Ranking Every Indiana Pacers Player Heading into 2015 NBA All-Star Break
Ranking every Indiana Pacers player heading into the 2015 All-Star break will reveal a massive paradigm shift.
That's because some of the Pacers who made a significant impact at the beginning of the season now find themselves at the bottom, while those previously injured stars who missed a significant number of games have moved up.
More on the specifics later.
The good news is Indiana, as inconsistent as it has been all season long, is now within striking distance of a playoff spot after its 103-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 8.
Head coach Frank Vogel told Pacers.com's Wheat Hotchkiss about the implications of that victory over Charlotte: "We are trying to turn our season around. We had a lot of struggles early on in the year, and we talked all along that is going to turn for us, and we have to stay with it and keep grinding, and a couple good wins this week will hopefully put us in that direction."
Now, the Pacers are 21-33 (.389) and just two games back of the Hornets and Miami Heat for the seventh and eighth playoff spots in the East, respectively. Should the Pacers make the postseason after many experts have written them off, it will be a huge consolation to their fanbase.
For the purposes of this article, we will rank the players according to their stats and the recent impact each of them has made.
14. Chris Copeland, 13. Donald Sloan
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14. Chris Copeland
2014-15 stats: 7.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.1 APG
Poor Chris Copeland.
After making a significant impact during the season's first half, he has become a fixture on the bench. He is back to where he was during the 2013-14 season, when he appeared in just 41 games and averaged 3.7 points.
This is how much his production has regressed: from averaging 12.1 points in 28.7 minutes per game in November, he has been averaging just 1.2 points in 9.9 minutes per game since the new calendar year rang in.
Copeland's plight is understandable. Damjan Rudez and C.J. Miles have been playing well lately. Once Paul George returns next season (maybe even this season, per a Feb. 3 report from The Indianapolis Star's Candace Buckner), there is no reason for Indy to pay Copeland $3 million per year if he continues to languish on the bench like this.
Copeland's two-year deal expires after the 2014-15 season. It's looking more and more like he won't be around next year.
13. Donald Sloan
2014-15 stats: 9.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.4 APG
Sloan is the Pacers' unsung backcourt hero who has suffered the same fate as Chris Copeland, as a player who does not play at the coach's discretion.
Just like Copeland, Sloan reverted to third-string status with the return of George Hill and the recent play of C.J. Watson. For all intents and purposes, this season was a chance for Sloan to show everybody he truly belongs in the NBA. He had his chance and definitely made the most of it.
Remember, this is the same Sloan who torched the Washington Wizards for 31 points and the Dallas Mavericks for 29 points earlier this season.
It's just unfortunate he hasn't made much of an impact lately, as he has not played in five of the Pacers' last six games through Feb. 9.
Sloan's contract will expire at the end of 2014-15. While he hasn't been on the court that much lately, he is still a valuable commodity who deserves another shot with the Pacers next season.
He has proved he is a solid backup point guard in the mold of a Haywoode Workman or Travis Best.
12. Shayne Whittington, 11. Lavoy Allen
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12. Shayne Whittington
2014-15 stats: 2.3 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.4 APG
At last we're seeing more of Shayne Whittington.
Although he only played in a combined 22 minutes during Indy's recent three-game winning streak, he made the most of his limited opportunity. The Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets in three close contests (Indy won by a combined 10 points), so Whittington didn't contribute garbage-time stats.
He got his chance after Ian Mahinmi injured his ankle during the second quarter of the Detroit game on Feb. 4.
The rookie has been a consummate pro, as evidenced by what he told to Pacers.com's Mark Montieth on Jan. 28 after he played two games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants late that month. Whittington quipped,"I'm not seeing it as a demotion. The D-League isn't meant for that; it's meant for developing players."
Indy can only hope Whittington is not another Miles Plumlee, who the team traded and then watched blossom with another team.
11. Lavoy Allen
2014-15 stats: 6.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.4 APG
It's unfortunate Lavoy Allen didn't play during the Indiana Pacers' recent three-game winning streak as he sat out with a sore right knee. He missed out on all the fun.
Back in December, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel summed up Allen's value to The Indianapolis Star's Autumn Allison:
"We understand that Lavoy isn't the rim protector that Ian (Mahinmi) is and shot-blocker, but he gets the job done with great physicality. So he's going to do it a little bit of a different way. And also does some things on the offensive end, as far as shooting, that are different than Ian as well. He's a different player, obviously, but certainly we're excited to see what he can do.
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Allen's specialty is offensive rebounding—he has been averaging 2.5 in 21 minutes per game this season. Although his contract is set to expire after the 2014-15 campaign, the Pacers may want to re-sign him. With his scrappy play and nose for the ball, he's the closest thing they have to a modern Jeff Foster, who was probably Indy's all-time best at keeping possessions alive.
Despite his absence, Allen gets the nod over Sloan and Copeland because it's a sure thing Coach Vogel will give him significant minutes off the bench once he suits up again.
10. Ian Mahinmi
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2014-15 stats: 4.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 0.6 APG
Just when Ian Mahinmi began asserting himself more, injuries have gotten in the way of his progress.
