NBA Fantasy Preview 2021-22: Indiana Pacers

Domantas Sabonis (YouTube)

In a 30-part series leading up to the start of the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season, we will take a look at each NBA franchise from a fantasy perspective. The 12th team we will review is the Indiana Pacers.

From a fan perspective, the Indiana Pacers could be considered one of the more frustrating teams to cheer for in the NBA. On paper, you would think Indiana has the skill set to be solid, but each and every year they turn out to be only mediocre. Last season was a prime example, as Indiana was four games below .500 at 34 wins and 38 losses, and lost the play-in game to the Washington Wizards by a commanding score of 142-115.

The most valuable Pacers player from a fantasy perspective is by far Domantas Sabonis, the Lithuanian southpaw. Last season, Sabonis had 2313 fantasy points*, which ranked him fifth among NBA centers and power forwards. At power forward, Sabonis only trailed Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Julius Randle of the New York Knicks, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. At center, Sabonis was only behind Jokic, Randle, Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls and Antetokounmpo.

Sabonis is a solid defender. His 592 defensive rebounds ranked him sixth last year in the NBA. Sabonis was also eighth in total rebounds with 742.

The other fantasy asset on the Pacers is Malcolm Brogdon of Atlanta, Georgia. Ranked 14th in the NBA among point guards with 1888 fantasy points, where Brogdon is an asset comes in his free throw shooting. While with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018-19, Brogdon had a free throw percentage of .928 in 2018-19, which led the NBA.

T.J. McConnell led the NBA last season with 128 steals, and was the first player in NBA history to have a triple-double night which included a double-digit total in steals. However, he is less of a fantasy asset because he only had three starts last year and comes off the bench when Brogdon needs time to rest.

Center Myles Turner is a blocking machine. He led the NBA last year with 3.4 blocks per game. However he only scored 592 points last year and has only reached 1000 points once in his NBA career.

Meanwhile, shooting guard Caris LeVert did not play a full season last year because of cancer in his kidney. This season he will probably not be starting the year with Indiana because of a back problem.

*Please note: To calculate NBA fantasy points for point guards, shooting guards and small forwards, I use the formula (3PTM+Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals-Turnovers). For power forwards and centers, I use the formula (Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals+Blocks-Turnovers).

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