Indiana Pacers Profile: The underrated dominance of Domantas Sabonis

How should we utilize our All-Star Big?

Offense: New Nate’s engine to the Pacers offense

One development all nerdy Pacer fans alike should be watching throughout the year is how much the exposure of Pascal Siakam to Nate Bjorkgren as an assistant in Toronto will impact his utilization of Domantas Sabonis in Indiana as the new Head Coach.

Does he let Sabonis bring the ball up the court with his sneakily solid handle to initiate dribble hand-off situations or other dime dropping plays? Do we finally see an increase in three point volume with a coach who knows there is a three-point line? Do we see Sabonis’s elite passing ability used more frequently?

I’m assuming yes is the answer to all of these questions, and Nate Bjorkgren might’ve been the best thing to happen to Sabonis’s career because of these new freedoms that will further unlock his valuable skill set. He averaged five assists with a lack-luster coach, and in a newly spaced out offense that uses cutters and three-point bombing, I could see the All Star big man punch that number up to even seven a game if the ‘Cers flow through him like they should.

We will probably still see him in dive situations as that is where he is most difficult to guard, but I’m guessing Domantas will get plenty of opportunity as the offenses primary initiator in lots of sets this season.

You add even the slightest threat of a three-point shot to a player that is already killing defenses with interior scoring that demands double teams and next level passing, and you have one of the more valuable offensive big men in the NBA thanks to a system that finally suits his skill set.

Defense: Turner’s help-side assistant

Because of the defensive abilities that Domantas lacks, I see him utilized as a help man who uses his size to slow down slashers, allowing defensive stud Myles Turner to recover and rim protect as he does. I’d like to see his defensive IQ progress in some form, maybe in the way of more defensive communication, but with how high of an offensive load Sabonis could carry this season I’m not sure defense should be the priority yet.

Projected Stats

Because we could see an increase in Domantas Sabonis’s passing and overall usage rate, a realistic stat line could be along the lines of 20-24 points, 10-14 rebounds, and 5-7 assists a game. The biggest question is again, the three-point volume. If the Gonzaga alumni is utilized like he should and these realistic stats come to fruition, we could see an NBA caliber season out of the Power Forward in 2021.