Mahinmi was simply OK during his first year with the Pacers three seasons ago. Since then, he has steadily improved his field-goal shooting (from .453 in 2012-13 to .600 in 2014-15). Most of his shots come from uncontested dunks, putbacks and hook shots in the shaded area, as evidenced by this shot chart courtesy of Vorped.com.
Count on him to also be a presence on defense and rebounding off the bench.
However, his biggest downside has been his atrocious free-throw shooting (36 percent). This was a guy who shot 76.8 percent in 2010-11. What happened? He simply has lost confidence in this facet of the game.
If he wants to make a bigger impact, he must improve his shooting from the charity stripe.
Mahinmi injured his ankle during the second quarter of Indy's 114-109 win over the visiting Detroit Pistons on Feb. 4. It was nice to see him attack the boards with ferocity (eight rebounds in 19 minutes) during a 106-93 road win over the Anthony Davis-less New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 11.
Welcome back, Ian.
9. Damjan Rudez
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2014-15 stats: 4.5 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.8 APG
If only Damjan "Damo" Rudez played every game like he did against the Orlando Magic on Jan. 25.
He scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting (4-of-7 from the three-point area) in that game, a 106-99 Pacers win. He went off for 16 points in the fourth quarter. When he found himself in the zone, he was like a European version of Chuck "The Rifleman" Person, sans the trash talking.
That fourth quarter showed what Rudez can do when he's on his game. We've seen him all season long chucking jump shots. Who would have thought he can dunk and shoot a floater in the lane with his left hand?
Simply put, the Indiana Pacers need that kind of production from Rudez.
Since the Orlando game, he has averaged just 4.4 points per game. Nonetheless, Pacers.com's Greg Rappaport explains how Rudez has made more of an impact in light of Chris Copeland's recent struggles:
"But with fellow small forward Chris Copeland struggling to find his shot, (head coach Frank) Vogel rolled the dice on Damo once again, and from Jan. 10 until now, Rudez has improved in nearly all of the areas he has previously struggled.
He's now taking two more shots per game, averaging two more points per game, and has raised his three-point percentage to 35 percent. All signs that he is feeling more at ease on the NBA stage.
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This is definitely a good sign for the Pacers as they look to finish strong during the season's second half.
8. Roy Hibbert
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2014-15 stats: 11.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.3 APG
So far, so good for Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert.
Hibbert has taken tons of flak for his maddeningly inconsistent play the past two seasons. During the 2012-13 campaign, he got off to one of the worst shooting slumps of his career when he shot just 37.8 percent in the month of December 2012. Thank heavens he got his act together in the season's second half.
In 2013-14, it was the exact opposite. Hibbert contributed around 13 points and eight rebounds per contest in November and December. He also shot .517 during the latter month on his way to his second All-Star appearance. Hibbert dramatically tailed off then, registering several zero-point, zero-rebound games to the dismay of Pacers fans.
This season, Hibbert has had some bad games just like everyone else, but it's been nothing alarming. He could have easily occupied one of the top five spots in our rankings had some of his other teammates not have made a bigger impact in recent games.
Should the Pacers miraculously snag that eighth playoff spot, we are hoping he will be the dominant "Great Wall of Hibbert" once again.
7. Solomon Hill
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2014-15 stats: 9.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.3 APG
This is how much the Indiana Pacers have been getting contributions from just about everybody this season: An improved Solomon Hill is occupying the seventh spot.
Yes, the Pacers' other Hill (George, though they're not related) has done his part in Paul George's absence. He's capable of producing 10 points and four rebounds per night.
However, he's also capable of disappearing. Look no further than his two two-point and two zero-point outings in January. He shot a combined 17 percent in those four games.
It's a good thing he has appeared in several highlights recently. Take, for example, his two key three-pointers against the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 9 and his dunk over the Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson on Feb. 6. He's also been assigned to guard the opposing team's best wing scorer (like LeBron James during the Cleveland game).
Or how about his eight first-quarter points to help the Pacers pull away for good from the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 11?
These outings mean that Hill, a second-year man out of Arizona, is getting better.
He just has to be a little more consistent. If he does that as the season winds down, look for him to climb back to one of the top five spots in these power rankings.
6. C.J. Watson
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2014-15 stats: 10.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.8 APG
With the exception of his zero-point showing against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the month of February has been good to C.J. Watson.
He has come to life, averaging 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists as George Hill's chief reliever off the bench. The highlight of his month was his 22-point outing against the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 8, when he shot 5-of-8 from three-point distance.
It's interesting to note Watson likes to play on the road in Charlotte. Back in Nov. 2013, with a healthy Paul George still in tow, Indy routed the then-Charlotte Bobcats, 99-74, behind Watson's 6-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
What's been even more impressive is Watson's shooting percentages this month: 52 percent from the field and 56 percent from three-point territory. For a point guard, that's impressive.
The 30-year-old is in the last year of his two-season deal with Indiana. While he has done his part, it wouldn't be a surprise if Larry Bird and Co. let him test the market so they can sign a better playmaker for the long haul.
