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8p9s Roundtable: Is It Time To Panic Yet?

By Ben Gibson

Oct 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Chase Budinger (10) and center Myles Turner (33) try to defend against Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandan Wright (34) in the second half of their game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis won the game, 112-103. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Chase Budinger (10) and center Myles Turner (33) try to defend against Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandan Wright (34) in the second half of their game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis won the game, 112-103. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Monta Ellis (11) looks to pass the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of the NBA preseason game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Monta Ellis (11) looks to pass the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of the NBA preseason game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

Will this team be fine as soon as Paul George and Monta Ellis start making shots?

Comstock: On offense, yes. They will need to learn to consistently apply themselves on defense even when shots aren’t falling.

Ochoa: This team will be fine when Paul George starts knocking down more shots. Sure, it’d be nice to have both players on point, but I think PG’s scoring is more imperative to the team’s success than Monta’s. From what I’ve seen from Monta, he can create more impactful non-scoring threats on his own than PG can because of his feisty on-ball defense, ability to create his own shot and/or dish it [to George Hill] for the corner 3. This team will go as Paul George goes.

Furr: That would certainly help. I think they’ll be fine when those 2 things happen AND George Hill stops averaging 4.7 turnovers per game. Hard to win when your point of attack costs you 5 possessions per game.

LaFollette: The defense won’t, But the offense certainly could use better production from those two for reasons that are pretty obvious.

Washburn: There are still questions to be answered defensively and on the front line, but improved play from these two guys will dramatically help. Put simply, had only one of them played better in each of the first three games, the Pacers might very well be 2-1 right now.
I think it would behoove the Pacers to involve both together as much as possible. Down the stretch in Toronto, the Monta/PG pick and roll looked nigh unguardable, yet Indiana has mostly abandoned it since. Vogel should call their number early and often next game.

Hughes: I think they will be better off. I’m not sure how good Monta can be with George Hill playing with him. Hill has played off the ball a lot (that corner three is freaking money) but he has also been the Aggressive George Hill we have always wanted. But of course I have seen people call him a ball hog because we have Monta now and he needs the ball. WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT!?!

Next: Will the defense be bad all year?

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