Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

[marshdaddy]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

I'm surprised how true to real life this has season has been for you. Really hoping for the Dubs to make that run. Did Orlando make any type of deal, injury, something that spurred this run? That's a wild run from a team that had otherwise been very bad.

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

I'm surprised how true to real life this has season has been for you. Really hoping for the Dubs to make that run. Did Orlando make any type of deal, injury, something that spurred this run? That's a wild run from a team that had otherwise been very bad.

I've been pretty pleased with how relatively realistic things have turned out - I stole a few trades at the deadline from real life, but mostly I think it's just a testament to the ATD roster!

Interestingly enough for Orlando, it might be addition by subtraction - Jalen Suggs suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Cole Anthony has taken his starting spot. It's about then that the winning streak started. Additionally, it helps that Toronto is intentionally bottoming out.

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

The final chapter has been written for the 2022-23 Indiana Pacers. Finishing the season with 29 wins after a three-game win streak, this season's Pacers ended up with the second-worst record in the East and fourth-worst in the league.

In a vacuum, that sounds pretty terrible. And these Pacers did lose a lot of games. But let's be real - we all expected that this team would struggle. And this season wasn't all struggle, far from it.

This squad was in the Play-In race until Myles Turner was moved in a league-altering mid-season trade. Bennedict Mathurin is a shoo-in for First Team All-Rookie and a Rookie of the Year candidate. Tyrese Haliburton was an All-Star and established himself as The Guy for years to come.

So, with that said, let's dive in. First, we'll play a little roses, thorns, and buds with this year's Indiana Pacers.

Roses
Tyrese Haliburton
Give it up for our point guard. The league leader in assists (raw totals and per-game) with 823, a Pacers franchise record. Pacers record holder for assists in a game with 25, which he posted twice this season. 20 points a game on top of elite vision and passing ability. Second in the league in steals. All-Star. Most Improved Player finalist.

Tyrese Haliburton is the best floor general in the league, and he hasn't even entered his prime. Before the Pacers sat him in March, Haliburton conducted a top-10 offense and elevated young role players such as Andrew Nembhard and Isaiah Jackson. The emerging pick and roll partnership with the young big man led Jackson to post the team's best plus/minus, as well as the second-best PER (to Haliburton, of course).

The back half of the year brought Haliburton's strongest performances as a shot creator and scorer to date. A career-high 41 points in the team's first game after dealing Myles Turner was paired with 20 assists (another top-5 passing performance in Pacers history). He followed that up with 28-13 and 31-13 in two wins over the Wizards and Jazz. In his last game of the season before being shut down, he dropped a 27-12-15 triple-double, his sixth of the season (T-7th in the league), on the Pistons. This season erased any doubts - Tyrese Haliburton will be the centerpiece of the Indiana Pacers for the foreseeable future.

Marquee Wins
At times, it felt like the Pacers played to the level of their opponent, for better or for worse. This led to some incredible games, from December's demolishing of the Cavs, to a late-season double-duty denial of the Knicks in two crucial games earlier this week (the two Pacers wins pushed the Knicks down to the 10th seed in the East).

Of course, the best game of the year was the Pacers 52 point drubbing of the Bucks in January. And yes, Giannis was playing (I'll admit no Middleton, though). If the Pacers can consistently channel the energy they brought to some of their divisional duels next season, they'll be a force to be reckoned with in the East.

The Pacers got shooters
Buddy Hield. Bennedict Mathurin. Tyrese Haliburton. All three of these players had a top-10 season for three pointers made in Pacers franchise history. Bennedict Mathurin's 211 3PM is second best, better than all of Reggie Miller's seasons excepting 1997 (229). Efficiency-wise, Buddy Hield's 44.2% season is the fourth-best in franchise history and was top-5 in the league.

Plus, the Pacers have stocked up on rookie-contract players with perimeter shooting skills. Chris Duarte, Andrew Nembhard, and Saddiq Bey highlight that group (what a steal - five second rounders for Bey, eh?), but Aaron Nesmith and Oshae Brissett have the ability to splash threes as well. When the Pacers offense was at its best, it was built around Tyrese Haliburton dishing to these shooters to rain threes down on opponents.


Thorns
Ignore the steals and blocks - this defense was terrible
If you measured defense by the number of flash plays, the Pacers would have one of the best in the league! Second in blocks and third in "stocks" per game, these Pacers were like a football team dependent on explosive plays. If the 30-yard shot plays aren't working, there's not much else in the playbook. To complete the analogy, if the Pacers couldn't force their opponents into mistakes or funnel them to their rim protectors inside, the defense would struggle to contain isolation scorers and couldn't consistently counter motion-based offense on the perimeter.

