The Indiana Pacers had their first practice, and both Rodney Stuckey and Solomon Hill got reps with the first team. Beat reporters Candace Buckner, of the Indianapolis Star, and Scott Agness, of Vigilant Sports, were on hand to report what could be a glimpse into coach Frank Vogel’s preferred starting lineup.
Observation from end of practice: W/ abt 20 on roster now, guys split into 3 teams & Stuckey/S. Hill formed blue team w/ 3 regular starters
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) September 30, 2014
Rodney Stuckey and Solomon Hill rounded out the first unit with GHill, West, and Hibbert during the time media watched.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) September 30, 2014
Agness’ last few words are important here: “during the time media watched.”
Generally, the press is only let into the tail end of practice as things are wrapping up. So while it is possible that Rodney Stuckey and Solomon Hill were the only two guys who played on Team Blue with George Hill, David West, and Roy Hibbert, it is just as likely that this was a rotational thing. C.J. Miles and Chris Copeland could have been doing the same thing earlier in the session.
This is also just the first practice.
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The only thing we know about the starting lineup is that it will include George Hill, West, and Hibbert. There are reasonable arguments to be made for several pairs to join George Hill on the perimeter — I made a few last week.
My guess is that that the small forward job is Solomon Hill’s to lose. We know Vogel has always taken a traditional view of positions, and Solomon Hill is the only guy who, physically, is a conventional small forward. Is Solomon struggles very badly in the preseason, he could lose that spot before the real games start. But presuming he isn’t a train wreck, I believe Vogel will see if he is ready to handle that role on opening night.
If that is the case, C.J. Miles makes more sense at the 2 spot.
This is for two reasons, the first being that he is simply a better basketball player than Rodney Stuckey. But the talent gap is not vast, so we need more to go on. And that “more” is this: A Hill/Stuckey/Hill perimeter doesn’t feature nearly enough shooting to space the floor properly for the big guys let alone the driving lanes that are necessary for Rodney Stuckey and George Hill to thrive.
At least that’s how this one idiot currently typing sees it.
Vogel may have a different outlook.
But the real point here is that I wouldn’t read too much into what happens on day one of training camp. Give it a few weeks and a couple preseason games before trying to divine who will join the incumbents in the starting lineup.