Indiana Pacers: 3 players who should step up after Chris Duarte injury

Indiana Pacers: 3 players who should step up following Chris Duarte’s injury

3. Oshae Brissett

As mentioned here repeatedly before, Oshae Brissett has been an afterthought in Rick Carlisle’s rotation so far, which is a clear deviation from the past two seasons. And while the coaching staff may double down on further going small sans Duarte, the fourth-year tweener could still present himself as an option for the Pacers when they need a defensive stop or two.

In fact, Brissett was inserted in the lineup against the Heat, playing solid defense overall and even racking up a couple of assists. Of course, he won’t be tabbed on to play chessboard, but for an Indiana team already lacking size even with Duarte, the coaching staff may have no choice but to bank on him against bigger scorers in the wing positions.

To sustain minutes, however, Brissett will have to prove that he’s more than just a solid defender. Improving his putrid three-point shooting so far (14.3 percent) takes primacy, as the Pacers’ pace-and-space offense is so unforgiving to non-threats from downtown. If all goes well, he may even land a solid rotation role moving forward, even when Duarte returns.