TJ Leaf doesn't want to admit to it, but his teammates have sensed it — and addressed it.
Leaf had a breakout performance in the Pacers' victory over Chicago on Sunday, one that for a while at least lowered the volume of his doubters and presumably boosted his confidence. His 13 points and career-high 15 rebounds in less than 22 minutes amounted to one of the best games of his career and were critical to a victory that came without the services of starters Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner and rotation backup Edmond Sumner.
It also was a drastic change of pace after not playing in last Wednesday's victory at Brooklyn and then failing to take advantage of his second career start in Friday's win over Cleveland by going scoreless in eight minutes.