Oooh, I'm playing with fire today. Making Jarace Walker the image for the article is sure to be rewarded with a "DNP - Coach's Decision" for the rookie. Nevertheless, he deserves some flowers after an impressive showing in the team's 133-116 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Don't take my word for it, Rick Carlisle has been singing his praises every chance he gets since Monday night. He made a point to praise Walker in his post-game interview, in his locker room speech, and even on local sports radio (I'm told).

Walker's lack of playing time this year has been a hot button issue for Pacers fans. Many feel that he should have been given the opportunity to play and develop from the jump given where we drafted him and the fact he filled a position of need. Other fans (and the team) believed that he could develop in the G-League and that it was more important to win as many games as possible than to develop rookies this year. Both sides will feel vindicated after Walker's performance on Monday.

The truth is NBA-rookie Jarace Walker is not quite the same player as Houston-Cougar Jarace Walker. In the draft process, we were told that he would be a defensive specialist at the 4/5 and that his offense (re: jump shot) would need time to catch up. The comparison experts liked to make was to Draymond Green due to their (relatively) short but burly frames and penchants for playmaking.

However, once Walker donned a Pacers jersey, it turned out his shooting was well ahead of his defense. On a team where the players who can be labeled as a "defensive liability" have enough genetic diversity to safely repopulate an extinct species of bad defender, Walker's inability to guard kept him off the floor.

Though disappointing for Pacers fans, something unexpected happened while he was forced to toil in the relative obscurity of the G-League. He not only proved that he was willing to build "championship habits", but also that he could thrive at an entirely different position – small forward.

Using Jarace at the three opens up a world of possibilities for Carlisle, et al. A front court of Walker, Siakam, and Turner is BIG. It's highly switchable defensively and can create a ton of mismatches offensively. It's sad that he is only emerging now, given that the season is wrapping up and the rotation is going to get really short once the playoffs arrive. But the optimist in me is hoping that Walker continues to get an opportunity over this final stretch and that his play undeniably makes us a better team. Tonight would a good start, considering the fits that DeMar DeRozan's power wing game have given the Pacers so far this season.

Either way, enjoy some highlights from the Clippers game, if you haven't already watched them.

Speaking of forwards who make us significantly better. Let me praise Spicy P one more time. I've said it before, I'll say it again. The man is a Rolls Royce.

Chicago Bulls

Chicago and Indiana are both jockeying for playoff position. The Pacers are clinging to the sixth seed whereas the Bulls are in ninth with a 1.5 game cushion ahead of the Hawks.

The Bulls will be plenty motivated tonight, as they are on a three game losing streak and have dropped four of their last six.

According to DeMar DeRozan, they'll be playing desperate against the Pacers.

We've got to leave it out there these last 10 games. We can't have no more excuses. Play like your life depends on it; simple as that. It (stinks) because all these games matter. You want to be playing good basketball towards this part of the season.

In the circumstance we are under, everything matters so much more. We've got to be more desperate. Not just the beginning of the game, but every single game here on out.

The Bulls lead the season series 2-1. If playoff position wasn't enough motivation for the Pacers to show up tonight, perhaps not getting owned by a division rival will be.

Injuries

T.J. McConnell (sore left ankle) and Aaron Nesmith (right knee bruise) are both questionable at the time of writing.

UPDATE: Both players are available.

How to Watch

Tipoff is at 8:00 PM ET.

TV: Bally Sports Indiana, NBA League Pass

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan

See ya in the comments!

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