Previewing the Central Division: Will Indiana Trouble The Bucks?

In the second iteration of the Central Division preview, we look at a team which has given the Milwaukee Bucks problems in recent years: The Indiana Pacers.

It’s difficult to make out where Indiana stands. Despite being without superstar Paul George for nearly the entire season, the Pacers exceeded expectations, nearly making it into the Eastern Conference playoffs last year.

The roster, however, now looks substantially different than it did one year ago.

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Former All-Star center Roy Hibbert is no longer on the team, getting traded to the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. Forward David West, who provided the Pacers with much need scoring. is also gone, taking his talents to San Antonio in pursuit of an NBA Championship.

The Pacers, however, did not just subtract. They signed guard Monta Ellis on a relatively team friendly four year contract. They also drafted coveted big man Myles Turner, a no-brainer for a team in need of a long-term option at center.

All of these moves, however, leave Indiana in an uncertain position in the Central Division.

Trading away Roy Hibbert will likely help them. He plays like he’s bolted to the floor, only able to assist on the defensive end when players drive to the basket. Myles Turner is much more athletic and is more than capable of surpassing Hibbert’s sub-standard rebounding numbers.

Acquiring Monta Ellis will also help the team on the offensive end. He gives the Pacers a second ball-handler next to George Hill, who can score in bunches, something the team lacked without the presence of Paul George last season.

Apr 15, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) dribbles the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

The Pacers also boast a strong bench. Ian Mahimi has been relatively effective as a back-up. Rodney Stuckey had a nice bounce-back year last season and will provide the Pacers with a similar style of play to Monta Ellis. They also have a strong stretch forward in CJ Miles, and recently acquired an under-rated big in Jordan Hill.

All of these guys could come together to give Indiana it’s best depth since the early 2000’s.

Despite all of these strengths, the Pacers will endure adversity this season.

The major changes to the team have shifted the defensive-minded Pacers into a potential top-15 offense. But, this change in identity will likely mean a dramatic drop-off on the defensive end of the floor.

Though Myles Turner shows signs of being a strong interior defender, it’s unlikely that he’ll have the same impact as Roy Hibbert, at least for this season. The Pacers also down-graded defensively at the two by acquiring Monta Ellis.

George Hill is big enough and skilled enough to guard either guard position. However, this will still leave Monta Ellis with the task of guarding someone else who may be just as skilled as Hill’s assignment. This could particularly hurt the Pacers against teams like the Wizards or Bucks who have big, athletic, and rangy guards.

The team may also take a while to mesh. Monta Ellis doesn’t have a great track-record of being a good teammate. They also have a conglomeration of guys who haven’t played many minutes together. This presents a tough challenge, even for someone as skilled and respected as Coach Frank Vogel.

The Bucks boast some significant positional advantages over Indiana. Greg Monroe will present big problems for rookie Myles Turner. His size and low-post prowess will pose major problems for the inexperienced big.

The Bucks also possess a more polished guard in Khris Middleton. Unlike Ellis, Middleton can actually defend his position, and is at the top of the league when it comes to defensive guards.

The key for Indiana, of course, rests with Paul George. If George can re-kindle his prior form, the Pacers will be in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. However, it may take a while for George to ease back in, especially given the severity of the injury he suffered a little over a year ago. Just how quick he comes back to being his old-self will ultimately decide where Indiana ends up.

Apr 14, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) brings the ball up court against the Washington Wizards at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Washington 99-95 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

It’s unclear where George will play on the court. He’s spent much of his career playing at the two and three, but may see significant time at the four this upcoming season. The Bucks could effectively contain him by assigning Giannis Antetokounmpo on him.

Giannis’s length, athleticism, and instincts are sure to cause problems for George. George has spent much of his time in the NBA holding a distinct size advantage on his opponents. This is not the case with Antetokounmpo guarding him.

Even if George moves around positionally, the Bucks have more than enough defense to counter. If George plays at the two or the three, the Bucks can put Khris Middleton on him.

The Bucks also have more than enough scoring to offset George’s production. When Jabari Parker comes back, the Bucks will possess three plus players on the offensive end. This is still more than Indiana possesses, with George and Ellis being the two standouts in this respect.

Given the degree of uncertainty surrounding the team, Indiana may very well find itself sitting near the bottom of the Central Division basement. But, don’t be surprised if they still make it into the Eastern Conference playoffs as the 8th seed. They possess more than enough talent, if everything clicks, to challenge anyone in the Eastern Conference.

Record: 41-41 (4th in the Central Division)

Next: What Can Khris Middleton Learn From Dwyane Wade?

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