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It’s time for the Indiana Pacers to see what they have in Aaron Holiday

By Tony East

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Aaron Holiday #3 of the Indiana Pacers is seen before the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 31, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Aaron Holiday #3 of the Indiana Pacers is seen before the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 31, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The Indiana Pacers are about to find out what they really have in Aaron Holiday.

The Indiana Pacers season and franchise outlook changed in a flash on Wednesday. But as the saying goes, “It’s always darkest before the dawn”. Now there’s an opportunity for other guys to step up and push the Pacers into a new dawn, both this season and beyond. Aaron Holiday is perhaps the most noteworthy one of those guys.

It’s not that Holiday has some huge impact on the Pacers success in games this year. It’s that he could someday have a huge impact, and he’s shown flashes of being really good so far this season, albeit in very limited bursts.

His debut in the rotation against the Atlanta Hawks was electric. He was forced into important minutes after Victor Oladipo went down for the first time earlier this season. The youngster made the most of the opportunity:

What Aaron Holiday did during his 12 game insertion into the Pacers rotation in late 2018 was uplifting. Across the dozen performances, he put up per-36 minute numbers of 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He was jolt at a time in which the Pacers needed one.

Now, the optics have changed. The Pacers don’t need a jolt. They need contributions.

You can’t tell me the veterans on this Indiana roster won’t be energized at a chance to prove how good they really are. This Oladipo-less span of games will be a time in which the team will try to prove a ton. They need everyone to play as well as they can, and that includes Aaron Holiday.

That may not be fair for a rookie, but it’s the reality. Part of the joy of Holiday’s first stint in the rotation was that there were basically no expectations for him. He’s a rookie. Nobody knew what he could be. All everybody watching him was doing was observing what his skills are and how effective he can be.

After one effective stint after the other, a determination was made: this kid is good. Then, Oladipo returned to action and Holiday returned to the bench. Without an injury to a vet guard, there wasn’t a role for him to play. Now, with Oladipo out, the kid is back to his forme spot.

This time, though, we have more information. We know Holiday is good – at least for a rookie. There is an expectation set for him to go out and perform well with the veterans of the team. Perhaps it isn’t equitable for him, but he now has an expectation to meet.

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We’ve seen what those can do. Expectations (beyond his control) have haunted Myles Turner his entire career. They haven’t dramatically impacted his play, but the narrative around him began to change earlier this season due to expectations. That script has flipped now, but the stories surrounding him weren’t positive, largely due to expectations.

Holiday could fall victim to that mental fight. I don’t think he will – every time I have been around him he has been nothing but confident yet humble. But it is an extra battle for him. If he doesn’t meet expectations, suddenly the challenges become more than just “playing better”. He would have to get out of his own way.

And yet, these things are part of the grind that is being an NBA player. You could argue. and argue it well, that Holiday being forced (essentially) to go through this as a rookie will only better build him up as a player and person for his days as a veteran in the NBA. This is his first true test with expectations, and barring a complete and utter collapse, he will be better for having gone through it, regardless of how well he plays.

Consistency is a concern for the rookie from UCLA. Even without expectations, his shooting percentage on a game-to-game basis flung around, from 60 percent one night to 20 the next to 70 and then back down to 30. He needs to find some flow this time.

After his initial debut in the rotation, Thaddeus Young said: “He has done a really good job waiting his turn and staying poised.” Holiday is going to need to have a similar attitude this time. He needs to be poised and ready, simultaneously. He has done well this season so far, but this is a new challenge. He has a lot coming at him for a guy who has played just 280 NBA minutes.

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There is no reason not to believe in Holiday. He was a legitimately solid player in his first stint in the rotation. This time, with the necessity of and expectations for his contributions, he’s going to have to be that player again. In the face of this new chapter of his career, the Indiana Pacers are going to find out what they really have in Aaron Holiday.

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