Which Indiana Pacers are set up for success with the arrival of Nate Bjorkgren?
The Indiana Pacers have announced Nate Bjorkgren as the next head coach, signaling a shift in the scheme on both ends of the floor. From what we have seen in his time as an NBA assistant, it is safe to infer a handful of Pacers will be on the brink of a breakout year.
Bjorkgren, who helped the Toronto Raptors win the 2019 NBA Finals, is considered to be a clone of Nick Nurse. With that being said, which current Pacers should thrive in his system next season? Here are a few guys who can take the next step.
Aaron Holiday
Aaron Holiday is quietly on the verge of being a starting-caliber guard but is stuck behind a backcourt duo of Malcolm Brogdon and Victor Oladipo. However, Holiday took a giant leap last offseason and was a valuable contributor for Indiana last season.
In extended minutes, Holiday has shown flashes of being a savvy combo guard who can create his own shots while also creating for his teammates. I would even argue he is the best shot-creator on the roster because of his arsenal of attacks. With Bjorkgren, I expect Holiday to shoulder even more of the offensive load.
Fred VanVleet is the perfect comparison in Bjorkgren’s offense, in my opinion. VanVleet, who was an important rotational piece for the championship team in 2019, became one of the offensive focal points for Toronto. The Raptors shot the three-point shot with abundance, and VanVleet benefitted greatly.
If Bjorkgren can turn Holiday into his next VanVleet, even if only a little bit, he will be in for a huge year.
T.J. Warren
We are all aware of the breakout performance of T.J. Warren in the NBA bubble. While that was a great story for NBA fans, it was also just the tip of the iceberg for what he can become. Another bonus for Warren is the simple fact that he has prior experience with Nate Bjorkgren, who was an assistant with the Suns when Warren was in Phoenix.
In three seasons with Bjorkgren on the coaching staff, Warren averaged 15.4 points per game while adding shooting 49.7 percent from the field. In those early years of his career, Warren struggled to hit his three-point shots, knocking down just 28.7 of his attempts. His final two seasons with Bjorkgren saw his shoot just 24.5 percent from deep.
After drastically improving his shooting ability and range, Warren took the NBA by storm. He is now a staple of Indiana’s starting lineup and will likely be the team’s top scorer next season if things go according to plan.
While the expectations would be too high and a bit far-fetched, Bjorkgren could be the coach that turns T.J. Warren into an NBA All-Star.
Myles Turner
Big men in Nate Bjorkgren’s system have been utilized in the offense, which Myles Turner has never really been accustomed to. Last year alone, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol attempted a combined 12.8 three-point attempts per game. They also averaged 36.9 shots per game between the three of them.
Seeing the success of the Toronto system and just how impactful Serge Ibaka was for that team, Pacers fans can be excited about Myles Turner once again. Turner flourishes when given opportunities to stretch the floor and threaten defenses with his jump shot.
Domantas Sabonis is the star of this team and he will demand double teams down on the block, which should open up looks for Turner and others on the perimeter. Hopefully, Turner will be encouraged to shoot rather than pass out of open looks or try to drive into traffic, which is not his strong suit.
Barring a trade out of Indiana, the hire of Bjorkgren looks promising for Myles Turner’s growth in the offense.