Tyrese Haliburton, dizzying Pacers operating at a ridiculous pace

The Indiana Pacers are operating at a ridiculous offensive pace on the court.

Through Thursday, the Pacers (8-6) are first in the NBA in offensive rating (122.7) but last in defensive rating (120.4). 

Last season, the Kings set a record for offensive rating at 119.4. If the Pacers keep their current pace, they will shatter that record. Offensive rating is the number of points per 100 possessions.

The Pacers also lead the NBA in pace of play at 104.75. To put that number into perspective, the seven-seconds-or-less Suns, who revolutionized offensive pace in 2005-06, had a pace of 96.92. Pace is the number of possessions per 48 minutes.

The catalyst behind their offense is fourth-year guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is averaging 25.3 points and a league-leading 12.3 assists. His shooting numbers are equally impressive — 52.1% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range.

If the Pacers can stay in the playoff race, Haliburton will deserve MVP consideration for his offensive brilliance. 

Myles Turner is second on the team in scoring at 16.8 points per game, a number that does not seem high for the second-leading scorer in a historic offense. That's because the Pacers have eight players averaging double-digit points, making it hard for defenses to key on any one player outside of Haliburton. 

The Pacers also rank fifth in three-point attempts per game (39.8) and third in three-point percentage (39.1%)  — a lethal combination in today's space-and-pace NBA. Indiana also ranks first in EFG% (59%) which is a shooting metric that takes into account the difference point value of a two-point shot and a three-point shot. 

With an elite offense, Indiana could be a nightmare for teams during the in-season tournament. The Pacers have already clinched their group, beating the Hawks, 157-152. In a one-game knockout situation, the Pacers could be a handful.