5 Pacers Storylines to Watch Next Year: Part 3

Nov 11, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers from left to right forward David West, guard George Hill, guard Lance Stephenson, forward Paul George, and center Roy Hibbert watch the Pacers extend their winning streak to 8-0 against the Memphis Grizzlies at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Memphis 95-79. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Team Cohesiveness 

Since the Indiana Pacers’ resurgence which began with Frank Vogel taking over from the fired Jim O’Brien late in the 2010-2011 season, the team was seen as a poster child for a squad with a rock-solid locker room and a camaraderie that was reflected on the floor. Just watching the players on the sideline react when one of their fellow teammates made a big play couldn’t help but make any Indy fan smile. For the first time since the infamous Malice in The Palace, the city and fan base had a good, fun team to follow and character guys to root for. I’ve worked “regular” jobs that have had that kind of family atmosphere and it makes going to work every day a million times better and the good vibes just pinball all around the office.

Last year, we saw more cracks in that foundation, which really began to show during the team’s downswing following a blistering 33-7 start. There were sideline arguments during games which required separation. There was center Roy Hibbert’s “selfish dudes” in the locker room comment. There was even that reported fist-fight early in the playoffs between Lance Stephenson and Evan Turner (funnily enough, two players no longer on the team). All of those were either apologized for or brushed off as a blip on the radar in an ultra-competitive NBA. But the fact of the matter is – they happened. And they happened when the Pacers were still in the driver’s seat for the coveted top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. So, all things considered, things were still going well. Too well, perhaps.

Blame it on the mid-season Danny Granger-for-Evan Turner trade. Blame it on Lance Stephenson’s stat-stuffing play. Blame it on the Pacers taking their foot off the gas. Blame it on the brief addition of Andrew Bynum. The players also mentioned how bummed they were when locker-room favorite Orlando Johnson was released as a by-product of the aforementioned trade. The fact of the matter is, all of that, plus some under-the-rug issues all piled onto what eventually resulted in choppy play and another exit at the hands of the Miami Heat. There are also some more TMZ-appropriate rumors that I don’t buy into.

Considering the Pacers had all those issues when things were gravy, how about in a season where predictions are all over the place? Some are even calling the Pacers playoffs hopes dead a month before the season tips off without Stephenson and with Paul George presumably on the shelf all year with a broken leg. The blue and gold thrived in their underdog role for three years, but crumbled as a team with a target on their back last season. This coming year, they’re back in the underdog role, but in what will be uncharted territory for most of the players, a team fighting to just extend their season past 82 games.

Not that it should be an excuse, but the Pacers won’t be the first team that may have the talent to get to the postseason, but lack the direction and reign on the personalities in the locker room destroyed any hope. For example, last year’s Cleveland Cavaliers were making a strong push to finally taste the playoffs following LeBron James’ departure, but it was clear that then-coach Mike Brown didn’t have control of his players. Mid-season addition Luol Deng was even reportedly disgusted and shocked over the culture of the locker room. The New York Knicks went from the #2 seed in 2013 to watching the playoffs from home in 2014 when head coach Mike Woodson lost control early, and there were knuckleheads like J.R. Smith to deal with. The Pistons’ front line last year was like pulling a Q, X, and Z out of a Scrabble bag with Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe, and Josh Smith, but in the dreadful Eastern Conference, I figured the talent level would carry them. In the end, they couldn’t overcome a poorly constructed roster and worse-constructed team environment. I could go on, but you get the idea. What should be enough talent to still get them to an 83rd game isn’t a guarantee.

Despite the ever-reliable Wikipedia currently listing Paul George as the “team captain” this year, leadership needs to come from the current big three of Hibbert, David West, and George Hill, but in the end, this is West’s team. I truly think Hibbert has learned from his mistakes in terms of airing the team’s dirty laundry, but he’s still a guy that has clearly gotten rattled when things aren’t going well for him and/or the team on the court. Therefore, I don’t see him thrusting himself into the voice of reason necessarily in the locker room, nor do I think the team will force that on him either. Hill’s personality and demeanor don’t suggest that he’ll be the one to rally the troops or make the big halftime speeches, but that doesn’t make he can’t. Besides, because of a new role and set of expectations on him this year, Hill has a lot on his plate already. So, that leaves West as the conductor of the engine this year. Although he’s coming into just his fourth year as a Pacer, he’s commanded that respect already. In fact, when West was officially yet not really on the free agent market in 2013, he mentioned his teammates as ‘his guys.’

Hibbert and Hill, just like West, have never been the type of players to take over a game by themselves. They’ll need to use that same approach this season in the locker room as well. Just like any type of team effort or relationship, there will be days when one person has to hand over the keys and let someone else steer the ship. Then, there will be days where roles are reversed. Either way, pride needs to be put on the shelf. If pride and egos get in the way in a season like this, Part One of this series will get even dicier.