Pacers Review: Looking back

[TheTwoWallaces]

It was a weird season for the Pacers. The combination of a high player turnover rate & a minimal coaching effort lead to a dismal 25-win season. However, the roster is creatively built, and there's a few things worth talking about.

Efficiency
At the start of the season, the Pacers were playing Emmanuel Mudiay at PG & Justise Winslow at SF.
Both players are good defenders & play a gritty style of basketball. However, both players are also incrediiiblllyy inefficient on offense.
This peeved the coaching staff, who then pressured the front office into putting both talents on the block. A new mantra was thus born in Indiana: Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency.
By the season's end, the reformed roster highlighted this new approach. Mudiay & Winslow were replaced with Collin Sexton & Michael Porter Jr.

Flexibility
Another key theme for the Pacers was the emphasis on creating flexibility. The inexperienced (I literally have no idea how to coach this game) coaching staff expressed their need to be able to test out different playing styles. They therefore requested a roster with adaptable players & depth at numerous positions.
This is evident with a quick glimpse at the roster:
PG: Collin Sexton & Elie Okobo provide very different Point Guard styles.
SG: Rawle Alkins & Monte Morris give depth at Shooting Guard while the team explores potential upgrades.
SF: Michael Porter Jr. is the current Small Forward, though his Handling & Rebounding allow the coaching staff to throw him around the court as needed. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson compliments Porter's offense with lockdown man-on-man defense. Dillon Brooks' all around game helps keep the roster balanced.
PF: Semi Ojeleye & Justin Patton can both do a little bit of everything, including shoot the 3. This gives the team flexibility to play in the new engine.
C: Chimezie Metu & Jo Lual-Acuil play different types of big men: Metu locks down on D while L-A rebounds. Patton can also be thrown on the block when needed.

Financially, the team is also very flexible. Kevin Love, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter's contract, & RHJ all come off the books this offseason. Loads of cap space + a late first round pick allow the front office to explore trade possibilities to shore up the holes in their roster. Look to see all potential avenues explored.

Michael Porter Jr.
Lastly, it's worth talking about the man of the future.
Porter has unparalleled scoring potential. Seriously, he could eventually average 30 PPG, and the league wouldn't even be surprised. The Pacers can't squander this opportunity, and will therefore do everything they can to surround MPJ with the right pieces. As of now, that means players who can pass, defend, and space the floor. If we can create a system where MPJ has room to work & outlet options, this guy could cause trouble. Should be fun

[andrei]

I like this team a lot - full of young players who can develop into future stars.

We are all going to be new in DDS19 next year so plenty of time to experiment and learn the engine and various offensive and defensive sets.

[mgtr81]

The diagnostic was spot on, so that's a very big first step. I may regret passing on Porter.

[KW]

I get the feeling I'll look like a total dumbass in a couple years for trading away Porter. Really good cornerstone

[emplep7]

You found your franchise cornerstone in Porter now and thats the most important thing. He very well might be the best player in that class (I hate to agree with Brett) and thats huge for a young team. The scary thing is he was built for DDS19 so he's only going to get better in the bright new world we're entering.

[Dennis]

Porter was the one guy you need to build your franchise around. Make him a great SF and he should be terryfying at that size. You need to surround him with defender, but as soon as that is done, this team could go miles. It’s a bit scaring that you own so few picks over the next years and don’t have many assets to move, but maybe FA is the way to go to gather assets.