When you measure defenses by, say, how many points they allowed per-100 possessions, the Pacers finished with the third-worst defense in the league. They were better than only the Rockets and Hawks, of which the Rockets were losing on purpose, and the Hawks' centerpiece is the league's worst defensive player. The Pacers allowed the second-best shooting percentages, both overall and beyond the arc, to opponents. Middling rebounding and lackluster defense on the 3-point line defined a squad that couldn't find an identity on D beyond relying on opponents falling into their traps.

Chris Duarte's Sophomore Slump
Coming out of Oregon, Chris Duarte was considered a high-floor prospect. Last year, he displayed why, playing winning basketball and scoring a reasonable 13.1 points on respectable efficiency. This season, he did neither of those things. While Duarte played seven minutes fewer per game, his efficiency took a nosedive, and his defense took a serious step back. A lot of the latter is difficult to measure or isolate given the team's struggles on that end of the floor, but it's clear that Duarte struggled with his reduced role this year.


Buds
Young Leaders
I'm not just referring to Bennedict Mathurin, who led the Pacers in total minutes and points as a rookie. Fellow rookie Andrew Nembhard started 34 games and showcased enough to indicate a positive trajectory as a 3-and-D combo guard. Isaiah Jackson emerged as a top-level energy big off the bench, scoring 12 a game on elite efficiency in addition to excellent rim protection. Jackson's per-36 numbers are astounding, with 20.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks (best in the league!) on 61.2% true shooting. After the year these rookies and sophomores had, they've earned increased roles next season.

Myles Turner's loot and the Pacers War Chest
After years of speculation and will-they-won't-they, Kevin Pritchard and the Pacers front office pulled the trigger on a move for Myles Turner as part of what is likely the most impactful in-season trade in NBA history. The KD portion of this trade has been analyzed and dissected ad nauseam, but I've seen shockingly little in national media about the return for Indiana.

To be fair, Jonas Valanciunas hasn't taken the floor since December (though I've heard whispers he's been fit to play since March), and Devonte' Graham isn't a star. But the Pacers have quietly built up a stockpile of picks, including three firsts this year and two in 2024. This is a team well-positioned to cash in some of those chips for a player who can help them win next season without sacrificing an inflow of talented, cheap prospects. It's not inconcievable that they could win the lottery (fourth-best odds!), draft Victor Wembanyama, then move their remaining picks this year for a winning wing. A starting five of Hali / Hield / A-tier Glue Guy / Wembanyama / Valanciunas is legitimately scary in the East next year, with plenty of room for modularity.


A 2022/23 Pacers Eulogy
They say it's about the journey, not the destination. We came into this year with modest expectations, and in the end we stand exactly where we thought we would those many months ago. This team didn't win a lot of games. There wasn't a lot of national buzz. Hell, we sold off one of our defining faces of the last decade a full month before the deadline, and shut down our best players with weeks left in the season.

But make no mistake - this is a team that was fun to watch, even if they lost two games for every win. Tyrese Haliburton took "the leap," that proverbial step forward that every young star must make. Bennedict Mathurin brought an amount of intensity and focus to the floor that is rare from a rookie. Isaiah Jackson flashed defensive abilities that brought to mind another dearly departed Pacers center.

These Pacers wanted to get in a firefight. They craved the barnburner. They couldn't stop you, but on their night, there's no way you could stop them either. Of course, more nights were the opponents than ours, but there was always plenty of offense to go around, win or loss. Even on those off nights, young players like Mathurin or Andrew Nembhard got the opportunity to learn with the ball in their hands, invaluable experiences for rookies in this league.

In short, the 2022-23 Pacers played hard, scored a lot of points, and learned plenty. What more can you ask for from a team in flux? They were called. They played. They are counted. Long live the 22-23 Pacers.

---

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

SCORING TITLE TRACKER UPDATE: APRIL 10, 2023
Luka Doncic is the 2022-23 NBA scoring champion.

Doncic led the race tape to tape, finishing with a scoring average of 33.3 points per game. That mark is the best in Dallas Mavericks franchise history, surpassing Mark Aguirre (29.5 in 1983-84) when he finished as runner up for the scoring title. His 33.3 points per game ranks as the 22nd-best scoring season in NBA history.

