Innovation must come from experimentation at the edge, not just from ideas generated by the center.
For Frank Vogel and the Indiana Pacers, this is a mantra that must be embraced if they want to turn their fortunes around.
What they are doing now isn’t working. There’s nothing else to it.
They are 15-15 since the All-Star break, including their putrid Game 1 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on their home floor. After two-plus months of preaching “staying the course,” and “we’re going to turn this thing around,” and “insert generic rhetoric here,” Vogel needs to get creative.
The major advantage the Pacers held over opponents the last two seasons — and the first half of this one — is that their five-man unit of George Hill, Lance Stephenson, Paul George, David West and Roy Hibbert could outplay any other five-man unit in the league. Last season they were plagued by a weak bench and a lack of depth. An easy solution to that was an uptick in minutes during the playoffs to minimize the minutes that they were at a disadvantage on the court.
But what’s happening now is that their best unit is no longer able to outplay their opponent.
So what can they do?
How about bench their two-time All-Star Center, Roy Hibbert?
(Or at least put him up for sale)
What sounds ludicrous in nature may be the only chance the Pacers have left. Here’s more from ESPN’s Kevin Pelton:
The Hawks’ shooting ability made Hibbert’s size a nonfactor defensively. During the regular season, according to SportVU player-tracking data on NBA.com/Stats, Hibbert contested 60 percent of opponents’ shots within 5 feet of the basket while he was on the floor (plays in which he was within 5 feet of the shooter and 5 feet of the basket at the time of the attempt). Remarkably, SportVU recorded Hibbert contesting just one of Atlanta’s 13 attempts within 5 feet of the basket while he was on the court during Game 1.
Even the handful of times he was inside when a shot was taken, Hibbert wasn’t in help position because he had so much ground to cover from the perimeter. At best, the Hawks’ strategy neutralized him. At worst, it made him a liability because of his difficulty containing quicker players on the perimeter. The result: The NBA’s best defense during the regular season allowed 101 points in 90 possessions to Atlanta.
It might be hard to admit, let alone implement, but Indiana’s prolonged slump has put Vogel on the edge. Rumors are starting to swirl about his job security if the Pacers cannot make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals. This year was pegged as a championship or bust season.
Vogel is on the edge.
So bench Hibbert, go small, and save your ass.
Why not?
If Hibbert isn’t contributing on defense, and he’s an inefficient presence on offense, it’s tough for Vogel to keep him on the floor. At some point, backup center Ian Mahinmi might become a better option. The Pacers outscored Atlanta by five points during Mahinmi’s 17 minutes of action, despite the fact that every other Indiana reserve had a negative plus-minus.
A change could also help Hibbert get going. The Pacers would ideally be able to maximize his minutes against Hawks backup center Elton Brand, whose range extends only to about 20 feet. The one time Atlanta attempted a shot near the basket with both Brand and Hibbert on the court, Hibbert was able to seal off the basket and force Teague into a difficult shot.
Let’s not forget about the human element here, though. Pelton notes that a demotion to the sensitive Hibbert could be the final blow that crushes his spirit, thus ending any chance of a resurrection. And let’s be clear, that is something the Pacers will need if they are to get through the Heat.
Down 1-0 to the Hawks, is now the time to take this risk?
Adding in the human dynamic makes it a much tougher call for Vogel, who has to weigh Hibbert’s precarious mental state against the danger of falling behind 2-0 in the series.
I don’t think I’d pull the trigger on a change just yet, but I’d have Mahinmi ready to check in early with a chance to bring back Hibbert at the start of the second quarter for more favorable matchups. Whatever Vogel has in store for tonight — and he admitted yesterday that “there’s a point where you have to consider all changes” — he’s keeping it secret.
Kerr in deep talks with the Knicks
Yesterday Steve Kerr commented on the firing of Mike Woodson and his potential interest in the job on his weekly radio show. This was the first time Kerr spoke about his direct interest in the Knicks head coaching position.
One day later and talks have seemed to intensify. Here’s more from Jeff Zillgitt of USAToday:
From the day Jackson joined the Knicks in mid-March, Steve Kerr has been linked to the coaching job. If Kerr wants the position — which it seems like he does — all signs point to him being the man Jackson hires, sooner rather than later.
Kerr is part of the conversation, and the two sides are deep into discussions, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the Knicks’ situation.
He’s at the top of the list.
It’s becoming clear Jackson likes the idea of getting the band back together, even if the band’s greatest hits were years ago. Jackson likes what’s familiar, and he’s going to go with whom he trusts. That’s why Jackson’s connections to his great Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers teams are expected to permeate the Knicks.
It seems as if Jackson plans on moving fast in order to secure the structure of the organization before making his final pitch to Carmelo Anthony on July 1st.
Kerr is a respected player, GM and mind, and should have the ability to connect with his players, especially Anthony. On top of that, Kerr is a familiar face for Jackson, somebody he has a strong, workable relationship with and which should bode well for his candidacy.
At the pace these talks are moving, I would not be surprised to see Kerr offered the job by the end of the week.
But that does not necessarily mean he should take it immediately. While Kerr does seem highly interested in the position, if he were smart, he would buy himself until the end of the first round of the playoffs, roughly two more weeks.
There are a few excellent opportunities that may become available if a few certain teams were to underachieve and go home early: Indiana, Oklahoma City, Houston and Golden State.
It’s impossible to argue from a roster standpoint that all four of those opportunities would not be better than New York. Especially if the uncertainty of Carmelo’s future looming large.
These positions would become available not because of a poor situation, but because of an inability to get over the hump. Elevating superstar talent such as Durant/Westbrook, Harden/Howard, Stephen Curry and Paul George seems a lot more attractive than resurrecting the dead.
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