He’s not perfect, but Ben Sheppard has strung together some nice games and has reminded the Indiana Pacers exactly what he brings to the table.

Sheppard was among the many Pacers expected to take on a bigger role this season with Tyrese Haliburton out for the year. And right away, that came true.

In his first seven games of the season, which included three starts, the Atlanta native averaged 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.4 turnovers while shooting 32% from the field and 18.5% from beyond the arc.

Additionally, following their plethora of injuries to the backcourt, the Pacers gave Sheppard some minutes at point guard. This was a bit unconventional, given that he’s not primarily a point guard. But Indiana was desperate, and it at least gave Sheppard another opportunity to take a leap and prove that he can be a real asset to the Pacers.

The 24-year-old struggled to begin the season, and he left a lot to be desired on the court. He is a 3-and-D player who wasn’t knocking down his shots or providing good defensive value. And since he was taking on an expanded role, there was cause for concern.

Fortunately for the Pacers, while he is no Reggie Miller, Sheppard has seemingly found his groove and has turned it around in recent games, reminding them that he can still help them compete despite his slow stretches.

Ben Sheppard is proving he can still contribute for the Pacers

With the Pacers getting healthier following the returns of players like Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, and Bennedict Mathurin, Sheppard has mostly gone back to his initial role. And for the most part, he’s doing well.

In his last eight games, he is averaging 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 36.7% from deep. This includes a solid performance against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, when he scored 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 18 minutes. Additionally, he is finally bringing solid defensive value once again.

After Wednesday’s loss, head coach Rick Carlisle praised Sheppard and his performance on both sides of the ball (h/t Wheat Hotchkiss of NBA.com).

“He’s playing hard, he’s playing fast, he’s playing unselfish, he’s applying pressure full court,” Carlisle said about Sheppard on Wednesday. “These are elements that we need. Him shooting the ball 5-for-5 tonight is no surprise. He can shoot the ball. The key thing is that through all the challenges he’s just remained true to who he is and stepped into the shots that are his shots. That’s his job to do.”

Despite his slow start to the season (where he probably had too much on his plate to be effective), Sheppard is reminding the Pacers just how valuable he can be. At his best, he is a dependable three-point shooter who can guard the perimeter, apply pressure, and bring energy and hustle. And when he’s hot, he is incredibly valuable to the Pacers’ success.

If Indiana forgot that, then Sheppard clearly has made it a point to make sure it never forgets that again.