There are only a few familiar faces left on the Indiana Pacers roster as they head into the 2017-18 season thanks to many of last year’s starters leaving this summer.
There is one constant force for the Indiana Pacers over the past three years, and that’s roster turnover.
In just three seasons, we’ve seen the starting five that went to two Eastern Conference Finals leave (and then Lance Stephenson returned), leaving the Myles Turner, Joe Young, and Glenn Robinson III as the longest-tenured Pacers.
Even if you only look at last season going into this season, there has been plenty of change. That puts Indiana in 28th place in John Schuhmann’s Continuity Rankings.
Continuity Rankings, early edition... pic.twitter.com/FUAQzogm3u
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) July 11, 2017
Only the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers are experiencing less continuity than the Pacers. Indiana ranks second in terms of total minutes lost as 51% of last year minutes (and the players they belong to) have left the team. Of the players returning, only 41% of the minutes remaining. That leaves 9% belonging to the incoming free agents.
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It isn’t shocking to see those numbers as four of the top six rotation players are gone from last season. No more Paul George, Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis, or C.J. Miles. Throw in Aaron Brooks, Lavoy Allen, and Rodney Stuckey, and you account for most of the remaining minutes that are now gone.
There are pros and cons to such an overhaul, but it will almost certainly take time for this group of players to develop chemistry together. Outside of Turner at center, and Thad Young at power forward, Victor Oladipo at shooting guard, the rest of the rotation is in a state of flux. Even when the season begins, it may take time to figure out the best lineups.
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That’s a scary though as last year coach Nate McMillan seemed hesitant to make changes and often reverted back to the lineups where Ellis was a starter even when everyone was healthy.