Fansided

NBA Power Rankings: The Boston Celtics are back, baby

By Ian Levy

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at TD Garden on December 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at TD Garden on December 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 16
Next
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 08: Tyreke Evans #12 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 8, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 08: Tyreke Evans #12 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 8, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

100. . 17-10. Previous: 9th. indiana pacers. 7. team

The Pacers have, somewhat remarkable, seemed to find their footing without Victor Oladipo. It wasn’t necessarily a murderer’s row but wins over Chicago, Orlando, Sacramento and Washington still make for a 4-0 week. Altogether, the Pacers are now 7-4 in the 11 games that Oladipo has been out of the lineup. With their star scorer essentially out indefinitely, every win the Pacers can pick up in the interim will be enormously helpful for their playoff chances.

With Oladipo out, Bojan Bogdanovic has been sensational, averaging 19.4 points per game, shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 44.9 percent on 3-pointers. The offense has also settled into a nice balance with four additional players — Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Thad Young and Doug McDermott averaging double-figures while shooting at least 50 percent from the field. This may not be what the Pacers expected but it seems to be working for now.

Home/NBA