Will Point Guard Remain a Weak Point for the Indiana Pacers?
While the Indiana Pacers are continuing to build on their franchise-best start, there are always questions to be raised with even the best teams. For Indiana, there is still one major question mark on the roster—the point guard position.
While fan favorite and local IUPUI product George Hill has been the full-time starter since the end of the 2011-12 season, the level of play hasn't exactly been ideal from a point guard's perspective. Hill's generally inconsistent play has added fuel to the fire.
So, the question must be raised—Is Hill the best option for the Indiana Pacers at PG?
There are several angles to take when analyzing this question. The first would be to first decide whether or not Hill is the player best-equiped player on the roster to start at the point. In comparison to C.J. Watson, the team's current backup to Hill, the two are actually quite even.
| George Hill | 12.6 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 17.4% | 13.9 |
| C.J. Watson | 11.6 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 14.9% | 12.4 |
However, with Hill having the slight advantage and chemistry within the starting five, there is nothing that suggests head coach Frank Vogel should be making a switch in the starting lineup. Coming off of a victory on December 31 over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Vogel had nothing but praise for the guard.
So, how does Hill compare when stacked up against some of the best point guards in the entire league? When comparing numbers, there's quite a noticeable discrepancy in talent.
| George Hill | 12.6 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 17.4% | 13.9 |
| Chris Paul | 20.1 | 11.6 | 4.8 | 54.2% | 27.3 |
| Damian Lillard | 21.1 | 5.9 | 3.1 | 25.5% | 20.3 |
| Stephen Curry | 22.1 | 9.2 | 4.5 | 43.2% | 22.9 |
As the numbers show, there's quite a considerable difference between the elite point guards in the league and Hill.
Though the Pacers have excelled without the presence of a true point guard, it's easy for fans to wonder what this team could truly achieve with an abundance of production from the floor general.
In early December, trade rumors began swirling of a possible swap involving Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. The rumor, as noted by Candace Buckner of The Indianapolis Star, had Indiana sending Hill and forward Danny Granger to Boston for the experienced point guard.
While the trade rumor had no credibility, it's a trade that would be worth looking into.
When comparing the two point guards, it's clear Rondo is better-equipped to run an offense as a natural fit in the point guard position. Here are the comparisons between Hill's current season and Rondo's last full campaign with Boston.
| George Hill | 12.6 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 17.4% | 13.9 |
| Rajon Rondo (2011-12) | 11.6 | 11.4 | 3.6 | 52.5% | 17.5 |
The big question mark, however, is Rondo's injury. Coming off knee surgery in the 2012-13 season, Rondo has yet to play a game this season, leaving doubts about how the point guard will return to form.
It appears that, although the Rondo option would be a good opportunity, the best option right now for the Indiana Pacers is to stick with what they have.
Making a trade and risking a disruption in team chemistry is something the Pacers shouldn't toy with, given their recent success with the starting five. Everyone's heard the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," and it appears Indiana should stick to that blueprint.
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