Indiana need to pick up the pace before NBA play-offs begin

From March 4 until Sunday, the Pacers won only six of 15 games, far off the 46-13 record they compiled over the first four-plus months of the season, writes Jonathan Raymond.

Evan Turner, centre, of the Indiana Pacers sits on the bench during the closing moments of the Pacers 91-78 loss to the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on March 28, 2014 in Washington, DC. Rob CaShow more

One of the more difficult things to explain, as the NBA seasons nears the finish line, is the great disappearing act of the Indiana Pacers.

From March 4 until Sunday, the Pacers won only six of 15 games, far off the 46-13 record they compiled over the first four-plus months of the season.

More worryingly, they have been losing to Eastern Conference teams lately, falling to Cleveland, Washington, Chicago and New York during a 2-5 malaise.

A chunk of it probably is fatigue and complacency. While the Pacers have to be at least a little concerned by the very apparent drop in form of Paul George, who looked like an MVP candidate earlier this year, they also have not been under much pressure to win these late-season games. Even with their recent stretch, the Pacers are 52-22, owners of the East’s best record and in no danger of losing one of the top two positions in the Eastern Conference play-offs.

Moreover, their only serious competition in the East, the Miami Heat, are struggling, too; they won only nine of 17 games in March. Realistically, no other Eastern team will beat the Pacers in a seven-game play-offs series – although Chicago could, conceivably, give them a scare.

The Pacers probably feel like they can coast through this stretch and focus on the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

However, if they falter, ahead of the anticipated showdown with the Heat, this stretch will be remembered as a turning point.

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