3 Key players to watch in Indiana Pacers' game vs. Utah Jazz
By Jack Simone
2. Andrew Nembhard
For the Utah Jazz, the guard position is weird. They have a bunch of solid guards, but none are quite the guy who the team would feel comfortable starting full-time on a playoff team.
Tyrese Haliburton will obviously be the star of the show at that position in the Indiana Pacers-Jazz matchup, but Andrew Nembhard will have a chance to show out, too.
With Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker starting for the Jazz, Collin Sexton and rookie Keyonte George have been coming off the bench. If Nembhard can outplay those two, it would be a serious advantage for the Pacers.
Nembhard has been playing well this season, particularly in the context of a playmaker. He’s averaging 4.3 assists per game through the Pacers’ first seven contests, and he’s fresh off a game against the San Antonio Spurs in which he dished out eight.
Having that level of playmaking off the bench could not only give the Jazz’s defense fits but it provides the Pacers with a big leg up, as Sexton and George are score-first guys.
As Nembhard continues to improve throughout the year, his presence on both ends of the court should allow the Pacers to lay claim to an advantage at the guard position off the bench more often than not.