5 Pacers Storylines To Watch Next Year: Part 1
May 30, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) is pressured by Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers (15) in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
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Maybe not since entering the 2005-2006 season have there been so many questions surrounding the Indiana Pacers. That season was the first full one removed from the Malice in The Palace brawl with the Detroit Pistons and their fans that destroyed an elite team and sabotaged Hall of Famer Reggie Miller’s final shot at a ring.
This upcoming campaign, fortunately it wasn’t an infamous slugfest that rocked the team. It was two unfortunate parts of the game: losing one player to free agency (Lance Stephenson) and another to a severe injury (Paul George.)
So, the top two playmakers are gone, but at least George will come back eventually. The question is what the team will look like when he does return, full health, new number and all. There are two sides to the argument of “to tank or not to tank” and blow up the team for a higher draft pick and a jumpstart to the future.
Personally, I don’t think anybody – from the coaching staff to the players to the front office – should feel like he is coaching for his job. Center Roy Hibbert had an occasionally disastrous post-season last year, posting multiple games of little to no scoring and rebounding. This year, he’s part of the makeshift “Big 3,” alongside David West and George Hill. that will be the primary focus on offense. Despite being a bigger part of the game plan for now, he’s been linked to various trade chatter this summer, which may be problematic for a player who has seemed to let external factors affect in the past. Whether it be poor individual performances, team slumps, or the potential minute-sucking addition of Andrew Bynum, Hibbert has been visibly rattled. However, he’s always managed to shake out of said funks.
Same goes for George Hill, who had a lot of detractors who have said that the Pacers need a true point guard. While there is some truth to that, this is a chance for Hill to reinvent himself, meaning that he, too, should have a longer leash this year. West is arguably the most attractive trade chip, even at 34 years old. His consistency, toughness, and leadership make him very appealing to other teams. But, considering the Pacers need all of that – especially the leadership quality – this year, I don’t expect to see him go anywhere. That is, unless he asks for a trade, which I think the Pacers would attempt to grant. West, to me, has earned that much respect in his short time as a Pacer.
As for head coach Frank Vogel, who seemed to be on the warmest seat possible early in last season’s playoffs, no one expects a third straight trip to the Conference Finals this year. Not without Paul George and given the vast improvements made by the likes of Chicago and Cleveland this offseason. So, Vogel should rightfully have a lot of wiggle room here. However, should he fall back to his more predicable, conservative schemes and rotations in a season where everything should be on the table in terms of matchups, a change needs to be considered. A change should also be considered if he loses the locker room and the players tune him out. It’s happened to bad teams and it’s happened to good teams and good coaches whose teams haven’t gotten over the hump. Coaches like Stan Van Gundy, Avery Johnson, and Rick Adelman know that all too well. And considering the trouble Vogel had rallying the team consistently back in the right direction during last season’s second-half slide, Vogel is clearly not immune to something like that happening again.
In a season where the blue and gold will be back in the underdog role, the pressure to perform will be substantially less than the last couple years. Hopefully the franchise doesn’t unnecessarily add its own pressure internally, as well. Vogel is on the hottest seat still, as coaches are easily fire-able. Pink slip, bankers box, and the payouts. Moving a contract like Hill’s or Hibbert’s would be much tougher to do, should front office leader Larry Bird choose to do so. However, given the fact that Bird has shown patience up to this point and wanted to “stay the course” this offseason, I fortunately don’t expect any knee-jerk reactions.
One thing that was locked down this offseason? Roy Hibbert got married this September! Congrats to the happy couple! (Please refrain from “that’s the only ring he’ll get this year” jokes.)