With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for a whole season, the Indiana Pacers are likely going to give Andrew Nembhard the reins for a year. This has the potential to work, but don't expect as much run-and-gun next season.
The Pacers have been one of the fastest-paced and most dynamic offensive teams in the league over the past few seasons. However, a big reason for that is that Haliburton has been running the point. With him on the shelf due to an Achilles injury, the Pacers will have to play a full season without him as he recovers.
Fortunately for Indiana, Nembhard is more than capable of being the team's leading point guard. It will likely be a step down, but the Canadian native still provides enough value for it not to be disastrous. However, it is likely that the Pacers will change up their offense a little bit to play to Nembhard's strengths, so fans should expect things to look completely different for a while.
How the Pacers' offense will change with Andrew Nembhard
ESPN's Jamal Collier recently wrote about what he thinks a gap year for Indiana will look like. In the article, Collier noted that Nembhard "doesn't have the same burst as Haliburton," but he still provides value as a decision-maker in the half court. Because of this, the Pacers may opt for more set plays on offense, giving the 25-year-old a role of a more traditional point guard.
"Instead, the Pacers are likely going to lean into the strengths of Andrew Nembhard as a ball handler. He doesn't have the same burst as Haliburton, especially as a scorer, but is a good decision-maker with good timing in the half court," Collier wrote.
Though it has yet to be seen how this will play out, this seems like the right call for Indiana. It is unfortunate that they will be without their star guard next season, especially given how well he played in the playoffs. However, the team has to make adjustments, and simply relying on Nembhard to play the Haliburton role would be a disaster.
For one season, Nembhard will be the Pacers' point guard, and the team must run their offense around him and his strengths. Fortunately for them, they have one of the best offensive coaches in the league in Rick Carlisle, who should be able to make the transition as seamless as possible.
In addition to Haliburton, the Pacers will be without Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this offseason. It was a shock, and it remains to be seen how well this will work out for Indiana. Regardless, the team will have a unique opportunity to have a soft reset on offense, which could unlock a new dynamic for them.
The Pacers have a full season to navigate life without Haliburton. It is not a great spot for the team to be in, but there are some positives to it. This includes being able to see what Nembhard can do as a full-time point guard. While things are going to be different, Indiana still has a bright future ahead of them, even with next year looking a bit grim.