The Pacers are playing 'Pacers basketball', beat Hawks with both of their strengths

INDIANAPOLIS – The Pacers are playing like the Pacers again. The ball movement and player movement of late is crisp – they're averaging 31 assists per game in their last five outings – and they have enough defensive force to go with it.

"Playing fast with a lot of guys touching it. A lot of actions. Confusion. Rim attacks. Kick outs. Threes," Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard said of what feels more normal of late. "A lot of movement, a lot of pace. On ball and off ball."

Against the Hawks on Saturday night, both sides of the team's resurgence was on display. The first half was all about player movement and offensive firepower, with the Pacers finding the net on 58% of their shots and 55% of their three-point looks.

Even with nine turnovers, that accuracy gave the Pacers 80 points at halftime. They were scoring with ease, and all of Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Pascal Siakam were in double figures by halftime. Those three all looked terrific against Atlanta and are all in a groove.

Jay Huff (13 points) and Bennedict Mathurin (eight points and three assists) both were effective on the offensive end in the first half as well. It was among the best two-quarter stretches the Pacers have had with the rock all season.

Circle City Spin

The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, up close

Circle City SpinTony East

And yet, they were only up by seven at halftime. They conceded 73 points to the Hawks and weren't able to create much separation on the scoreboard. Better defense was needed in the second half, especially considering how poorly the Pacers played on the less glamorous end of the floor against Atlanta just five days prior.

At halftime, the team acknowledged how poorly they were defending. But not by watching tape of their first-half failures. Instead, head coach Rick Carlisle sent a message in the locker room.

"We didn't watch any film at halftime. Just challenged each other to be more physical and more defiant," he said. "The first half, they were just doing whatever they wanted."

That message was received. After allowing 73 points in the first half, the Pacers held the Hawks to 51 in the second half. Atlanta canned fewer than 40% of their shots in the final two quarters, and the Pacers never trailed after the 3:46 mark of the second quarter.

The Pacers, since January 8, are 7-5. In that stretch, they are the NBA's 13th rated defense. They displayed that level in the second half after showing the old, high-scoring Pacers style in the first half.

Altogether, that was enough to win again. The Pacers are on a somewhat sustained run of good play, winning seven of their last 12 games and doing so in different ways. Some games, their offense pops. In others, their defense shows some teeth. After some early-season struggles in clutch time, the Pacers have won three-straight tight games.

Nesmith called it "Pacers basketball", and being able to win in different ways is the sign of a solid team. How much decent play should the Pacers want, given the inverse standings? That's up for debate. But right now, they are showing the level that some predicted was possible before the season.

"Playing fast, moving the ball, and also sitting down and playing defense," Siakam said of what feels better of late. "No matter what, even when we're down and everything, that's what Pacers basketball is about. Continue to fight, working together as a team."

After six wins in the team's first 37 games, they've won seven in under a month. It's proof of concept for what the Pacers hoped this season would be. At some point, though, they may need to think about what this season is now. But on Saturday, they beat Atlanta 129-124 with all of Nesmith, Nembhard, and Siakam scoring over 20 points. It's the latest result in the Pacers best run of play this season.

The latest on Obi Toppin's health

Obi Toppin had surgery in early November on his right foot, and he's been on the mend ever since. The reserve forward has played in just three games this season.

Toppin's designation on the injury report is listed as a right foot stress fracture, and his last appearance in a game was October 26. Carlisle provided an update on his status before Pacers-Hawks.

"He's ahead of schedule, technically. He's back on the court doing things," Carlisle said of Toppin. "But he'll be a while, it'll be a bit longer."

The Pacers have 33 more games for Toppin to potentially return. He averaged 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game when available this season.

Will Pascal Siakam be an All-Star?

NBA All-Star reserves will be announced later this afternoon. Pascal Siakam has a strong individual case, but the Pacers have the fourth-worst record in the NBA.

Those competing realities make it tough to predict if Siakam will be honored for his strong season. "It would be great. I think, obviously, something that you want to accomplish as a player," Siakam said. "It would be dope if I can make it. It would be a testament to the hard work and dedication and no matter what, just continue to fight."

As I have done a few times this season: rounding down Siakam's per game stats to the nearest half number produces averages of 23.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. The full list of players with all of those stats: Siakam, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Deni Avdija, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid.

That's quite the group. Siakam's case, statistically, is solid. And his defense is strong. But the Pacers record may hold him back. He'll find out later today.

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