What does T.J. Warren bring to the table for the Indiana Pacers?
Shooting off the dribble
Warren is exceptional at creating his own shots. Not many of his opportunities from three are found on his own, but his shooting ability inside the perimeter allows him to score in a plethora of ways. Whether he’s coming off a screen, or taking his defender one-on-one, the forward can find openings for an attempt around the basket. A career 43.5% shooter from 10-to-16 feet, he’s shown he can get buckets from outside of the paint, as well.
As a
, opponents always have to worry that Warren is going to explode toward the basket like a bullet. Even if he can’t find a high-percentage layup, or an attempt to throw down an emphatic dunk, the forward can get a little crafty at creating additional space for himself:
Given he’s likely to have earned more respect from defenders when he’s behind the arc, Warren should find himself in more pick-and-roll scenarios from around the perimeter. Seeing as Sabonis and Turner are both solid screeners, it’s not outlandish to think the Pacers’ new forward will find himself with more opportunities at a clean look – either from behind the arc or at the rim.
When the regular season rolls around, the Pacers are going to need scoring. Teams with a handful of new members often have a trial period of getting comfortable and building chemistry on the court, but it’s relieving when you have a starter who can be relied on to find good looks and knock down shots off a pass.
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Now that T.J. Warren is out of a dysfunctional franchise and playing under a regime with organizational alignment in the Indiana Pacers, maybe he can continue his positive trajectory and become a reliable 20+ PPG scorer in an evolving league focused more on three-point shooting more than ever.