Stuckey Already Looking at Starting Role?

Sep 29, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard

(2) and forward

(13) during media day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers signed guard Rodney Stuckey this past offseason to help replace Lance Stephenson, but he will be asked to step up even more than originally thought due to the Paul George injury. He has already been practicing with the first team, and has been vocal which is a very good sign for the Pacers this early. Stuckey is going to have to be a leader for the Pacers, and it appears that he is already embracing that role.

Expectations for Stuckey has varied in a major way from Pacers fans, but he should have a very nice season with an expanded role. He has shown in the past with Detroit that he can score the ball at a high level, and he can make plays for his teammates as well. Defensively he has been very inconsistent throughout his career, but the Pacers believe that he will be just fine in their system.

Last season with the Pistons, Stuckey ended up averaging 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Those numbers might not look too terribly good, but in a bench role they aren’t too bad. Indiana is going to ask him to get to the rim and free-throw line, and help run the offense while allowing George Hill to play off the ball and be a much more aggressive scorer than he has been over the last couple of seasons.

Stuckey is likely the biggest X-Factor for the Pacers this season, and they need him to come through in a big way in order to make the playoffs. Frank Vogel is very high on Stuckey, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start at one of the guard spots and average a good 32 minutes per game. he is going to get the chance to prove himself to the league this season, and fans should expect to see him take full advantage of this opportunity with the Pacers.