Doncic's closest competitors, Jayson Tatum and DeMar DeRozan, ended with 30.8 and 29.9 points per game, respectively. DeRozan takes home the total points scored crown, as he scored 2450 points in 82 games played for Chicago this season.

Doncic, who was born in Slovenia, is the second international player to win an NBA scoring title - the first was Joel Embiid last season - and the first Maverick to lead the league in scoring.

The best scoring performance of Doncic's season came February 8th, when he scored 58 points in a 117-141 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He also scored 57 on November 2nd versus the Utah Jazz in a 133-117 win. The top scoring performance of the year by any player was Trae Young's 61 points on December 28 in a 146-114 win over Brooklyn. Young, Doncic, and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander share the NBA lead in 50-point games this season, with two each.

NBA 2022-23 Leaders
POINTS PER GAME

1. Luka Doncic (DAL), 33.3
2. Jayson Tatum (BOS), 30.8
3. DeMar DeRozan (CHI), 29.9
4. Trae Young (ATL), 29.7
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), 29.4

REBOUNDS PER GAME

1. Nikola Jokic (DEN), 12.9
2. Domantas Sabonis (SAC), 11.4
3. Clint Capela (ATL), 11.4
4. Rudy Gobert (MIN), 11.2
5. Joel Embiid (PHI), 10.8

ASSISTS PER GAME

1. Tyrese Haliburton (IND), 11.9
2. Trae Young (ATL), 10.5
3. Dejounte Murray (ATL), 9.3
4. Chris Paul (PHX), 9.3
5. James Harden (PHI), 9.2

STEALS PER GAME

1. Jimmy Butler (MIA), 2.2
2. Tyrese Haliburton (IND), 2.1
3. Paul George (LAC), 1.9
4. Dejounte Murray (ATL), 1.9
5. Jose Alvarado (NOP), 1.9

BLOCKS PER GAME

1. Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM), 2.5
2. Mitchell Robinson (NYK), 2.4
3. Myles Turner (NOP), 2.3
4. Anthony Davis (LAL), 2.1
5. Rudy Gobert (MIN), 1.9

TRIPLE-DOUBLES

1. Nikola Jokic (DEN), 22
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), 10
3. Luka Doncic (DAL), 8
4. Dejounte Murray (ATL), 8
5. Domantas Sabonis (SAC), 8

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

1. Zion Williamson (NOP), 62.6%
2. Clint Capela (ATL), 60.4%
3. Isaiah Jackson (IND), 58.5%
4. Daniel Gafford (WAS), 58.2%
5. Jarrett Allen (CLE), 56.4%

THREE POINT PERCENTAGE

1. Seth Curry (BKN), 47.2%
2. Grant Williams (BOS), 45.2%
3. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (DEN), 44.5%
4. Buddy Hield (IND), 44.2%
5. Fred VanVleet (PHX), 43.8%

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE

1. Stephen Curry (GSW), 92.2%
2. Kyrie Irving (DAL), 92.2%
3. Kevin Durant (NOP), 91.4%
4. Kemba Walker (DAL), 91.1%
5. Trae Young (ATL), 90.0%

PLAYER EFFICIENCY RATING

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), 32.7
2. Nikola Jokic (DEN), 31.1
3. Luka Doncic (DAL), 30.4
4. Trae Young (ATL), 29.4
5. Damian Lillard (POR), 27.4

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

[marshdaddy]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

Love those layouts, they look familiar [emoji23]

Pumped to see the Dubs advancing but like in real life, I wonder if it’s gonna matter

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)

NEW YORK – The NBA today announced the finalists for six awards that honor top performers for the 2022-23 regular season: NBA Coach of the Year, Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Kia NBA Most Improved Player, Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, Kia NBA Rookie of the Year and Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

The three finalists for each annual award, based on voting results from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, are listed in alphabetical order below.

KIA NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

NBA COACH OF THE YEAR

• Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings
• Willie Green, New Orleans Pelicans
• Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics

KIA NBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
• Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Myles Turner, New Orleans Pelicans

KIA NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Tyese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
• De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

KIA NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
• Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
• Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings

KIA NBA SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR

• Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
• Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors
• Bobby Portis Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

TNT will announce the winner of each award during its coverage of the 2023 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel. Each voter’s complete ballot for each award will be posted at PR.NBA.com after the announcement of all end-of-season awards.

[ShamWowNY]

Re: Off to the Races || Indiana Pacers (2K23)