Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel has a problem on his hands. Looking at the current Pacer roster, there are more than a few interchangeable players. So much that if there is an injury, another player can easily step in to fill that player’s shoes. If Danny Granger suffers from an injury, newcomer Gerald Green can step seamlessly into his shoes.
It makes for an interesting dilemma.
Last season’s Pacer team was among one of the deeper teams in the NBA. It was an advantage for them then, now, the Pacers are an even deeper team. Just making it into the second round of the NBA playoffs might be considered a lost season in the 2012-13 campaign.
The goal is higher than that.
Vogel’s dilemma is how he handles the rotation for a team with championship desires. This deep team seems void of huge egos, one of the factors that goes into settling on a rotation. The others are chemistry and overall talent.
If I were a coach, I would classify their roles solely on their strengths and the needs of the team.
Vogel has some work to do, and I will try to help him. Avoiding the common designations such as starting power forward and reserve guard, here is how my rotation would look.
The Bully off the Bench: Tyler Hansbrough
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When you look at the rosters of the last few NBA champions, you see a very common theme, one that is not so obvious to us.
What do Udonis Haslem, Brendan Haywood, Josh Powell and Leon Powe have in common? Their respective teams were among the last five champions, and they all serve one purposeâ€"push the opponent around and knock them on their butts. The only player from that list looked upon to score was Haslem.
When I look at Tyler Hansbrough, I see many similarities in his game when compared to Haslem. They are both similar in size, and they bring a certain level toughness on the basketball court.
Hansbrough’s game has matured some. As a result, Hansbrough will be asked to play some stellar defense and make jump shots.
The Doughnut-Retrieving Rookie: Miles Plumlee
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When the NBA draft was underway and NBA commissioner David Stern announced the name of Miles Plumlee, there was a collective “who†shouting. Much like when the Pacers shocked observers when they drafted Hansbrough a few years prior, the drafting of Plumlee was just as stunning.
Nevertheless, Plumlee has the ability to step in and do much of the dirty work vacated by the departed Jeff Foster. The fact that he is a rookie only makes Plumlee a cost-efficient option. Plumlee is a good athlete with a high motor.
The Starter Standing in as a Backup: D.J. Augustin
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When Darren Collison was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for backup center Ian Mahinmi, critics came out in droves slamming the Pacers. In fairness, the Pacers essentially traded for a player with slightly better numbers in D.J. Augustin.
Comparing the guards:
Darren Collison: 10.4 PPG, 4.8 APG, 3.1 RPG and 0.8 SPG.
D.J. Augustin: 11.1 PPG, 6.4 APG and 0.8 SPG.
George Hill: 9.8 PPG, 2.9 APG, 3.0 RPG and 0.8 SPG.
The Pacers announced the Augustin signing shortly after making the trade.
The difference between Collison and Augustin is all about style of play.
Collison is a drive-and-kick type of point guard who plays at a fast pace. Augustin, on the other hand, is a more half-court player who will bring the ball up and look to set up the offense. Augustin also offers a different option at the point guard position in the event that incumbent starter Hill either gets hurt or struggles mightily.
The numbers between Augustin and Hill are just as comparable as Augustin and Collison as they suggest that he can be the starter in waiting.
Having a starting-caliber point guard coming off the bench is a huge luxury. Â
Untapped Talent with Potential: Ian Mahinmi
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Ian Mahinmi is virtually unknown except for his limited playing time in Dallas. When some people see him play, they see a player who was not good enough to take minutes away from some of the terrible centers who have donned a Mavericks uniform. Others saw a player who could not crack the Mavericks rotation because there was very little time to develop him.
What might be the case somehow lies in the middle.
Mahinmi has the talent to be a solid NBA player if utilized properly. That may be the biggest challenge that the Pacers face.
For the moment, Mahinmi is a good rebounder and post defender who just needs polish on his offensive game. The Pacers can afford to develop him unlike the Mavericks who just could not offer playing time.
The Second Unit's Go-to Guy: Gerald Green
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Gerald Green returned to the NBA last season with the New Jersey Nets. Already considered a journeyman at 26 and facing a more permanent exodus, Green sought out a second chance. That second chance landed him in the envious position of being the sixth man of this talented team.
Green will be relied on to score. If the Pacers lacked anything, it was an additional scoring option that offers balance to a lineup that desperately needed balance.
Another element that Green provides is floor spacing. That was key for the Pacers' success last season, so much that they lost games when they did not have good floor spacing.
The All-Star Big Man: Roy Hibbert
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Some say that Roy Hibbert’s rise in the ranks of NBA centers has more to do with the lack of quality centers in the league. While the latter may be true, Hibbert is a vastly underutilized player in my opinion.
At 7’2â€, Hibbert has an advantage, and it must be exploited more often. He does not have the athleticism of Dwight Howard, but that does not mean he cannot receive more looks in the post.
With the NBA the way that it is now, if a team can boast an inside-outside game versus a drive-and-kick style, the team’s overall shooting percentages go up along with the overall shot quality.
Hibbert is also the defensive anchor for the Pacers.
The Player Finally at Full-Strength: David West
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David West tore his Achilles at seemingly the worst time when he was with New Orleans. West should be fully back to form by the time of training camp.
His full recovery will pay huge dividends for the Pacers who need his rugged rebounding and face-up game.
During the second-round series against the Miami Heat, West exhibited leadership and poise. He will have to be the calming influence once again if this team wants to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in the post-Reggie Miller era.
Standing with the Keys in Hand: George Hill
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There is not much to say about George Hill’s role. He and Augustin are so interchangeable that either one can be used in various lineups that Vogel can put on the floor.
What works in Hill’s favor is the five-year contract that the Pacers gave him this offseason. That gives him the keys to the Pacers' vehicle for as long as he can be serviceable.
Without having to fight Collison for playing time, Hill may improve his game some, but as I previously mentioned, there is not much of a difference between Hill and Augustin. Â Â
The Shooting Star: Danny Granger
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Danny Granger is the Pacers' go-to-guy, but as his shot went cold, so did the team’s chances at winning.
On the Los Angeles Lakers or the Chicago Bulls, Granger would be a featured player in the offensive game plan, but not as the lead player. That is not a slight at Granger. He is one of the better players in the NBA, has multiple All-Star selections warranted and his talent is unmistakable.
The difference between Granger and Paul Pierce is a simple oneâ€"a closer’s mentality.
With a closer’s mentality, Granger may have found a way to look past the exploits of the Heat and lead the Pacers to victory.
His role should decrease some in my view. While he should not be the alpha-Pacer, he is not far from it. The Pacers are better served with Granger on board as their co-star. Â Â Â Â Â
The New Main Attraction
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Discussing players on the verge of having a breakout season, Paul George is mentioned frequently. Considering his first two seasons in the NBA, it's easy to believe that George is due.
What is also due is Granger passing the torch to him as the main attraction.
George has attributes that Granger does not: raw athleticism, good ball-handling skills and a defensive mindset. What makes George stand out the most is his “whatever I have to do to win†attitude.
He understands that it is not just about scoring; it is about making the necessary pass, making the timely defensive switch, setting the proper pick, whatever it takes to win.
The Final Rotation
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The final forecast has the Pacers going with a 10-player rotation of the following players.
The starters:
PG George Hill
SG Paul George
SF Danny Granger
PF David West
C Roy Hibbert
The sixth man:
G-F Gerald Green
The role players:
G D.J. Augustin
F Tyler Hansbrough
F Miles Plumlee
C Ian Mahinmi
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