winning championships with it then we can put ourselves in that category but right now we're just a team that's hungry and playing good basketball."

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.

MILWAUKEE at INDIANA

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Thursday.

Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

TV: Fox Sports Indiana.

Radio: WFNI-107.5 FM, 1070 AM.

BUCKS (33-30)*

Pos. Player PPG Key stat PG Michael Carter-Williams 14.8 7.2 apg SG Khris Middleton 12.5 4.6 rpg SF Giannis Antetokounmpo 12.3 6.6 rpg PF Ersan Ilyasova 9.6 4.1 rpg C Zaza Pachulia 7.3 6.2 rpg 6th John Henson 7.4 4.5 rpg

PACERS (29-34)

Pos. Player PPG Key stat PG George Hill 13.8 4.5 apg SG C.J. Miles 12.5 2.8 rpg SF Solomon Hill 9.3 4.0 rpg PF David West 12.4 7.2 rpg C Roy Hibbert 10.6 1.7 bpg 6th Rodney Stuckey 12.9 40.4 3FG%

* Statistics through Wednesday

STORYLINES

Streaky: After extending their current streak to half a dozen, the Pacers have accomplished the rarity of having a six-game winning streak and a six-game losing streak in the same season. That last happened in the 2004-05 season.

Bench press: Is there a second unit in the league as strong as the Pacers'? The answer is no. Indiana's bench now leads the league with a 41.8 point per game average, surpassing the Lakers (41.4) after scoring 71 against the Magic. However, Milwaukee's unit isn't too shabby with a 40.2 average, sixth overall.

He said what?! "They're one of the longest teams in the league, that's why they're so effective defensively." — Pacers coach Frank Vogel on the Bucks' crazy length throughout the roster. Antetokounmpo alone has a wingpsan of 7 feet, 4 inches.

Prediction: The Bucks will arrive in Indianapolis after a home game against the Magic, so the Pacers are catching an already stumbling team (losers of 7-of-9 before Wednesday) on the second night of a back to back. Advantage: sizzling-hot Pacers. Indiana wins a defensive struggle, 88-77.

— Candace Buckner