INDIANAPOLIS — When the Pacers started the season with three straight loses and 9 new faces folks around here began to panic. OH MY GOD!!! Folks were losing their minds like Stuart Little was running through the streets saying the sky was falling. Since coming out of the gate slow Indiana has won 7 of 8 games and four straight including a 111-85 pasting of OKC on Tuesday night.
Nate McMillan’s crew jumped out of the Big Body Chevy led by TJ Warren’s 23 points in which he scored 11 of them in the third quarter. NUTS!!! Ole boy was unconscious shooting the ball as he attacked the Thunder defense. After the game he had this to say about his performance, “I just wanted to come out with a high sense of urgency out there. I know we had a good little lead and we just wanted to put them away in the third. I just wanted to be aggressive and attack.” Well playas…he did that and some.
Not only did Warren do damage to OKC but his homeboys coming out of the passenger and backseats had his back too. Malcolm Brogdon dropped off 20 points as Domantas Sabonis had 18 points with an amazing 16 rebounds. Aaron Holiday came through with 17 points on his way to Big Momma’s house.
These Pacers are starting to purr like a kitten and they haven’t even gotten their best player back. Victor Oladipo is supposed to practice with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants so there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Therefore, it’s going to be nuts when he gets back into the lineup.
Indiana went into the break with a 9 point lead up 51-42 but literally exploded in the third quarter to put the Thunder away by putting up 34 points and only giving up 20. It was Chris Brown up in that piece “On and Poppin’!”
They are starting to find the right rhythm on the floor and even with running the right plays to certain players. Nate had this say in the postgame press conference. “It’s a new group. Part of it is figuring these guys out, where they like the ball, what they can do with the basketball. We’re starting to personalize some of the sets in the offense, spotting where guys can be effective and productive.”
Once they figure it all out and have Vic back it’s going to be a fun team to watch. Up next the Rockets on the road. Stop me when I start lyin’!
