The Copy-Cat Pacers

If, as they say, imitation is the cheapest form of wit, then right now the Indiana Pacers have the NBA in stitches, while Chicago looks on stone faced with their arms across their chests.

By virtue of their increasingly competitive divisional rivalry (Chicago and Indiana have been a clear 1-2 in the Central these past three seasons) the Pacers have had a better look than anybody at Chicago’s remarkable defense under Tom Thibodeau.

In fact, in Thibodeau’s first two seasons in charge of Chicago, the Bulls beat Indiana in 5 out of the 7 occasions they met, with Indiana breaking 90 just twice. In that time the Bulls have emerged as one of the NBA’s premier teams and if not for Derrick Rose’s knee injury on the eve of last year’s playoffs, were perhaps well placed to contend for the title.

And it’s through observing, and of late replicating this remarkable defense that the Pacers under coach Frank Vogel have for the moment taken the mantle of the NBA’s most stingy rearguard- as well as the lead in the Central.

The Pacers are currently second only to Memphis where point per game defense is concerned while they league the lead in both defensive field goal and 3 point percentage. Thanks to the emerging Roy Hibbert and their interior defence they’re second in the league for conceded shots at the rim.

The Pacers are also rebounding extremely well, having collected the 4^th most boards in the league, while hosting no less than 9 players who are averaging more than 2.5 rebounds per game.

Granted, at this stage it’s hard to be as gushing about the Pacers offence which ranks third last, though they have been without the services of Danny Granger who since joining the Pacers 5 seasons ago has remained their most potent weapon. In addition, the Pacers lead in the Central also has a hell of a lot to do with what’s been the league’s most gentle schedule to date.

The last time the Pacers were this competent on defense was in the 2003-04 season when under rookie coach Rick Carlisle they made it all the way to the Eastern Finals. Perhaps if they can regain Granger and further upgrade their offense before the trade deadline, they may indeed be the conference’s most legitimate contender to Miami, even if some markets mightn’t entirely agree.