Pacers Lean on Defense in Recent Stretch 'It's Not for Everybody'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Jan 19, 2025 2:33 PM ET

The Indiana Pacers are 8-2 in their last ten games and have surged up to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference after a slow start to the season. With two wins this season over the Boston Celtics and one over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pacers have showcased that they can beat virtually anyone in the league.

Known for their fast-paced offense since making Tyrese Haliburton the face of the franchise, the Pacers have learned to lean on their defense in recent games.

Over the last ten games, the Pacers rank seventh in offensive rating. Last year, they boasted the second-best offense but had the 24th-ranked defense. In their 8-2 run, the Pacers boast the third-best defense in the league, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers.

The Pacers chalk up their much-improved defense to their players buying in more than they did last season and taking pride in turning their weakness into a strength.

"We play a demanding style and it's not for everybody," said head coach Rick Carlisle. "You don't see every team in the league picking up full court the way we do. It's just hard. You don't see seven-footers up on pick-and-rolls at half-court. Our guys are making big sacrifices to make improvements and progress has been made. The work goes on.

Last year, Indiana was a fun and frisky playoff team that clowned around during the All-Star Game Skills Challenge. This season, they want to show that last year wasn't a fluke.

The Pacers' much-improved defense will go up against the best defensive player in the league. Indiana will play Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in two games in Paris, starting on Thursday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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