by Mike Wells, USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers spent much of the early season dealing with a struggling offense.

But now the offense is catching up to the defense, which has been at or near the top of the league all season.

The Pacers are averaging almost 103 points a game in their past eight games, in which they’re 5-3.

The button didn’t just click on for the Pacers, who host the Brooklyn Nets Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

It has been a transition period for them offensively, even though four players who started last season’s playoff finale also started this season’s opener.

“It’s all about trust,” Pacers point guard George Hill said. “Earlier, we weren’t trusting each other. Now we’re starting to feed off each other, share the ball a lot better and trusting each and trusting the pass.”

The Pacers may get their fifth starter from last season — Danny Granger — back as early as Wednesday against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Granger, out all season with a left knee injury, went through his first full-court practice Sunday.

The Pacers must decide if it’s important for Granger to play before the All-Star break this weekend or wait until Feb. 20 against the New York Knicks.

Granger is staying in Indianapolis over the break to continue working out.

“I thought he looked great,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said about Granger’s first extensive practice. “We have to see how his body responds, obviously. Have him go through another practice Tuesday and see where we’re at. I think it could be helpful to get his feet wet on Wednesday, but we have to make sure he feels good.”

There will likely be another transition period for the Pacers once Granger returns, but they know he’ll only help an offense that is near the bottom of the league scoring (92.8).

The Pacers had problems overcoming Granger’s absence earlier this season because he led them in scoring five years in a row.

That led to players trying to do too much or not enough.

Paul George went from being the fourth scoring option — behind Granger, David West and Roy Hibbert — to being the primary threat. Hibbert’s offensive struggles have been well … [For more on Pacers' Granger could return Wednesday, click here.]