One of the biggest flaws of Bennedict Mathurin's game is that he is more of an iso scorer than a team player. This is especially noticeable with the Indiana Pacers, who rely on moving the ball around and pushing the tempo. However, after Indiana's loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday, Mathurin sent a clear message the team can't ignore: he'll do whatever it takes to help them win.
"I just go out there, and I just do what's asked. I'm just trying to help my team win. If it's to pass the ball, to make the extra pass, and play-make for my teammates, I'll do it. If it's scoring the ball down the stretch, I'll do it. It's my greatest gift. I'm just trying to do what's good for my teammates," Mathurin said after the Pacers' loss to the Rockets on Monday.
Bennedict Mathurin is proving what the Pacers desperately need to know
The problem isn't so much that Mathurin is a "selfish" player. The problem is just that his strengths include having the ball in his hands as much as possible, which doesn't always work in Indiana.
Mathurin is an incredibly gifted iso scorer. In parts of four seasons, he has averaged 17.8 points on 44.4% shooting from the field and 34.7% from deep (while coming off the bench in more than half of his career games).
The Canadian native is a bit inconsistent, but when he's hot, he's nearly unstoppable. He can create his own shot with ease, score at all three levels at a high rate, and he's a legitimate force when cutting to the basket. However, the Pacers play a fast-paced style, and that doesn't always work out in Mathurin's favor.
Additionally, Mathurin has never been much of a defender or a playmaker. He is averaging a career 1.8 assists to 1.9 turnovers per game, and he often ball watches and is a bit too late in his defensive switches.
However, the Arizona alum has made big strides in a contract year, and that hasn't gone unnoticed.
After Monday's game, head coach Rick Carlisle praised Mathurin's development as an all-around player. Carlisle noted that Mathurin has improved as a passer and is making better reads in general. This will be huge as he looks to establish himself as a long-term contributor in Indiana (h/t Dustin Dopirak of IndyStar.com).
"I thought (Mathurin) played a terrific game," Carlisle said after the Pacers' loss to the Rockets on Monday. "His reads of situations, he's come so far. He made some very good passes. He had four assists the last game. He gets to the free-throw line. He causes problems. He's really come a long way. We needed to get him back. We just need the manpower and on a night like tonight where you've got a tough, physical team, he can get you 20, 25 points and help you stay in the game."
With the trade deadline less than 24 hours away, the Pacers will have a big decision to make regarding Mathurin. However, he has constantly proven that he can do whatever it takes to help the team play winning basketball (even if the standings don't reflect that), and that's all they need to know.