4 Non Blondes and George Hill: The Best of the Indiana Pacers Media Day

The Indiana Pacers’ Media Day was the normal run through of questions about what to expect from the team this year and while no one gave away any secrets we did at least learn a few things on Monday.

Myles Turner is the Future

Myles Turner got a huge stamp of approval from Paul George to the point where PG is verbally buying a stake in the young man’s future.

As Shayne Young over at Hoops Habit points out this is a lot about PG too:

"You have to realize something. For a 25-year-old superstar (and MVP caliber player) to detail those kind of words about a 19-year-old kid, Turner’s summer impressions must have been outstanding. George is already embracing a leadership role with his new big man, when it could be easy for George to enter “selfish mode” this year. Playing on a team without another Top-30 player, he could’ve turned into a one-man wrecking crew.More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds2 Studs, 1 dud from gut-wrenching Indiana Pacers loss to Charlotte HornetsHanding out early-season grades for Pacers’ Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin3 positives, 2 negatives in Pacers In-Season Tournament win vs. Cavaliers2 positives, 3 negatives from first week of Indiana Pacers basketballShould Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?But instead, George is setting the right type of goals for himself. He’s putting the weight on his shoulders to help Turner form into an all-around asset. He understands that Indiana wouldn’t have sniffed two straight Eastern Conference Finals without the imposing rim-stoppage from Hibbert and David West. To help Turner develop that same aptitude for the future is the only way he’ll guide the Pacers back. He’s not blind to it."

Turner is drawing comparisons to LaMarcus Aldridge from Paul George as well thanks to the physically imposing presence the rookie has to compliment his shooting game. I don’t want to get caught up in the hype or buy in too early if he starts showing signs of growth, but between his play in summer league and the attitude he is showing on and off the court it is hard not to like Turner so far. If he pans out as a player it isn’t because of a lack of confidence.

The Return of Paul George: Season II

Paul George hasn’t let the leg injury from last August change his goals and he said as much with setting the MVP award as a goal. Candace Buckner of the Indy Star pointed out how PG had similar comments to a group of players and fans in China this summer and never wavered on that point.

"“I still understand I’m coming off the injury, but I’m trying to block all that out,” George said. “I’m trying to come into this year as if I played last year, I had another amazing season and I’m going into my sixth year now. I have the same goal. I wasn’t the MVP last year, I want to be the MVP this year.”George stated his lofty ambition while sitting on an elevated platform in front of a room full of reporters. Still, it didn’t sound like media day rhetoric. Confidence has poured out of his mouth like a second language all summer. Consider what George told USA TODAY last week.“Myself,” when reporter Sam Amick asked George who was the best player in the league."

Confidence is something everyone has on Media Day, but it seems like Paul George hasn’t lowered his ambition at any point after the injury. MVP or not the Indiana Pacers will desperately need his offense if they plan to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

Even with the offense being a renewed point of emphasis Frank Vogel isn’t planning on throwing away Paul George’s defensive talent either.

"“This plan has been given a lot of thought. This isn’t just we’re going to move him to the four and he’s going to play like David West. It’s not like that,” Vogel said. “There’s a lot of different layers to it on the defensive end. We anticipate sometimes matching other teams playing big (or) sometimes saying we’re going to make them guard us. (George) may be matched up against a power forward. If we’re playing against a Carmelo, a LeBron, Kevin Durant, James Harden, somebody like that. We likely won’t have him on the four. We’ll have him on those guys. We’re not going to waste his defensive talents as being one of the best perimeter players in the game but we’re going to have a lot of versatility on the defensive end and we’ll make sure we’re using it the right way.”"

This isn’t surprising at all but it might make a few fans feel better about the Pacers’ small ball tactics.

Offensive Comments

Offense is obviously becoming a point of emphasis for the Pacers and shooting guru Mike Penberthy name came up quite often. If the Pacers want to get out of the bottom half of the league in offensive rating and shooting percentage, being better shooters will help regardless of the pace of the game.

Summer Gains

Normally I wouldn’t buy the ‘he put on 15 pounds of muscle in the off season’ cliché but I trust Candace Buckner’s judgement more that my personal bias.

“In my eyes, it looks like Ian Mahinmi is bigger and my eyes aren’t deceiving me. Ian said he’s packed on more lbs/muscle to prepare for starting role.” — Candace Buckner

We Three Hills

In other news Indiana has cornered the market on Hills in the league as well.

Frank “Hawkeye” Vogel

Blonde Ambition

The most disturbing revelation for Media Day is this.

Get well soon, George Hill.

Next: Where Does Myles Turner Show Up in the ESPN Player Rankings?