Obi Toppin moved back into the starting lineup last week when he returned from an extended injury absence, creating the Pacers’ 34th different starting five this season.
The constant changes have largely been the result of injuries throughout the roster, forcing head coach Rick Carlisle to frequently adjust rotations and combinations.
Even with players returning, Carlisle indicated that the experimentation likely won’t stop anytime soon.
The coaching staff continues to evaluate which lineups and player groupings work best as the team gathers information that could be useful moving forward.
Carlisle explained that one of the metrics he monitors during games is plus-minus, which can sometimes reveal the impact of players whose contributions aren’t immediately obvious in the box score.
“During the games, I look at the plus-minus and see what’s happening there,” Carlisle said. “Sometimes there’s a guy that’s playing hard but doesn’t seem to be scoring the ball or doing anything overtly in-your-face positive. And then you look, he’s a big plus.
“So that does mean something. And of course, plus-minus is noisy. It’s got its glitches too. But you try to look at everything, see what’s what.”
Carlisle added that the team’s injury situation has simplified certain coaching decisions, even if it limits available options.
“And then right now, with all the injury stuff, one of the blessings for a coach is there’s not a whole lot of choices. There’s just a few. So just keep dabbling.”
Central Notes: Zubac, Pacers, Porter, Kuzma, Pistons https://t.co/mTYqV5iF8j pic.twitter.com/MN7JynOp9R
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 5, 2026
