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The Indiana Pacers have started the season winning all their six matches to match the best start to the season in franchise history. This 6-0 start leaves them as the only team presently in the NBA to have a perfect start to the season.
Perhaps, inspired by their near feat of reaching the Finals last year, the team is playing with a purpose. Behind an emerging MVP candidate in Paul George and front runner for the Defensive Player of the Year (DPoY) award in Roy Hibbert, the Pacers would be looking to go further in the post-season than where they faltered last season. In November it’s too early to plan Championship parades but one thing is for certain the Pacers are good, really good and almost two weeks into the NBA they look the only worthy Eastern Conference contender to defending champions Miami Heat. So what exactly have they done right these six games which has seen them get the W at the final horn irrespective of the opponent? Just Enough Offense: – Although the team is yet to find its complete offensive rhythm, George, Lance Stephenson and Luis Scola have been key to the Pacers landing the league’s second best net rating of plus 13.4. Averaging 25.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals, at just 23 George is filling the stat sheet at an MVP level. In Stephenson the Pacers look poised to land their second straight Most Improved Player of the Year award as he has averaged a healthy 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Off-season signing Scola, while shooting 60% from the field, provides the team steady offense while the starters are taking a rest. Their oversized front court has contributed only 33.2 points per game in the paint, second fewest in the league. That stat is definitely one which will only rise as the season progresses. Danny Granger, out with a calf injury, is yet to make his 2013-14 season debut. George Hill missed the last three games with a hip injury. So reinforcements are on their way, for a team which from the looks of it doesn’t require any of the help. Championship-level defense: – Coach Frank Vogel said. “I think we have a championship-level defense. And we’ve got enough offensive pieces to put it all together on the offensive end. So it will be an exciting year.” They definitely have a championship level defense. No doubt there. Their defensive rating is the best in the NBA. Their opponents are only managing 37.5% field goal percentage and 1.00 points per shot, both fewest in the league. They average a league high 10.4 in blocks and allow the fifth fewest free-throws in the league with 19.6. The stats show how the team wins games with its defense. For a successful team defense, you require good individual defenders and Vogel has athletic, physical defenders on the wings in George and Stephenson. Hill has incredible athleticism along with his length to keep pace with present day point guards.
Roy Hibbert has been a beast in the paint early this season.
But it all starts with the 7 foot 2 inches beast in the paint- Roy Hibbert. After setting his sights on the DPoY and bulking up in the post season, Hibbert has opened this season making a statement on the defensive end. In the first 5 games he currently has 26 blocks which is more than 22 of the 30 teams. He has 4+ blocks in 4 out of the 5 games including a 7 block performance on opening night against the Orlando Magic. He has mastered the art of staying vertical, thus contributing more to the team as he stays out of foul trouble. Sight set on Championship but focused on each game: – The Pacers has their sight set on making the Finals and winning it all this season but remember an important lesson learnt from last year. Said George “We know how big the No. 1 seed is. Come one game away and play Game 7 on the opponents’ floor, where they’re getting all the energy. And they just came out and played huge on their floor. That’s in the back of our minds and something that’s motivating us to come out and keep playing well.” The Pacers understand the importance of playing a Game 7 of a Playoff series at home. The importance of that 1st seed has motivated this team to come together and grind each game through and get the win after 48 minutes. David West voiced the same opinion about getting the top seed heading into the Playoffs “We’ve talked about competing for the ’1? seed from opening night. We feel like that’s a realistic goal. Obviously we understand there are some tough teams out there, some teams got better. Obviously Miami’s the defending champs. But we trust who we are. We believe in who we are. He further says “We’re working toward that. That’s our focus. I remember saying that after Game 7 last year, ‘It’s a totally different series if we’re on our home court.’” Last season Conference Finals loss might just have been the added motivation the Pacers needed to value each game of the regular season and win as many as they can so as to have home court advantage when and if they make it back to the Conference Finals. Highly inspired and highly motivated the defense driven Pacers are the team to watch out for the season. Their early season play and perfect start positions them a step ahead of the rest of the contenders in the East.
