Indiana at Boston
Time: 6:30 PM CT (NBA LP)
Spread: BOS -5
Total: 207.5
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Indiana Pacers have won seven of its past 10 games and are currently seeded No. 4 in the East. Indy still trails Cleveland by a half-game for the No. 3 spot, while its opponent is the No. 2 seeded 46-20 Boston Celtics. The Celtics have won its past two contests but trail No. 1 Toronto by three games with just 16 regular season games on the slate for Boston.
The Celtics are 5-point favorites at the TD Garden over visiting Indiana. The Pacers are 15-16 on the road this season, and the over/under is set at 207.5 points by NBA oddsmakers at 5dimes.
IND
The Indiana Pacers meanwhile have been the surprise team of the Eastern Conference thus far, and one need look no further than the breakout season of guard Victor Oladipo to determine why. Indy also has gone 7-5 over its past 10 games, but should continue to maintain about a .500 record and make its way into a lower seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Truthfully, no one expected the Pacers to be this “Decent,” and the team could be better still if Myles Turner eventually realizes the star power he possesses and begins to take more shots.
Instead thus far, it has been Oladipo and his 23.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game that lead the team.
Oladipo has a PER of 23.3, and finally seems to have realize the true value of the three-point shot. Once so highly dependent on the mid-range game, Oladipo has adapted to this era of NBA basketball and is attempting six threes per night at a 37 percent clip. Turner is taking just 10.1 shot attempts per night though in his 29 minutes a game, and his biggest impact has been his rim protection, as Turner averages a stellar1.96 blocks per game thus far.
Not to be forgotten in the mix has been the strong play of sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic. The new acquisition seemingly could fit on every team, as shooters tend to, but Bogdanovic has averaged 14.4 points per game while shooting 39.6 percent from three on 4.8 attempts per night. Darren Collison is a clear downgrade from George Hill, but has done as well as possibly could have been expected in posting 12.8 points and 5.2 assists in 30 minutes a night. Rounding out the Pacers’ rotation is center Domantas Sabonis, stretch-4 Thaddeus Young and a resurgent Lance Stevenson. Stephenson has been a valuable contributor off the bench averaging 9.2 points and 0.59 steals in 23 minutes a night.
Sabonis came with Oladipo in the trade that sent Paul George to OKC, and he has proven to be much better as an interior player than the stretch-4 he functioned as during his rookie season last year. Young is good for nearly 12 points per game and keeps power forwards away form the basket. The Pacers simply are a much better constructed team than we initially credited them for entering this season, but no one expected Oladipo to go from being a middling starter to an All-Star in one offseason either.
What a difference coaching and play style makes, because Oladipo has always possessed the sheer talent to be this good, as a No. 2 overall pick who wasted his first several seasons with poor coaching in an Orlando Magic uniform.
CELTICS
Crucial in replacing the injured Gordon Hayward has been rookie Jayson Tatum and second-year swingman Jaylen Brown, who ranks No. 3 and No. 2, respectively, on the team in scoring.
Tatum has been nothing short of sensational and is averaging 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 30.5 minutes a night. Brown has improved nearly every facet of his game and is good for 14.1 points and 0.97 steals per night.
But perhaps the biggest difference maker has been franchise player Kyrie Irving. Irving was acquired at the “low” cost of Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder from the Cleveland Cavs this past offseason, and he is playing the best and most efficient basketball of his NBA career.
Irving has averaged 24.9 points per game and five assists per night while posting a team-high PER of 25.4. Along with Irving’s career year has come one from veteran Al Horford, who has developed into one of the league’s most effective high-post passers. Horford ranks second in assists behind Irving (5.1) at 4.9 per game—and he is shooting a blistering 43 percent from three-point range while connecting on nearly 50 percent of his field goals overall.
Outside of these highly effective four players, has been the strong play of a cast of role players: Marcus Smart is still one of the league’s best defenders, and Marcus Morris seems to have found a home in Boston, replacing the colossal bust that was Jared Sullinger several seasons ago.
Second-Year guard Terry Rozier has developed nicely in his second season, and despite his shooting struggles (40 percent field goals) has looked as though he will eventually be a very integral part of the team.?In 23 minutes a night, Rozier makes his impact known, though his 9.3 points per game may seem humble.
The fact remains, Brad Stevens simply knows best how to milk the talent of his roster, and the disaster that Hayward incurred is largely forgotten by a Celtics’ fanbase thinking “title” no matter the cost.
