Bennedict Mathurin holds the ball too long on offense and doesn’t make quick reads. In order for him to succeed with the Indiana Pacers long-term, head coach Rick Carlisle will want him to speed up and play within the team's system.
In a recent appearance on the "Kevin O'Connor Show," Pacers beat writer Alex Golden brought up this exact point and suggested that, while the team needs Mathurin, he has a lot of improvements he needs to make to prove he can work in their system.
"The continued conversation with Benn Mathurin, he's gotta be quicker on his reads and just make the right plays because too often the Pacers like to play this quick, fast-paced basketball, random basketball, and Mathurin at times can kind of slow the offense down and be more of an isolation scorer. He's a little bit different in terms of what they do, but sometimes different can be good, and they're gonna need his scoring and his ability to attack the rim," Golden said.
In Carlisle's system in Indiana, the team prioritizes having a fast-paced offense with a lot of ball movement and improvisation. This is why a player like Tyrese Haliburton excels under Carlisle. He is among the best in the NBA at making quick reads, pushing the tempo, and playmaking.
Unfortunately for Indiana, while most of its roster consists of players who can play this style of basketball, Mathurin sticks out like a sore thumb as someone who can't.
The Canadian native is a fantastic basketball player and a gifted scorer. Last season, he averaged 16.1 points while shooting 45.8% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc in 29.8 minutes per game.
Though he can be streaky at times (he had 23 games where he scored 20+ points last season and 16 games where he scored in single digits), the highs are incredibly high for Mathurin. However, he mostly excels as an iso scorer who creates his own shot and puts the ball on the floor often. This is his bread-and-butter, and it works for him, but it is not ideal for the team.
Next season, Mathurin will have a great opportunity to showcase his value in Indiana as the team's starting shooting guard. If he can't make the most out of this chance, however, then his days as a member of the Pacers may be numbered.
Bennedict Mathurin must make adjustments to save his Pacers career
Mathurin is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this offseason, but it seems that the Pacers are in no rush to give it to him. Instead, they will give him the next season to prove his worth and show he can work in Indiana's system before committing to him for the long run. This is because, while the 23-year-old can be a great player, it would be tough for the Pacers to justify giving him a new contract, especially if it pushes them into the luxury tax.
Perhaps most importantly, Mathurin needs to prove that he can grow and play in Indiana's system. He can do this by moving the ball more and making quicker decisions. Mathurin does not need to completely change his playstyle (which would be detrimental to him and the team as he would lose a lot of his value), but he must show some willingness to develop within the Pacers' system.
Furthermore, the Arizona alum will also need to show improvements on the defensive end of the ball. This will especially be true for this upcoming season as Mathurin will be tasked with taking some of the pressure off Andrew Nembhard defensively. Doing so would add another dynamic to his game, potentially making him an even bigger asset to the team in the long haul.
A lot of eyes will be on Mathurin next season as he aims to make his stance with the Pacers crystal clear. There is a lot to like about him, but if he can't make the adjustments he needs to, then he may find himself playing somewhere else sooner rather than later.