How the Pacers countered Sacramento’s top-locking defense

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports With Malcolm Brogdon missing a second-straight game due to illness, Sacramento’s off-ball defenders repeatedly planted their bodies between their check and the screen in an effort to make it even harder for the Pacers, already short on shooting and playmaking, to shake loose from three and move the ball.

Just look at this screenshot. See how Harrison Barnes is preventing Justin Holiday from flying over the pindown from Myles Turner?

Now, watch how things get gunky and mistimed. Once Justin exits the action, Duarte assumes he is next in line to get sprung free at the same time as LeVert decides to, instead, toss the ball to Turner. As a result, what could’ve…