Indiana Pacers #AMA Mailbag 2: Your Questions, Our Answers

Welcome back to the 8 Points, 9 Seconds mailbag, where we take your questions about the Indiana Pacers and make you feel internet famous because we answered them! Today’s mailbag will be a quickie, tackling your questions on the Pacers 0-3 start.

I could be watching the Colts game instead, buuuuuuuut 2 turnovers in the first three minutes made me turn it off. Wait, how do I manage to watch the Pacers again? (Awww, I made myself sad) … I digress.

We’ll be using a consistent email for this process: 8p9sAMA@gmail.com. You can feel free to shoot questions over to that email or reply on Twitter to @8pts9secs using hashtag #8p9sAMA or visit our Facebook page to leave comments.

You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.

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• 3 positives, 2 negatives in Pacers In-Season Tournament win vs. Cavaliers
• 2 positives, 3 negatives from first week of Indiana Pacers basketball
• Should Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?

Gregory P: Turner seems more power forward like Jermaine O’Neal then center. What chance is he going to have to play out there, and do you think you would be good at it?

I think Myles Turner absolutely could play the power forward spot, like J.O. did in his early days — but J.O. eventually transitioned over to center. If the Pacers were still playing big, a front line of Ian Mahinmi and Turner could absolutely be a possibility, and maybe Turner — shot-blocking big man with range — is the evolution of the stretch 4, but right now, the Pacers are wanting to stay small whenever possible, 4 wings and a rim protector.

Moreover, coach Frank Vogel has said that, at least for the time being, he doesn’t want Turner to have to learn two positions. It’s complicated enough for a rookie expected to learn one role in the NBA, so for now expect Myles to see all his minutes at the 5.

Joe B: What is the likelihood we are overreacting to these three losses considering (1) each game was winnable (fourth-quarter leads, strong first halves, poor shooting by PG and Ellis, etc.) and (2) who the Pacers were playing, and (C) what the Pacers are trying to become? Based on the Pacers roster, is there a better (available and realistic) coach (and staff) than Frank Vogel to lead this team to the playoffs?  

I’m sure there’s a lot of overreacting going on. The fans here in Indiana are used to winning basketball teams; last year was an aberration due to injury that smart fans understand. This year’s team is talented, Paul George is back, and the front office added Monta Ellis, giving the “win now” feel to the season.

However, all three of your addendums are on the spot. The Pacers had good stretches of play in all three games. PG and Monta Ellis are shooting a combined 32.5% (26-of-80). They have played two playoff teams (Toronto and Memphis) returning without major change and one of the better teams from the second half of last season (Utah). Two of the three teams they’ve faced are Western Conference teams with hulking front lines. The opening stretch of this season was going to be difficult even without a massive stylistic change; adding in a switch to small ball can only serve to make it harder at the beginning, and the current panic is quite a bit of concern over what ultimately will represent a blip in a few months.

As far as an available and realistic better coaching scenarios, I’d say there are none. Vogel is under contract, Herb Simon won’t want to pay two coaches at once, and there’s no evidence that Vogel can’t coach small ball. It’s entirely possible that the grind and iso style of play from the past few years was based on his personnel entirely, not his preference. Regardless, I’m guessing it would take a major collapse (see: the Indianapolis Colts) to cause a coaching change in season.

Josh L: How long will it take for Myles Turner to surpass LeBron’s MVP total? 5 or 6 years? 

I actually think they’ll just go ahead and give him the next 7 or 8 by the end of this year — an acknowledgement that not even injury can stop the Turner train.

Cyberbot2482: Would Solomon Hill work better as the starting 4? He plays hard on defense, and he has more of the body type to withstand bigger 4s. I don’t like the idea of altering starting lineups based on the other team. Also, Lavoy Allen and Jordan Hill have been average to bad at times. Will Wittington get some time?

