With Indiana’s helter-skelter pace deliberately tapering off so the defense could tighten up, Trevor Booker’s interior toughness was more naturally suited for what the team became over the second-half of the season than T.J. Leaf’s inexperienced grasp of pick-and-roll coverage and rotation assignments.
Not only did the Pacers rebound at a team-high rate when the physical seven-year veteran was on the floor, but Cory Joseph, Lance Stephenson, and Domantas Sabonis were plus-15 in the 69 minutes they played with Booker compared to minus-37 in 165 minutes with Leaf.