The Pacers’ bigs.
It’s that glorious time of year when basketball is on the horizon. Football is a few weeks in but finally, it’s back to hearing shoes squeak on the hardwood and the sweet sound of a swisssssh.
The Pacers all came together Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the official start to the new season. They will have 17 in camp; 15 on fully guaranteed deals, Toney Douglas on a partial, and C.J. Fair, back for another camp, on a straight non-guaranteed camp deal.
See Also: Photo Gallery: Pacers Media Day 2015
Pacers rookie Myles Turner signs autographs for the promotions department.
Throughout the day, players follow an organization employee throughout the event level — to the practice court, inside hallway rooms, the media room, and back out to the main floor. Headshots, serious pictures, goofy pictures, promotional photos, videos, interviews with reporters, a live interview for the team website, replying to non-basketball questions for the game night program, and more.
It’s actually can be a headache, or at least a lot to handle if it’s your first time.
For three Pacers — Myles Turner, Joe Young, and Rakeem Christmas — it was their first time. They had fun with it (and are always willing to talk as long as you need). Thanks, Joe.
[Pacers Podcast: Ep. 1 — Recapping a busy offseason]
The first order of business for the key players on the team was to answer the assembled media’s questions at the podium. First Paul George, then George Hill and Monta Ellis.
Even though it’s kind of a silly question, as they haven’t even gone through one practice yet, Paul George was asked about his expectations for this bunch.
“I think we got a real shot at being top three in the East,” he said, raising eyebrows in the room. “… I think Atlanta was a great team to look at that had a first seed. They had great players, but I don’t think they have the players that we have and if we’re going to play the style that we’re going to play, the sky’s the limit for what we can do this year.”
What do you expect him to say, though, really?
[VIDEO: Larry Bird unfiltered at media day]
In all seriousness, the players had a great vibe to them today. Part of that is because it’s the start of a new season. They’re ready to go. But the goal to play faster and less bogged down has been refreshing to guys. They also are thankful that Paul George is back to his old self.
The G2 Zone fellas.
“He’s 100 percent healthy,” said coach Frank Vogel.
Much of the talk this season has centered around the pace at which they wish to play at, and George changing positions.
Pace of play is long overdue. Instead of being one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league, Pacers President Larry Bird would like to score six to eight more points a game, to get them ideally to 102 points per game or so.
As for George, don’t get caught up in the specific position but pay attention to who he plays with and who he guards.
“This is worth exploring,” added Vogel. “This is something to be very excited about, and something we feel he’s really going to like.
“The whole league, the whole world is going to a movement of position-less basketball. … Having four 3-point-shooting playmakers on the perimeter and one big out there as opposed to two bigs is how much of the league has gone. I think with the way this roster’s put together, we got a chance to do it as well as anybody.”
Vogel understands that there will surely be some growing pains for a number of factors — new personnel, new offensive scheme, and different lineups. He and the coaching staff have put in considerable time analyzing tape and talking with other coaches around the league, and the players seems to have bought in.
“I know that playing with space is very difficult to guard,” he said. “… Give space to elite offensive players, and let them go to work.”
Other Notables:
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King of the Hills. The Pacers’ three Hills pose for a photo.
The best picture of the day? The three Hills of the NBA … together.
- Chase Budinger could end up being the most under-valued offseason pickup of the offseason. He says he’s completely healthy, and Vogel says he has looked “fantastic.” A tease to a future story, Vogel added that Budinger’s “going to be one of our best runners.”
- Both Vogel and Bird are optimistic about what the rookies can product. Bird says Myles Turner may be the best shooter on the team and that it’ll be good for him to get minutes right away. While there are going to be struggles — and he absolutely will get banged around — it will be best for his development one year out of school.
- PG taking it personal with Turner: “If he doesn’t pan out to be great, it’s my fault — and that’s how I’m looking at it.”
- Joe Young was giddy about the whole day. He’s still riding high and says he’s been working extremely hard, motivated because he was a second-round pick and because of a couple losses in his family, including a close uncle.
- Rodney Stuckey is about eight months into a stricter diet, avoiding fat foods. Except for wedding cake over the offseason, of course. At the start of camp, he weighs 208, about 10 pounds lighter than usual.
- George Hill is still sporting his blonde look. “They said blondes have more fun,” he said. Later, at the end of his press conference, George joked that he was a sex symbol now.
- Paul George’s individual goal remains to be league MVP. That hasn’t changed.
- The leadership voice is going to be filled by committee. Nobody can do what David West did for the locker room. Paul George and George Hill are the most likely suitors, but other times it could be C.J. Miles or Rodney Stuckey, for example. It’ll be a collaborative effort.
- Solomon Hill says he’s not thinking about the Pacers’ deadline of next month to pick up the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. He’s not feeling any added pressure, and plans to remain mostly quiet on social media during the season, instead choosing to read more. He went on and on about West’s impact in the locker room.