This is the NBA's new generation of All-Star duo with superior offensive firepower and defensive ability, and they also have the league's best spatial five position, and they are aiming to break the playoff curse of the Pacers for years: Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers had a great 2023-24 season, finishing runners-up in the mid-season tournament, and they made a big move mid-season by trading three first-round picks with Bruce Brown and Jordan Nora for Siakam, who they hope will lead the team to the playoffs alongside Haliburton.
At the moment, Siakam seems to be a perfect fit for the Pacers, and his combination with Haliburton and Turner is perfect, with his skill set and the core of the team complementing each other.
Pacers' playoff prospects
The Pacers currently have a 31-25 record and are sixth in the East, their offensive efficiency is the highest in the league, their scoring is also the highest in the league, and their goal difference is among the best in the league.
Before Siakam was introduced, the Pacers' offense was already the strongest in the NBA, and his addition made their offense even more terrifying, with their offensive efficiency reaching 120.5, which is higher than the Celtics in the first place in the East.
Although the team's core Tyrese Haliburton suffered a hamstring injury in early January, the Pacers' overall performance has been excellent. According to the NBA's latest load management rules, players must play at least 65 games to be eligible for the award. As a result, Haliburton could lose up to $40 million in revenue by missing games due to injury. Haliburton himself expressed his displeasure with the rule, saying it was a stupid rule.
Haliburton leads the league with 11.7 assists per game so far this season, and he is expected to be named to the All-Star team this season. If he is selected, the five-year, $204.5 million max contract that will take effect next season could rise to more than $245 million.
However, if he fails to meet the threshold of playing at least 20 minutes per game and playing more than 65 games, he will face a huge loss of money.
The Pacers also made some changes before the trade deadline, trading outside shooter Hield, whose contract is expiring, to the Philadelphia 76ers and re-signing wing player Doug McDermott, who played for the team in 2021.
At the moment, although the Pacers are sixth in the East, they are only half a win ahead of the Magic in eighth place in the East, and the situation is not stable.
For the Pacers, the addition of Siakam has undoubtedly breathed new life into the team. His chemistry with Haliburton and Turner is eye-catching, with the trio's complementary skills set to set the playoffs by storm.
Siakam excelled at running off the ball, which allowed Haliburton to make the most of his playmaking. And Turner, as a spacing five and a top rim protector, could allow Siakam to get more open opportunities and focus more on the wings. This combination of inside and outside play makes the Pacers' offense more fluid and unpredictable.
Siakam's early performances in Indiana
Although Siakam has only played 15 games for the Pacers, he has become the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 21.3 points per game while shooting 57.9 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point range. Notably, this is the first time in his career that he has shot over 37% from three-point range.
In addition, Siakam is also excellent in rebounding, tying Turner for the team's rebounding leader, averaging 6.9 rebounds per game. At the same time, he also ranked third with 4.6 assists per game on the Pacers, showing his all-round individual ability.
By comparing Siakam's on-field and off-court stats for Indiana, we can get a more intuitive sense of his huge impact on the team. When Siakam was on the bench, the Pacers scored 13.2 fewer points per 100 possessions than their opponents, the biggest margin of the team. When he's on the court, that number becomes plus 6.0, a whopping 19.2 points difference. It's enough to prove his great value on the field.
As for his partnership with Haliburton, although the team has a record of only 3 wins and 6 losses in the nine games they have played together, their performance on the offensive end has been impressive. Combined, the pair averaged 58.7 points per game, shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from three-point range, as well as grabbing 17.9 rebounds and diching out 15.1 assists.
In the 197 minutes they played together, they averaged 9.3 more points per 100 possessions than their opponents, the second-highest among the active duo.
Although the new All-Star duo has not played much as a duo due to Haliburton's injury problems, the level of chemistry is still in its infancy. However, it is foreseeable that if they can have more time to play together, further grind and improve their chemistry, they will become an even more feared duo than they are now.
Only time will tell. But in Indianapolis, Pacers fans have seen a glimmer of hope. For the first time in a long time, they have reason to be optimistic that in the near future, the team is expected to go far in the playoffs.
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