5. C.J. Miles
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2014-15 stats: 12.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.2 APG
The Indiana Pacers' other C.J. checks in at No. 5.
Miles is this year's version of Roy Hibbert because of the way he's turned his season around. His first few months with the team were forgettable in every sense—he hoisted questionable shots almost every time he had the ball. He even blew shots many players make nine times out of 10.
Need hard evidence? How about his 18 percent shooting from both the field and the three-point arc in December.
Eighteen percent. Unbelievable.
While Miles' shooting won't remind Indy's fans of past lefty deadeyes Chris Mullin and Jalen Rose, Miles is fast becoming a go-to-guy in the clutch. Look no further than his 26-point night (16 in the fourth quarter) in a 103-99 win over LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 6.
Guys like Solomon Hill and Hibbert have contributed big too, but Miles' performance has been more eye-catching. However, just like Hill, Miles also needs to be more consistent (he had two zero-point games in January).
Nonetheless, an Indiana team without Paul George sorely misses someone who can deliver big plays down the stretch. C.J. Miles has done that lately. All we can hope for is that he will be a big factor from here on out.
4. Luis Scola
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2014-15 stats: 9.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 APG
Luis Scola is enjoying what is perhaps his best stretch as a member of the Indiana Pacers.
When he first donned blue and gold, he was unaccustomed to playing off the bench, as he had been a starter during his first six pro seasons. As a result, he was inconsistent. For instance, he shot a woeful 37 percent from the floor in February 2014.
Now, Scola has been a steady weapon as a member of Indy's shock troopers. This month, he's averaging almost 10 points and six rebounds as David West's backup.
What's also been noteworthy is his improvement from the free-throw line—from 60 percent in November to almost 78 percent in February.
Scola continues to be the crafty veteran that he is: moving well without the ball, boxing out and doing whatever it takes to win. We're looking forward to Scola being a difference-maker should Indy somehow make it to the postseason.
3. Rodney Stuckey
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2014-15 stats: 11.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.0 APG
Rodney Stuckey isn't as versatile as Lance Stephenson is, but he's getting the job done.
The eight-year veteran has been averaging 12.9 points and 3.1 assists in the Pacers' last 10 games heading into the All-Star break. Even when he produced back-to-back 22-point showings against the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors in late January, he largely went under the radar. No matter how great his stat line is, he's never been a player who grabs headlines.
That's just the kind of a low-key player he is.
Here's the good news: With Stuckey, George Hill and C.J. Watson's recent play, Indy's backcourt is at its deadliest. Even the forgotten Donald Sloan can also contribute on any given night.
The bad news? Stuckey, Watson and Sloan are all in the last year of their deals. As well as they have all been playing, the Pacers are just 19th in the league in assists (21.3). This could possibly open the door for Pacers president Larry Bird to sign that elusive playmaker the team desperately needs next season.
We commend Stuckey for his strong showing lately; however, it doesn't seem he will stick around for the long haul.
2. George Hill
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2014-15 stats: 14.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.8 APG
The Indiana Pacers are so much better with George Hill around.
During the 15 games he has suited up for Indy in 2014-15, the team is 9-6. Without him, the Pacers are just 12-27. He has been confident on offense—he's been shooting 50 percent from the field and 56 percent from the three-point arc in February.
He and C.J. Watson have bolstered Indy's backcourt in terms of its shooting percentage.
Hill has also been proving he's a capable playmaker with his season-high nine assists against the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 11. In February, he's averaging six assists. For his career, the highest he's ever had was 4.7 during his second year with the Pacers in 2012-13.
The most important thing for Indiana is it has a legitimate shot at chasing that eighth playoff spot with Hill around. The Charlotte Hornets are on a three-game slide, while both the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat are 4-6 in their last 10 games.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are 4-1 in their last five games.
We can only hope the All-Star break doesn't ruin Indy's momentum during this critical juncture of the season. Hill and Co. will try their best not to let that happen.
1. David West
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2014-15 stats: 13.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.5 APG
David West has been this team's heart and soul.
For the month of February, he has been at the forefront of Indy's mini-tear. He has produced 15.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the Pacers' last five games. West has done his most impressive work on the boards: He had 13- and 18-rebound performances against Kevin Love and Tim Duncan during a three-game, four-day span this month.
His 56 percent shooting clip hasn't been shabby either.
West has a player option worth $12.6 million for the 2015-16 NBA season. We still don't know what his plans are. If he decides to forgo that option and sign with another team, it's been a great ride. He'll go down in Pacers lore as one of the best the team ever had at the 4-spot, along with Jermaine O'Neal and the Davis Boys, Dale and Antonio.
There's no question the Pacers would like to see more of West moving forward. Paul George's return, coupled with several new acquisitions in 2015-16, ought to give West another shot at that championship ring he so richly deserves.
For now, he will be happy with the Pacers locking up a playoff spot in the East.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are current as of Feb. 12 and are courtesy of ESPN.com, while all salary information is provided by HoopsHype.com.
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