Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Jan 8 at Indiana Pacers

Major key for Indiana – Help from inside

Although the Pacers are generally a middle of the pack team when it comes to points in the paint, there was one positive element of their 21-point blowout loss in Milwaukee last week that may point to how they can overcome the Bucks on Monday.

While there weren’t a large number of positives for Indiana to turn to from that game, they did find scoring in the paint to be particularly easy.

Domantas Sabonis provided the best example of this as he broke out for a season-high 24 points in his 33 minutes off the bench, but on the whole, the interior provided the best avenue of attack for the Pacers.

In total, the Pacers outscored the Bucks by 68-54 in the paint, a rare feat considering the Bucks are consistently a top-five paint scoring team.

Oladipo’s return should offer a more diverse attack organically enough for the Pacers, but he will still need help. The best avenue for that support may come from the likes of Sabonis and Myles Turner attacking the Bucks at the rim.