Indiana Pacers’ Starters Can Improve
I gave the second unit of the Indiana Pacers some ways to improve, but how about the starting five of the team? There’s no doubt, how those five starters roll, this Pacers team will roll. That’s why I am going to look at each guy and how they can affect this team for the better.
George Hill
Be aggressive. There are those times when George Hill just needs to get the ball in the basket on his own. That’s what I would want Hill to do more often this season. That puts pressure on the defense to guard him tighter and not truly know who’s going to score for the team. I know Hill can score, so I would look for him to step up when the time calls for it.
Lance Stephenson
Good Lance. Good Lance. Good Lance. I think the past couple of games, Lance Stephenson has stepped back into that role of Bad Lance. But the Pacers don’t need that happening. Whoever wants to get in Lance’s ear, and tell him how much better he can be this year, needs to do that. He’s a guy that can bring the energy for this team. He’s a guy that can produce a triple double because of his all around play. That’s the Lance Stephenson that this Pacers team will need for the rest of the season. Maybe he just needs to settle back down and remember what was working so well in the month of November.
Paul George
I look at Paul George and don’t see much improvement needed other than watching his turnovers. He’s right around a turnover for every assist, which isn’t the best stat. He’s got to be careful with those passes that he can’t always seem to get right to the open guy. But if George can clean that up, he’ll be even more of a threat out on the floor.
David West
Be aggressive as well. I think David West needs to look to be a scorer more often as well. He’s a guy that you know when he’s looking to take over a game. If Paul George isn’t shooting the ball well, then I’m feeding the ball to David West. He’s a guy that will get to the basket when he can. He’s a guy that can step back for one of those bank shots that he’s got pretty good at. But I would like to see him in that 15-18 point range each game out.
Roy Hibbert
Work on the scoring. Roy Hibbert is just another scoring option out there, but sometimes he really struggles with the shot. So he’s got to work on his offensive game a bit. I know he’s not going to be that scoring machine that people believe he should be. But double figures in scoring should be a no brainer for him. Even demand the ball in the post more often so he can get it going on the offensive would be something I would want out of Roy Hibbert.
These starting five are one of the units that you know are going to log big minutes, so all those minutes out there they have to make the most out of them. Each guy has their own role to this team, and you know at times teams won’t know who’s going to step up. That’s a great luxury to have for your team.
The Pacers are that team that you know always use that team concept. Even Paul George wanted to be interviewed with the other starters for ESPN. That’s how much of a together unit they are. They need to continue to come together for that special season that I believe the Pacers will have.