Indiana Pacers Profile: Malcolm Brogdon’s consistent two-way brilliance

What can we expect for the rest of 2020-21?

Offense: Pick and Roll Wizardry For A Newly Modernized Offense

Like I’ve mentioned almost to nausea in the previous Pacer Profiles is that the hiring of Nate Bjorgren was extremely beneficial for almost every player on the roster from a production and even growth perspective. This is especially true with Brogdon, as he’s almost made All-Star teams playing in Medieval times offenses for the past couple of years, which has limited his skill set.

If the New Nate uses Malcolm similarly to how Toronto utilized Kyle Lowry we might see Brogdon crack that All-Star spot. Even with ball-dominant wings like Demar Derozan and the great Kawhi Leonard, Lowry has routinely found ways to efficiently put up nearly eight threes a game on one of the more winning teams in the conference thanks to the immense value this three-point gravity brings.

We could project similar, if not greater, value from a player almost half a foot taller and, in my eyes, a more talented shooter if we actually give Brogdon shots from outside like I predict Bjorgren will. With how Toronto utilized an elite passer like Lowry in the Pick and Roll, I anticipate the same role given to a Brogdon.

He’ll still need to be a greater cutter and spot-up shooter next to Sabonis and Oladipo to add value to their vast skill sets, but I predict I larger role for Brogdon as an initiator, on top of his large play-making load.

Defense: Victor Oladipo and Malcolm Brogdon, the chaos duo

I suspect Indiana to be extremely aggressive on the defensive end this season thanks to comments before the season from Coach Nate, and the personnel on the roster with the likes of Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner, and of course Malcolm Brogdon. Toronto locked down opposing teams by limiting paint touches by elite rim runners across the league, and the Pacers have the perfect players to do the same thing.

Don’t be surprised if you regularly see Turner notching four-block games, Oladipo and Brogdon picking off passes every quarter as if they are Deion Sanders and Larry Brown, and T.J. Warren further progressing into a positive defender.

With Malcolm’s ability to read and disrupt passing lanes and wall off even star wings, paired with Oladipo’s All-Defensive team level defense when healthy playing aggressive, tenacious defense, the Pacers are looking at having one of the best defensive backcourts in the NBA.

Projected Stats:

With how much potential production guards have in this offense, Brogdon will most likely average 20-23 points a game with around seven to ten assists to match. Because of his size and knack for being in the right spot, he might find himself on top of rebounding lists for guards at around five to even seven a game.

I’m not sure he gets back to the 50/40/90 club, but I wouldn’t find it crazy to see that aforementioned three-point volume his 6-8 attempts a game on solid efficiency. With how talented his hands are defensive, he’ll probably average at least a steal per game if anyone cares.