According to the listed heights and weights through ESPN (I know, listed numbers can be different from actual), Solomon Hill is 1 inch taller and 6 pounds lighter than C.J. Miles. That being said, I understand the gist of the question: Solo is a better defender in theory and he looks stronger, so wouldn’t he match up better with bigs?

The answer is “probably,” but I’m not sure he’s a better shooter than most of our bigs are. With pace and space, the ideal scenario is having four 3-pt shooters and a springy/athletic big. With Solo, the Pacers starting lineup would be losing that advantage because he’s a poor shooter from deep, and not gaining the other benefits of playing another big.

As far as Whittington vs Lavoy Allen or Jordan Hill … Shayne has never actually shown that he can play in the NBA. He’s supposed to be a stretch big, but he’s never displayed anything but energy. My guess is Jordan Hill gets buried on the bench for long stretches, Lavoy Allen soaks up 15-ish minutes per night, and Whittington enjoys a nice long stretch in the very lovely city of Fort Wayne.

Ben C: Is Paul George the second-best player in the East? 

No. Not in my opinion, at least. Not currently. This all changes if PG returns to his pre-collapse form, but as he is now, I would say probably top five. You’ve got LeBron James (of course), Kyrie Irving (probably), John Wall, and then a host of others that current Paul George would be a tossup with: Andre Drummond, Jimmy Butler, healthy Derrick Rose, Chris Bosh, Kevin Love, Al Horford, Paul Millsap, and Carmelo Anthony, depending on your taste and frame of reference.

Healthy, peak Paul George would probably be (again, in my opinion) second. Kyrie supporters and maybe Drummond (if he continues his 20/20 tear) would have an argument, as would Jimmy Butler (the best of Butler last year was nearly on par with the best of PG in early 2013-14). But I don’t think any of them offer the full package that PG does when he’s 100%.

NOTtrentRichardson: What attributes has Frank Vogel shown in his entire tenure with the Pacers that gives anyone confidence that he will succeed in implementing a fast-paced offense?

Vogel may not have shown anything during his tenure with the Pacers to give confidence that he can run a small ball squad, but Vogel has also never had the parts for a small ball squad during his entire tenure. We can’t judge his ability to do something he’s never been asked him to do nor given him the parts to do. The only way to find out if he can do it is to give him a chance to. I am a firm believer that Vogel had no ties to the bully ball approach other than the fact that Roy Hibbert was under a large contract, and no other style of play was going to compliment that core piece.

TonofSoil: At what point (if at all) do the current troubles point to switching back to a more traditional lineup, specifically switching PG back the the 3 full time?

Interestingly, PG has been a power forward in name only thus far, at least on defense. C.J. Miles has been guarding the opposing 4s for the most part, while PG matches up with a perimeter threat. This has been a bizarre revelation to see, as PG is clearly better able to handle opposing 4s than C.J. Miles is (though Miles deserves all the credit in the world for being willing and fighting tooth and nail).

I think giving this anything less than a season would be folly, however. The Indiana Pacers front office signed Monta Ellis, resigned Rodney Stuckey, and drafted Myles Turner with a vision. Letting a rough patch dictate a complete change in philosophy would be a bad look. I do believe if the entire season is a bust, changes will be made, but I don’t believe it will come to that in the end.

Pacers31Colts18: When do we cut Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger?

The short answer is that the Pacers won’t. They’re both reasonably priced (both in the $5 million range) and deals that expire after this season. At worst, they’re workable trade pieces who could allow the Pacers to make moves. Mid-sized expiring contracts are an asset in the NBA when the trade deadline comes around.

Also, while Jordan Hill has not been great, he’s a (supposedly) athletic, mobile big man in a league where guys with those attributes make much more money regularly. At worst, he’ll serve as a fourth big man in a three-big rotation (Ian Mahinmi and Myles turner soaking up most of the minutes, with Lavoy Allen picking up the scraps).

Chase Budinger actually hasn’t been bad during his short time here. While it’s clear the athleticism that made him special is likely sapped, he’s still a good shooter and a heady passer who Larry Bird has had his eye on for a while.