Obi

Toppin

Indiana acquired Toppin last summer, but after opening the year as part of the starting unit, he was a reserve for the end of the year. He’ll continue to play an important backup role behind Pascal Siakam for the foreseeable future, though his fantasy upside will be capped, barring injuries in front of him.

Toppin reached double figures in three of the four games in the Eastern Conference Finals, combining with T.J. McConnell to provide solid production off the bench. Game 3 of the Pacers’ first-round series against the Bucks is when the former lottery pick’s output picked up, and the timing was good with Toppin set to be a restricted free agent this summer. Re-signing Pascal Siakam will be Indiana’s top priority this offseason, so seeing where that leaves Toppin will be interesting. If he winds up in a spot where he can potentially start, that would boost his fantasy value. However, staying with the Pacers would be best in terms of the opportunity to win and potentially contend in the East.

The Pacers reserves scored 30 points in Game 1, enjoying a 17-point advantage in that category. Toppin and T.J. McConnell (13/3/4/1 in 25 minutes) were responsible for 28 of those 30 points, but it wasn’t enough to help the Pacers hold onto Game 1. Getting outscored by a 24-9 margin at the foul line and committing 21 turnovers were the issues for the Pacers, who had a three-point lead with 46.1 seconds remaining in regulation. A Jaylen Brown 3-pointer with six seconds remaining forced overtime, with Boston taking a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 is on Thursday night, and this is another series in which Toppin and McConnell will have an advantage.

McConnell may have only played 16 minutes in Game 6, but that was all the time he needed to impact the action. In addition to scoring repeatedly around the basket, the veteran point guard was a defensive pest. McConnell and Obi Toppin have impacted this series, with the former offering more consistent production. Toppin also played well in Game 6, finishing with 11 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one 3-pointer in 18 minutes. Given New York’s lack of depth, McConnell and Toppin can be difference-makers in Game 7 on Sunday.

Indiana heads home trailing two games to none, but they should be encouraged by Toppin’s play in the Big Apple. After scoring 12 points in Game 1, he tallied 20 more in Game 2 and has reached double figures in six straight. Toppin’s play on Wednesday helped the Pacers on a night when they got little from Myles Turner (six points, seven rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot). Indiana’s bench dominated the first two games, outscoring New York by a 46-12 margin in Game 2. The series shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Friday night.

With Tyrese Haliburton struggling in Monday’s series opener, McConnell stepped up to lead a bench unit that combined to score 46 points. The veteran point guard scored 20 points in Indiana’s Game 6 win over Milwaukee, so his ability to punish the Knicks is unsurprising. Also reaching double figures off the bench was former Knick Obi Toppin, who tallied 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block, and two 3-pointers in 19 minutes. Add Isaiah Jackson (8/5/1/0/3) and Ben Sheppard (8/2/2 with two 3-pointers), and the Pacers’ reserves played well enough to win Game 1. Unfortunately for them, the combination of New York’s Villanova trio and a few controversial calls was too much to overcome.

The Pacers are off to the second round after eliminating Milwaukee in six games, and Toppin was a massive factor in Game 6. A double-digit scorer in the series’ final four games, the fourth-year forward scored a team-high 21 points in Game 6. Toppin’s production was critical, as Indiana’s starting frontcourt struggled with fouls. Pascal Siakam (19/7/4/1 with one 3-pointer) and Myles Turner (5/5/1/0/1) were whistled for four fouls, while Aaron Nesmith (15/3/1 with three 3-pointers) picked up five. Indiana’s depth was a significant factor in the first round, and that could also be the case in the second, whether they get New York or Philadelphia. Game 1 is on Monday night.

Toppin was once again a solid scoring option off the bench as he scored in double figures for the third straight game. However, his most notable moment from this game was getting into a scuffle with Patrick Beverley that resulted in a technical foul for Toppin. The Bucks had started the second quarter on a 12-2 run, and they were in complete control after the technical. Toppin will look to provide some buckets off the bench once again in Game 6 on Thursday.

Toppin scored 13 points total in Games 1 and 2 of this series, but he exceeded that number in this game. He only played 17 minutes, and it’s unlikely that he plays a larger role moving forward. However, he stepped up and provided them with a nice boost in this one. Toppin was the team’s starting power forward to open the year, but he has still found a way to be effective as a reserve recently. He may not have mayn scoring nights like this in this series, but his role is still an important one.

With Smith, Toppin, and Jackson available, the Pacers will have their entire rotation at the power forward and center positions. The impact of these players depends on how much starters Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner play, with Smith offering the highest potential among the reserves. Indiana can finish anywhere from fifth to eighth in the East, so there’s plenty to play for on Sunday.