Ben Moore is getting a chance to show what he is as a basketball player. Let’s look at how he has played for the Pacers so far.
Ben Moore got a training camp invite with the Indiana Pacers this summer after going undrafted out of Southern Methodist University. He played decently in training camp and in preseason games, but he didn’t leave enough of an impression to make the teams final roster.
However, once Alex Poythress got promoted from his two-way contract to a full NBA contract, the Pacers had an open two-way slot to use. Given how Moore played for Indiana in the preseason and how well he had played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the front office extended him the other two-way contract to give him a chance to show off his skills in the NBA.
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Moore has been known to be a high-energy guy who leaves it all on the court. He seems to know no other speed than full speed, and it seems like he is always trying to make a winning play in every situation. Whether it be cutting, screening, or helping on defense, Moore is usually the guy making the right play.
Back on January 24th, Moore got his first opportunity to show what he can do in the association. He touched the floor against the Phoenix Suns, ready to make an impression. Early on, he showed off his habit for doing the right thing on the court. With Alec Peters guarding him, Moore caught Peters sleeping on the defensive end, and he slipped behind him into open space under the basket. Once he got the ball, Moore could have been a typical rookie and tried to prove he can score when given the chance. Instead, he alertly pump-faked and dumped the ball to Poythress for an easy basket:
And with that, Moore had his first NBA stat; a well-timed assist. His alertness made him look great on that play, and it would foreshadow how he would look in his second appearance on the hardwood.
Against the Wizards on Monday, Moore was given another opportunity to play, this time as the backup small forward. He was largely stuck behind the three-point line to be out of the way on offense, largely due to his inexperience playing on the wing. However, you could tell that he wanted to make more of an impact, and he certainly tried.
After a pick-and-roll, the Wizards defense was scrambling and they left Ben Moore open. Moore, realizing he was being unguarded and tired of standing around, alertly cut into space in the lane. Joe Young tried to get him the ball, but the pass missed high. Moore cut out of the lane to space the floor and it led to a Young three-pointer, but had Young’s pass been on the mark here, Moore could have had his first NBA points:
His cut didn’t directly lead to the basket, but it certainly helped.
On defense, he has been a foul machine (he’s already racked up four in just nine minutes), but that is the norm for rooks, especially high energy ones. He showed off his basketball and defensive intelligence on one play, however, flashing to cut off Jodie Meeks in transition before sliding back and preventing his own man, Kelly Oubre, from shooting. All his efforts culminated with him getting his first every NBA rebound:
I like to think that the basketball gods gave Moore that rebound. He deserved it after all his hard work.
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Moore is showing that effort is sometimes the best skill a guy can have. If he continues to work hard, he may end up having a lengthy NBA career.