Small ball is a struggle in Indiana
Monta Ellis and Paul George have been bad…I mean really bad. The early returns are not so promising to the new style in Indiana.
Now if George and Ellis can starting knocking down shots things will look better for the most part. But for a team whose defense was still a top ten defense last season, they are struggling.
They have a defensive rating of 103.7 (22nd in the NBA) and are allowing 105 PPG. Not great huh?
The offense looks choppy and is extremely inconsistent. There were expected growing pains for sure, but it has been a mess thus far. Paul George seems more focused about complaining about officiating than owning up to his new leadership role on the team.
Frank Vogel is a fantastic coach and Myles Turner has already shown flashes of brilliance so there is some hope in the Hoosier state. Just the early polls say the team is struggling. It will be curious to see how patient Larry Bird remains if the team continues its struggles throughout the course of the season.
The problem in Indiana may go beyond their performance. Their frontcourt is weak and this team is not a shoe in as a top team in the East.
The switch over to the new style will be painful and it with team it stands a chance to bloom into something beautiful. Think of this as the metamorphosis of the Indiana Pacers.
Next: Fear the Deer?