Jonathan Isaac - Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Defense wins championships. Even in this era where offense is more heavily favored by most, no team can expect to win a title without being able to fight and hustle in the less glamorous side of the floor. Unsurprisingly, the Indiana Pacers easily failed to capture a banner this year or even make the playoffs with their mediocre defense.
The Blue and Gold have perennially been one of the league’s better defensive teams. For quite some time, the team rested its laurels on the brilliance of defensive anchor Myles Turner as the centerpiece on D.