Whether anticipating passing lanes or redirecting the flight of the ball, Thaddeus Young’s activity level on the defensive end shouldn’t be questioned. Averaging 1.6 steals per game while only being out hustled for deflections by Paul George, the lefty power forward’s quick hands can at times be credited not only for cutting an opponent’s possession short of a shot attempt but also creating an easy transition opportunity for his teammates.
Even so, the Pacers rank 24th defensively (at 107.1 points per 100 possessions), and they allow nearly the same amount of points with Young on the floor (107.