Why Nate McMillan Can’t Fix the Inconsistent Indiana Pacers

Taking Apart the Indiana Pacers Defense

The defense had been the hallmark of the Pacers since 2010 and it was something they could fall back on when things weren’t working. But this last offseason through one means or another, Indiana lost a lanky defensive guard in George Hill, a physical stopper in Solomon Hill, and a rim-defending Ian Mahinmi.

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That’s not to say those three were perfect — though George Hill is criminally underrated — but they played major roles in Indiana’s third-ranked defense last season. And if you go back one more season, you throw in the exits of David West, Roy Hibbert, and Lance Stephenson into the mix and see that almost every part of those top of the NBA defenses are gone, save PG.

In their place, Indiana added guards who were scorers, but not shooters. The Pacers added big men that either can’t play defense (and are generally slow-footed) or are defenders that can’t score on their own.

Of course, those moves had a purpose — to make Indiana faster and a better offense — but in the end, they did neither, while taking away from a top 5 defense.

But the offense never came. Indiana is only a few points better than they were just a season ago, but the defense is now painfully average, if not below.