They still look like strangers too often, like five guys who showed up for a pickup game at the park and happened to wind up on the same team. They struggle to create open shots, their reckless drives into the lane wind up going nowhere, they don't cover for one another on defense often enough and too many rebounds go unclaimed.
This is not where the Pacers wanted to be 16 games into the season. Wednesday's 96-85 loss to Atlanta dropped their record to 7-9 and tacked on their fourth loss at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Those precious November home games have dwindled to two before they head out for a four-game Western road trip next week, a bounty they can't afford to squander.