Does Myles Turner fit with the Pacers plan to play faster and smaller next year?
Washburn: Absolutely. He already projects to be a better pick-and-roll defender than Roy Hibbert, and his shooting should add more pace and space into the Pacers’ offense. Teams don’t really have to play five smalls to play fast. Golden State seemed to play plenty fast all year with the lumbering Andrew Bogut patrolling the lane. Rim protection will always be vital, and despite the common narrative, centers will never go obsolete.
If Indiana was planning on running a extreme, short-and-fast line up like Golden State did in the Finals, then he’s not going to fit. But I don’t fully believe the Pacers are going to that extreme yet.
Barth: Not really, and this is what I can’t wrap my head around. Lyles was the ideal candidate for a quicker and somewhat smaller lineup, while Turner appeared to play with his back to the basket more often in college. Turner had only 5 field goal’s in transition last season at Texas, so you’d have to think that Vogel has a plan to mold him into some sort of gazelle-like creature to match their new style of play.
Furr: The answer to this question has to be at least partially yes; at this point, I’ve seen grandmothers move faster than Roy Hibbert. Turner isn’t exactly fast, but if he’s your 5 with PG/Damo/random stretch-4 at the PF position, then yes, they have gotten faster and more athletic.
Gibson: No, not exactly, but he isn’t immobile either. If Indiana was planning on running an extreme, short-and-fast line up like Golden State did in the Finals, then he’s not going to fit. But I don’t fully believe the Pacers are going to that extreme yet.
Next: Joseph Young?