The Indiana Pacers will continue their search for a head coach before the 2020-21 season begins. What are the key characteristics they should look for in their new leader?
Nate McMillan was fired after the NBA season following yet another early playoff exit. His dismissal was divisive among the fanbase, with many believing he was fired too soon. On the other hand, some folks believed the franchise took too long to let him go, myself included.
Indiana has plenty of young talent on the roster and can clearly compete in the Eastern Conference. Despite struggling in the playoffs, the Pacers did finish fourth in the conference after a strong regular season. Rising superstar Domantas Sabonis was absent from the team’s final stretch but his future remains very bright.
With a core of Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, and Victor Oladipo, the Indiana Pacers have a quality roster in place already. Now, while things may happen in the offseason, potential head coaching candidates should be ecstatic about taking over this unit.
Myles Turner has been on the verge of a breakout for what seems like forever. The right coach can elevate his game to the next level and make him an All-Star center in today’s NBA. But what are the qualities of the perfect head coach for this Indiana team?
Offensive creativity
One glaring issue for the Indiana Pacers during Nate McMillan’s tenure as head coach was the lack of creativity in the offense. Late game situations and after timeout plays – or ATOs – were disastrous at times. The Miami Heat were able to shut down Indiana in the playoffs thanks to Indiana insisting on attacking Bam Adebayo at the basket.
Since joining Indiana in 2015, Myles Turner has always been on the verge of a breakout season. He is a special player who can space the floor on offense while shutting down the paint on the other end. However, Indiana refuses to get him involved in the offense on a consistent basis, and his role is extremely limited. Turner, a 35 percent shooter from deep, only attempts 2.1 three-point shots per game.
In the 2019-20 playoffs, Indiana posted an offensive rating of 103.9, which was the fourth-worst of all playoffs teams. The offense has been too stagnant and has not evolved in-game for what feels like forever.
To make matters worse, Indiana is one of the better three-point shooting teams in the NBA. Last season, they finished 12th in three-point percentage but finished dead last in three-point attempts per game. In 2018-19, Indiana was ranked fifth in percentage but 29th in attempts.
With a roster that includes Doug McDermott, Justin Holiday, Victor Oladipo, and Myles Turner, Indiana needs to play to their strengths. Finding a coach that can open up the offense will take this team to the next level.
Winning pedigree
Nate McMillan was always a very good regular season coach who could not get the job done when it mattered. He has a career record of 661-588 in the regular season, including three 50-win seasons prior to taking over the Pacers. However, the playoffs tell a different story for the former head coach.
McMillan has been to the playoffs nine times as a head coach but has just one series win. In those nine appearances, McMillan’s teams are 17-36. The Pacers went to the playoffs four times under McMillan, winning just three games and getting swept three times. His final playoff record with Indiana was a humiliating 3-16.
There is no denying that this roster is capable of making a deep playoff run. If Oladipo stays in Indiana and can return to his old self, the Pacers have a loaded starting lineup with plenty of contributors on the bench. All they need is someone who can lead them to the promised land.
Finding a head coach with a winning background is difficult because they do not hit the market very often. With Mike D’antoni taking the Rockets deep into the Western Conference playoffs once again, it is hard to imagine he will be available this offseason.
The Pacers will do their research, I’m sure, but time is ticking. They need to find a head coach that can lead this team deep into the playoffs.
Developer
Assistant coaches will help with this one, but a head coach that can elevate his players and hone their skills is crucial. As I mentioned before, Myles Turner is still young with plenty of upside. Finding a head coach that can take his game to the next level and utilize him on both ends will make Turner and the team better.
Domantas Sabonis is now an All-Star and the NBA is on notice. He has all of the talent to become a top-tier big man in the league if he continues his growth. Oladipo has not looked like himself since returning from injury but he can still be a dominant scorer on the offensive end. Mix in the late-season rise of T.J. Warren in the bubble and the Pacers have all of the pieces to win.
Developing their players and bettering their strengths only makes them more dangerous. The Pacers would be smart to hire a head coach with a track record of developing young talent and making the most of his stars.