The Indiana Pacers are going counter-culture with Turner and Sabonis
By William Furr
Component 2: Go-go gadget Goga
The Georgian center the Pacers snapped up with the 18th pick may not have a familiar name, but many scouts and draft experts were drooling over his potential and value that late in the 1st. Bitadze was mocked as high as 6th by a few, and he wasn’t widely expected to be available when Indiana drafted.
Kevin Pritchard called Goga his “easiest draft decision ever,” and his potential makes it easy to see why. Bitadze was an elite shot blocker overseas, is adept in the pick and roll, and has shown flashes of a burgeoning pick and pop game that could stretch out to the 3 point line.
What’s the result?
By drafting value (while others focused on finding wings that could match up with a lineup in Golden State that no longer exists), the Pacers fortified their position in the long game. While the rest of the NBA is going small, the Pacers are picking value in going counter-culture. There’s no telling if the strategy will work. This is betting big on Sabonis being able to reasonably guard smaller 4’s, something that’s only been moderately successful so far.
It’s betting on Goga Bitadze to come in as a rookie and be an impact player. It’s betting on Myles Turner to remain an elite shot blocker and shooter while holding up against the behemoths of the NBA. None of these things are guarantees by any means, but in an NBA obsessed to the point of danger with going small, the Pacers have a puncher’s chance of succeeding by socking teams in the mouth.
dark. Next. Pacers lose some continuity, but gain clarity on timeline
As we continue to inch closer towards pre-season basketball, the big men of the Indiana Pacers will definitely be something to keep an eye on. Can all of these guys co-exist on one roster, or will the Pacers be left in the dust of the modern NBA?