Pacers Struggle Defensively After Myles Turner Departure

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — The Indiana Pacers are struggling without their former star Myles Turner, who left to join the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal worth $108.8 million after 10 seasons with the team. Despite a recent 127-118 win over the Charlotte Hornets, the Pacers’ defense has shown it is still missing Turner’s shot-blocking ability.

Turner’s departure has left a considerable gap in the Pacers’ interior defense. The current frontcourt duo of Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson has failed to fill that void. While they combined for 12 blocked shots in their last two games against the Hornets and the Cleveland Cavaliers, their overall performance this season has seen the Pacers’ defense struggle immensely.

This season, the Pacers are standing at a disappointing record of 2-14, with a daunting net rating of -12.8, ranking them 29th in the league. Their defensive rating of 118.9 is the sixth worst, highlighting their inability to protect the basket effectively.

The stats show a stark contrast to Turner’s era with the team, during which opponents were held to 61.2% shooting from less than five feet away. This season, the Pacers have allowed a shocking 68.1% shooting from that same range, showcasing their defensive vulnerabilities.

Even though the Pacers’ management believed Huff could be a budget-friendly replacement and Jackson could thrive on both ends of the court, neither player has found success. Huff’s defensive issues are compounded by his poor offensive performance, with a true shooting percentage of just 50.0% and three-point shooting at 27.7% on 4.1 attempts per game.

Jackson, while more efficient with 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds on 56.3% shooting, has not been utilized enough on offense, averaging only 5.4 shot attempts per game. The team faces an uphill battle to improve their defensive rating and recapture their competitive edge.

As they push through this challenging phase without Turner, the Pacers remain hopeful that their defense can soon find a way to intimidate opposing teams’ frontcourts.