by Jordan Morey
Entering the 2023-24 season, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle and his staff had a people opportunity – not a problem. Returning promising young talent, seasoned vets, and star power from last year’s roster, and adding coveted competitors through free agency and the draft, Blue & Gold brass knew dividing up minutes would prove challenging in the months ahead.
The Pacers staff also knew that to achieve the franchise’s goal of making it back to the postseason, the team would need to utilize the strengths of its individuals to succeed as a whole. “We’re going to have to really have ‘the team,’ ‘the team,’ ‘the team’ mindset,” Carlisle said Nov. 8. “There’s just no other way.”
Eleven games into its current campaign, the Pacers are playing an energetic, joyous, selfless brand of basketball that’s entrancing fans in the Hoosier State and beyond. Coming off a statement win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, Indiana (7-4) currently leads the league in points and assists per game.
While the starting unit has put together a slew of solid performances to start the season, major credit has been given to the bench play in Indiana’s victories numerous times.
The 2023-24 bench for the Pacers is on track to repeat as the league’s highest-scoring second unit. Through Thursday night’s games, no bench unit in the NBA had scored more points per game than the Pacers this season. Across 11 games, the Pacers reserves have outscored their opponents benches 546-346.
Among bench units, Indiana is averaging a league-best 49.6 points and 7.0 3-point makes per game, is second in both assists per game (12.4), and rebounds (18.5). The stats are nice, but wins are better….and the Pacers’ bold box scores have translated to victories more times than not.
Thus far, Indiana’s bench has outscored its opposition nine times, tied once and was outscored in just a single game. When the Pacers bench scores more than the other side’s reserves, the team is 7-2. The bench margins, for the most part, haven’t been close. The Blue & Gold largely dominate their opponents’ benches on a game-by-game basis.
Pacers’ 2023-24 Bench Scoring Differentials
| Date | Opponent | Bench Scoring | Margin | Pacers Result |
| Oct. 25 | Washington | 59-46 | +13 | Win |
| Oct. 28 | at Cleveland | 61-11 | +50 | Win |
| Oct. 30 | Chicago | 30-30 | 0 | Loss |
| Nov. 1 | at Boston | 60-63 | -3 | Loss |
| Nov. 3 | Cleveland | 46-30 | +16 | Win |
| Nov. 4 | Charlotte | 41-27 | +14 | Loss |
| Nov. 6 | San Antonio | 78-54 | +24 | Win |
| Nov. 8 | Utah | 59-37 | +22 | Win |
| Nov. 9 | Milwaukee | 32-29 | +3 | Win |
| Nov. 12 | at Philadelphia | 47-13 | +34 | Loss |
| Nov. 14 | at Philadelphia | 33-6 | +27 | Win |
“Everybody’s contributing. We probably, truthfully, have the best bench in the NBA right now,” Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton said following the win against Milwaukee. “Everybody’s doing a good job of starting quarters, ending quarters, and just figuring out ways to win. We’re rolling right now.”
Eight players are currently averaging double-digit points for the Pacers, including three players who haven’t started a game yet this season: Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith and Buddy Hield. Nesmith and Smith have significantly improved this season, while Hield has proven a lethal presence off the bench.
Nesmith, who inked an extension with the organization on Oct. 23, has played up to his new contract with the team. The 6-5 forward is putting up career-best averages in points (12.1), overall (51.2 percent), and 3-point (37.2 percent) shooting, rebounds (3.3), and assists (2.8) per game while also having to often guard the top or second-best scorer on the opposing team every night.
Like Nesmith, a strong offseason for Smith has translated into his best professional season yet. In nine games played, the backup big man is averaging 11 points on an impressive 70.9 percent shooting (66.7 percent from 3-point range) and 6.0 rebounds.
Smith currently has a true shooting percentage of 80.4 percent, the second-best of any player in the league. Smith has delivered when the Pacers have needed a boost of energy off the bench.
“I chalk it up to the type of character that he has,” Carlisle said of Smith. “He went through some things last year where there were some real ups and downs, mentally (and) emotionally. (He) starts 27 games, gets benched, goes through some of the mental gyrations with that and just decided that, ‘I’ve gotta pick it up. I’ve gotta work harder when I get my opportunities. I gotta raise my level.’ He did that.”
At the guards, Hield, Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell have all played their roles at high levels. Hield, who started for the Pacers in 73 games last season, is playing 23.5 minutes per game and averaging 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Since the 2017-18 season, no player in the NBA has made more 3-pointers than Hield, and he is still averaging just under three per game in his new role.
Against the Cavs in game one of the In-Season Tournament, Hield hit clutch 3-pointers down the final stretch and the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse chanted his name. While Hield is known for his offense, Carlisle noted the shooting guard’s defense has seen significant improvements this season compared to last.
Nembhard, a second-round pick last season, has continued to grow for the Pacers on both ends of the court. The Gonzaga product steers the second unit at the point with a calm, patient, fluid style of play, and is putting up 7.5 points and 4.0 assists in 18 minutes of action per night.
McConnell, the group’s veteran, has seen his minutes fluctuate this season but hasn’t veered from his bulldog approach to the game and desire to help his teammate improve. While playing in just seven games, McConnell is averaging 7.6 points per game, 3.3 assists and has an assists/turnover ratio of 4.6.
Throughout the season, Carlisle and McConnell’s teammates have commended him for his leadership and professionalism this season.
“Our depth is amazing,” Pacers starting forward Obi Toppin said. “We need every single guy from the starters to the last guy on the bench. We need every single person to come in when their name is called and be that guy on the floor to do whatever we need to win. Every single person who’s been on the floor has done that. T.J., he’s been doing his job. Jalen’s been doing his job. Anybody who comes in the game knows their assignment. And that’s why we’ve been successful so far.”
At the start of the season, Carlisle made it clear finding minutes for so many quality players wouldn’t be easy, and some guys would play on an ad hoc basis. That has happened multiple times this season, but it was best illustrated against Tuesday in Philadelphia.
After playing in just four games prior this season, Isaiah Jackson had his number called with starting center Myles Turner in foul trouble and Smith on the sidelines with an injury. The result? Jackson finished with seven points, nine rebounds (five offensive) and four assists across 17 minutes – while guarding the reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid on and off – to help his team to the biggest win of the season.
“We have a lot of guys on this team who can go ahead and get 20 (points),” Pacers starting guard Bennedict Mathurin said after the win in Milwaukee. “We have a lot of guys that can go ahead and get 10 rebounds. I feel like we have a lot of depth on the team, and that’s really a blessing.”
The Pacers will look to build on their fast start against the Orlando Magic on Sunday.