Postseason push: Pacers need more than Paul George

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Standing: No. 7 in the Eastern Conference

Will make postseason if: Paul George gets some help

Not enough has been made about Paul George’s comeback from his horrific fracture. His shots are up, his percentages are relatively even and he’s averaging a career-high 23.6 points. His confidence hasn’t waned, either, after proclaiming that the Pacers shouldn’t be below the No. 4 seed in the East. They’re currently trying to fend off the Pistons and the Bulls, but George has something else working in his favor. Monta Ellis has averaged 17.6 points per game over his past eight games along with nearly five assists. The game has slowed for rookie Myles Turner, who earned Eastern Conference rookie of the month for February. Despite George’s incredible re-emergence, the Pacers have five guys averaging in double-figures and as long as they can continue to bury shots, defense can’t turn their sole focus on George.

Will miss postseason if: Turnovers become an issue

This might seem obvious. Turn the ball over, lose the game. But it’s more important for the Pacers, who after ranking among the league worst in points scored off turnovers last season, are now second at 19.1 points per game. Playing at a faster pace, the forced turnovers have benefitted the Pacers significantly. Indiana has a 21-14 record when they have fewer turnovers compared to a 10-16 mark when lose the turnover battle. It’s also interesting that both George and Ellis rank in the top-10 in the NBA in steals, considering their contributions on the offensive end.

Wild card: Frontcourt

Since becoming a starter, Ian Mahinmi has worked himself into a serviceable frontcourt piece while averaging career-highs across the board. His numbers (8.7 points, 7.1 rebounds) won’t jump out at you, but he’s an essential cog to the Pacers’ rebounding effort. Couple his presence with the emergence of Turner, and Indiana’s frontcourt isn’t nearly as big a liability.