Assessing what matters for this Pacers season
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — We knew this season would look a lot different for the Indiana Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton in the fold. We didn’t know things would get to this level on the injury front for the rest of the team. Now with Aaron Nesmith potentially sidelined for the next month or so, the injury report has continued to reach comical levels for the reigning Eastern Conference Champions. It’s only mid-November, and we’re already asking this question: What really matters right now for the future, and what doesn’t?
“I’ve been in a similar position to this before, but I’m not really in the mood to talk about it,” said Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle on Saturday. “These things happen. And when they happen, it’s a reminder how humbling this game can be, how this league can be, and how important health is. But we’ve also just gotta play better.”
It would be easy to take the Queen approach and say “nothing really matters” right now for the Pacers, but even if that’s mostly true, it doesn’t mean things will stay that way through the entire season. If you were hoping for a Playoff team, there’s still time, but that window will start to close with each passing loss. If you were hoping for player development and for certain players to carve out a role for themselves moving forward, then that’s the main thing you’ll want be watching for over the next several months.
Let’s take a look at how some of the key story-lines have played out so far, whether it’s too early to make a declaration, and if there needs to be improvement.
•The development/decisions looming for Bennedict Mathurin:
To me, this is the top story for the entire season. How will Mathurin play in a contract year and with a bigger role? Will he play himself into a long-term role with this team? Will he be on the trade block later this winter? Mathurin will be a restricted free agent after the season. The Pacers can match any offer he signs and keep him, but at what cost? Being restricted could also entice other teams to acquire him if they have the cap space available beyond this season, knowing they would have the ability to keep him around. Like the rest of the team, Bennedict Mathurin has been on the injury report more often than on the court, so this one clearly falls in the category of too early to tell.
Mathurin was playing well before the injury and is close to a return. When he gets back on the court, it will absolutely give more meaning to this season.
•The development of Jarace Walker:
The other recent lottery pick for the Pacers has been one of the few healthy players on the roster, and he’s naturally been given a bigger role this season. Much like his previous two years, Walker shows flashes of great potential on both sides of the court. The consistency, however, has still been non-existent. He’s been one of the least-efficient players in the NBA, and hasn’t exactly ran with his new role. It’s still a small sample size, and Walker is still just 22 years old, but the Pacers will want to see a lot more production and consistency in the near future if they’ll start to trust him for the future. If there’s a chance to dangle Walker in trades this winter or next summer, they’ll want that trade value to rise with better play as well. File this under the needs to be better category.
•Will a center or two carve out a role for the future?
This is another story-line that will give meaning to this entire season. If even one center has a good season and looks like next year’s main backup at the position, that will be a win for the organization. Isaiah Jackson is still in his “return-to-play” phase, so you can understand some highs and lows. He’s had some good moments and is averaging eight points and six boards in 18 minutes per game. Jay Huff was brought here to give at least some of what Myles Turner offered, and the results have been a mixed bag for him as well. He hasn’t shot the 3-ball well yet (24%), and is averaging five points and three rebounds in 15 minutes per night. Both Jackson and Huff have plenty of time to find their consistency and give the coaching staff and front office a better idea on whether or not they fit into the future plans. For this situation, it’s too early to tell.
•Will it be a tale of two seasons?
The only good news about the injury report is that it’s all happened at the same time, in a season that was already going to be a challenge. The end result could be a high draft pick before the Pacers reload for next year. The question is, will the losses pile up all season long, or will things change if and when the key players return? I don’t see a team with Siakam, Nesmith, Nembhard, Mathurin, Toppin, and McConnell losing a ton of games in the second half. Will they all be healthy at any point? Will there be a mid-season trade that can also shake things up? For some fans, they’ve been Team Tank for quite a while. Others may start to join them. For me, I’m looking for key story-lines throughout the rest of the season, more-so than wins and losses. If this team gets healthy and starts winning games, it can have some benefits. If it continues to be a lost season and the losses pile up, that can clearly have a big benefit as well.
Players like Johnny Furphy and Kam Jones will also give this season more meaning once they’re able to return to action.
For now, we’ll do our best to look for the good in the season, and to try and see who can play themselves into a future role for the team.
