Reliability – The Indiana Pacers Underrated Strength

The Pacers roster is stocked from top to bottom with NBA veterans who are experienced enough to be relied on night to night.

The Indiana Pacers will have four captains this year. Paul George will retain the C on his chest, while the team vote also bestowed the honor upon Monta Ellis, Rodney Stuckey, and newcomer Al Jefferson.

Combined, they have 38 years of NBA experience, a number which many teams would have to go six or seven players deep to match. The Philadelphia 76ers on have 34 seasons between their entire 15-man roster.

This highlights one strength of the Pacers that rarely comes up in discussion: experience.

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Outside of Myles Turner, the Pacers’ other nine rotation guys have a combined 78 years of experience, or 8.6 years per player. With no one over the age of 31 — and only Myles Turner under the age of 26 — the Pacers rotation is full of NBA pros.

From top to bottom, head coach Nate McMillan will be putting guys on the court who can play and know what they are.

Youth and hope sells tickets and excites the talking heads of the NBA world — and for good reason. Whether you’re Karl-Anthony Towns or merely Trey Lyles or even a second-round standout like Norman Powell, it’s always easier (and often more fun) to sell the future. There is so much potential in the unknown.

However, the problem with youth is that the results you get can vary greatly. The Pacers will get a bit of that this year from Myles Turner, but he is the only player solidly in the rotation who is likely to experience those ups and down, outside of health issues and the typical slumps and hot streaks that all players have.

From Jeff Teague to Thad Young to Big Al, the Pacers are stacked with professionals — guys who will show up, game in and game out. Event the lesser-skilled reserves — C.J. Miles, Rodney Stuckey, and Aaron Brooks — are accustomed to learning new schemes and fitting in with new teammates.

While there has been a lot of change to the roster, and the coaching bench, veterans like those in Indiana are better equipped to handle it than the more exciting players on teams like the Milwaukee Bucks or Minnesota Timberwolves.

There may be a lack of excitement in what the Pacers get night in and night out with consummate pros, but excitement doesn’t always get you wins. Execution and reliability should be something the Pacers have in spades.

While they’re not always thrilling for the Stephen A’s and the Skip Baylesses of the world to discuss — at wholly inappropriate volumes — those are traits that give you a chance against good teams, and can wholly earn you wins against bad teams.

Next: 2016-2017 Central Division Preview: Chicago Bulls

Expect the Pacers to get at least a few wins this year on this factor alone. The experience of veterans is easily overlooked, but it will be one big factor that will help steady the ship this year for  Nate McMillan.