With training camp underway, now’s a good time to take a look at depth charts across the league. We begin w/ Indiana, a team that “overachieved” in 2018 - finished w/ the East’s 5th best record in what was supposedly a transition year.
After exceeding expectations, Indiana had a nice summer ft. a few different veteran signings.
How do the new additions factor into Coach Nate McMillan’s rotation?
PROJECTED STARTERS
• click image for full profile
DEPTH CHART
PG: Collison-Joseph-Holiday-Sumner
SG: Oladipo-Evans-Wilcox
SF: Bogdanovic-McDermott-Johnson
PF: Young-Sabonis-Leaf
C: Turner-O’Quinn-Anigbogu
-Expect a familiar starting five for Coach Nate McMillan in 2019; the combination of Collision-Oladipo-Bogdanovic-Young-Turner played the most out of any lineup in 2018 (per NBA.com/stats), including IND’s 7-game series v. CLE in the postseason; Tyreke Evans figures to share 6th man duties w/ rising big Domantas Sabonis - both of them provide scoring, PnR tandem off the bench?
-How will Coach McMillan dish out minutes on the interior? - Myles Turner’s production & minutes dipped a tad from his sophomore season, while Domantas Sabonis, Thaddeus Young & Kyle O’Quinn (w/ NY) all improved from the previous year - most teams don’t deploy 4-big rotations these days since, in theory, the smallest player (Young, 6’9) could spend ample time playing anywhere from 3-5; rotation = Turner (starter), Young (starter), Sabonis (6) & O’Quinn (15-min.)?
-Continuity is a key theme for Pacers this season - only 3 newcomers (Evans, O’Quinn & Doug McDermott) are expected to join the main rotation
-Between Collison, Oladipo, Bogdanovic & McDermott, Indiana won’t have a problem spacing the floor - Pacers finished 9th in 3pt. percentage in 2018
-Camp Battles: Joseph v. Holiday? • Evans v. Collison • Sabonis v. Turner
Projected Closing Lineup: Evans-Oladipo-Bogdanovic-Young-Turner
• new additions in bold