Could Micah Potter be the Indiana Pacers' backup center moving forward? If his recent play is any indication, then the team might not have any choice but to rely on him more than they rely on Jay Huff.
Potter has been a man possessed over his last few games. Since Feb. 10, he has averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 51.7% from the field and 38.7% from deep in 25.7 minutes across six games. This includes a career-high 23-point performance against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.
After Tuesday's game, the Ohio native spoke about what his role with the Pacers has become, and it should be music to the team's ears.
"Bring energy. Be a connector on the floor. Use my voice, set physical screens, or teams are starting to switch more often now, so creating angles for my teammates and for myself on screening. Hitting open shots. Making the right play. Playing winning basketball as best as I possibly can," Potter said.
"I know the situation we're in as far as guys being injured and things like that, so roles will change based on different lineups. But when I'm in the game, I try to play winning basketball as best I can, be physical, use my voice, and try to help my teammates and create for my teammates."
Micah Potter may be in line for a long-term role in Indiana
I liked the Potter signing for Indiana at the time. I thought he was a solid veteran option who can help stretch the floor a bit and grab some boards. But he's turned it up to a level I never thought was possible, and he is proving he can be a real asset to the team moving forward if he keeps it up.
After the Pacers traded for Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of this year's deadline, they finally found their new starting center. This was a desperate need for Indiana following Myles Turner's departure last summer, and they are a much more well-rounded team now that they've figured it out.
But after acquiring Zubac, it seemed pretty obvious that Huff, who has started 35 games in his first year with the Pacers, would be his backup. And, to be fair, it still might be. But at the very least, Indiana needs to weigh all options before the start of next season, and that includes maybe giving some of those opportunities to Potter instead.
Potter isn't a perfect player, but he has stepped up numerous times for the Pacers in recent games. And with a lot of basketball remaining on the schedule, he will be an important player to keep an eye on.