What Stat Showcases How Weak the Pacers Are?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Nov 24, 2024 4:38 PM ET

The Indiana Pacers are currently 6-10 and are 11th in the Eastern Conference. They made it all the way to the Conference Finals last season and were once again hoping to rival the Boston Celtics this year, but they have instead turned into the laughingstock of the NBA.

The East has been historically awful to start the season, and the Pacers are no exception. Indiana is only ahead of the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets in the standings and find themselves behind teams that were predicted to tank like the Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, and Chicago Bulls.

While injuries to James Wiseman, Isaiah Jackson, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith have certainly played a part in the Pacers' abrupt downfall, lackluster play from Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner is also a factor that can't be ignored.

However, one intriguing stat has reared its ugly head, which is why we here at All Pacers feel comfortable calling the team a "punching bag."

In seven of the ten losses the Pacers have suffered, their opponent had lost the prior game. In other words, if you're team needs to snap a losing streak, going up against Indiana is a good way to do it.

The Pacers are not matching up with teams that have momentum. Only their losses to the Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, and Milwaukee Bucks were at least the second consecutive win for those teams. All seven of their other losses have been against teams that were on a losing streak.

The Pacers, weirdly, have beaten both the Celtics and Dallas Mavericks this year, proving (to some degree) that they can hang with the big boys. However, the Pacers can't beat teams in low places, which might prevent them from even making the playoffs, let alone going on a run.

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

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