Furthering Sabonis’ offensive growth will benefit the Indiana Pacers
The numbers will tell you that Domantas Sabonis’ offense game is already as good as it can get. However, there are still things that he can work on to become wore well-rounded in that regard. Fortunately, the foray of coach Rick Carlisle into the equation could serve as a guidepost on how he can further his growth as an offensive catalyst for the Indiana Pacers.
First off, improving his three-point shot will be critical for the offense to run smoother. While the Pacers managed to improve their offense last season, the team’s scoring attack remained monotonous at times, heavily dependent on pick-and-rolls and post-ups. If Sabonis can function as a potent pick-and-pop option in Carlisle’s five-out sets, the team’s bevy of slashers will have even more room to operate. His passing could shine even more.
On the secondary, picking his spots more efficiently could help improve his field goal percentage after having it decrease for the third straight year. Soaking up possessions with constant post-ups sans mismatches will be a waste of the team’s versatile scoring profile. Bettering his free-throw shooting should also be a priority, especially with Indiana constantly among the worst performers in clutch situations.
If Domas hones his game next season on these areas, the Indiana Pacers could very well outperform their projections and exceed the expectations of many, even with the East and the rest of the league’s improvement heading into the 2021-22 NBA season.