Key #2 – Keep Indy off the three-point line
Surprising though it may seem, the Indiana Pacers are second in the league in three-point percentage at 38.3 percent, trailing only the incredibly talented Golden State Warriors (38.9 percent). When you look at what their individual guys are shooting, though, it becomes clear just how the Pacers have been so red-hot from deep.
Bojan Bogdanovic, Domantas Sabonis and Cory Joseph are all shooting over 38 percent while Victor Oladipo, Alex Poythress, Darren Collison and T.J. Leaf are all shooting over 40 percent.
Ironically enough, though, while the Pacers are near the top in the league in three-point percentage, they’re also among the bottom in the league in three-point attempts as they put up just 24.8 per contest, good for 25th in the NBA. In other words, the three-point shot has been an incredible weapon for Indy, but they haven’t overused it, but have instead relied on a well-balanced attack.
Even with that being the case, the Pacers are taking exactly two more three-point shots in wins than in losses. So if Utah wants to hold Indiana in check and prevent them from getting in a groove from three where they’ve been red hot, they’ll need to do everything they can to limit them from getting good looks from behind the arc.
The Pacers are also shooting an incredible 43.4 percent from deep in wins and just 31.9 percent in losses. That’s a stark difference and just goes to show that if Indy is hitting from three (which they do extremely well) they’re likely winning the game. The Jazz will need to take it upon themselves to seal up the perimeter with everything they have if they are to prevent the Pacers from running them off the court.