In the face of midseason changes, COVID-19, and the proverbial injury bug, the Indiana Pacers shuffled between different lineups throughout the 2021-22 season. That has probably been an understated reason the team failed to garner any semblance of momentum in the season, with the team topping at just three consecutive wins as their longest win streak.
Overall, the Pacers trotted out a whopping 37 different starting lineups in the season, a robust number even for a franchise that has long been plagued by injuries.
One staple late in the season, however, was Oshae Brissett. After staving off a minimal role early in the campaign due to inconsistent play and rotation overlaps, the third-year forward eventually carved out a fixed starting role in Rick Carlisle’s deck for 25 games, something that should continue in the following season.
The Indiana Pacers should give Oshae Brissett a chance to show what he can do in a full-time starting role
Putting aside the upcoming NBA Draft and free agency, the Indiana Pacers have Oshae Brissett as their projected starting small forward next season. That may not be the best news for the name-hunters and it could be reflective of the team’s limited options to get a true wing to man the spot, but it is certainly ideal for those hoping to see more of the 23-year-old tweener.
With the Pacers having a good amount of shot creators and rim runners, Brissett is a good balancer to clarify the offense. He doesn’t demand shots nor does he need the ball in his hands to be effective, and he is best suited as a supplementary offensive piece who could thrive as a volume three-point shooter. This season, he shot just 35 percent from rainbow country, perfectly at league average rate, but that should improve with a clearer role next season.
Brissett’s offensive profile doesn’t extend much to other ventures, but given his size and athleticism, he could furnish the team with a reliable off-ball threat who can outsmart defenses and cut open lanes for lobs and free layups, especially with Tyrese Haliburton already being one of the league’s top assists men.
However, beyond all that has been said, the bread and butter of Brissett’s game is in the non-scoring departments. His defensive versatility easily ranks as the best on the team, as he is the only player on the team who can guard all positions with relative ease. He is much better as a help defender than in one-on-one situations, but keeping him in the starting lineup could help the Pacers reclaim their lost defensive identity.
Better yet, Oshae should continue to get even better on defense. This will be crucial as Indiana needs someone who can at least slow down the Durants and Tatums in the league if they want a better fighting chance on a nightly basis.
In addition, Brissett is an above-average rebounder at his position. Perennially one of the Pacers’ Achilles heels, the team simply cannot continue banking on smaller players to man the 3-spot and concede size and rebounding. The defensive tradeoff for more offensive oomph is counterintuitive.
Heck, even if the Indiana Pacers somehow re-sign TJ Warren, there is more than enough credence to continue starting Oshae Brissett next season. His potential has been obscured a tad by some of the team’s high-upside cogs, but he remains a valuable part of the roster who should contribute well to their expected winning cause by doing all the common things uncommonly well.