Power Ranking Indiana Pacers Players Heading into Final Month of Season
Ranking the Indiana Pacers' players heading into the final month of the season is a challenge in itself.
That's because the Pacers—as they have all season long—have relied on their roster from top to bottom to fight for a playoff spot in the East.
As of March 12, Indy is 29-34 (.460) and in seventh place in the East.
Let that sink in. Seventh place.
It bears repeating, but who would have thought the Paul George-less Pacers, who were once 17-32 in January, would be in playoff contention?
The key word for the Pacers has been "togetherness." According to The Indianapolis Star's Candace Buckner, head coach Frank Vogel regularly writes this word on the team's dry-erase board.
Well, Indiana has won six in a row and 12 of its last 14 games. The Pacers have definitely been playing like a well-oiled machine.
Starting point guard George Hill told Buckner on March 9 about the Pacers' sense of urgency:
"I think a lot of guys are playing with a chip on their shoulder. Our core guys who have been here for the last four years don't know how it feels not to be in a playoff hunt.
Us not being in the playoff hunt is motivating us to be harder on all the new guys and (tell) them that we can't accept to lose. Still play Indiana Pacers basketball, and that's be physical on the defensive end and be rugged.
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For the purposes of this article, we will rank the Pacers according to their stats and the recent impact each player has made.
14. Chris Copeland, 13. Donald Sloan
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14. Chris Copeland
2014-15 stats: 6.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.1 APG
It's sad to see Chris Copeland's season go down like it has.
It seems so long ago that Copeland was a pivotal part of the Pacers offense (he averaged 12.1 points in December). Now, he's mired at the end of the bench just as he was for the most part of the 2013-14 NBA season.
He's averaged just two points and six minutes per contest in March. He's taken on his customary role of playing garbage-time minutes yet again. Should Paul George come back, Copeland's future in Indiana looks murky.
Copeland is in the last year of a two-year contract that pays him $3.1 million this season. He's relatively old for a third-year player (he turns 31 this month), so if he wants to salvage his NBA career, he's better off making an impact somewhere else in 2015-16.
If this is indeed Optimus Cope's last hurrah with the Indiana Pacers, he's been a consummate pro throughout his ordeals.
13. Donald Sloan
2014-15 stats: 8.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.1 APG
It's weird for a player like Donald Sloan, who's been averaging close to 9.0 points and 4.0 assists per game, to be sitting at No. 13.
But if his recent impact is to be taken into consideration, this is where he deserves to be.
Much like Copeland, Sloan has been languishing on the bench ever since the Pacers have regained most of their players from the injured list. Through March 10, Sloan has scored a grand total of three points in 36 minutes of action in February and March.
This is the same player who exploded for 31 and 29 points, respectively, against the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks earlier this season.
Despite his recent struggles, Sloan has proved he can take on the starter's role when need be. With the team missing George Hill back in December, he averaged 11.3 points and 4.9 assists per game.
Sloan also has an expiring contract with Indy. Should the Pacers give him an extension? Absolutely. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to imagine him being the No. 2 point guard should C.J. Watson play somewhere else in 2015-16.
12. Lavoy Allen, 11. Shayne Whittington
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12. Lavoy Allen
2014-15 stats: 6.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.3 APG
Indiana Pacers power forward Lavoy Allen suffered a sore right-knee injury on Jan. 31, per the team's official Twitter account.
He hasn't been the same since.
Allen sat out the next five games and has been a shade of his old, offensive rebounding self. Since he took the court again against his old team, the Philadelphia 76ers, on Feb. 20, he's averaged just 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
Had he been playing at the rate he did in December (6.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG off the bench), he would have had a chance to crack this ranking's top 10. Alas, fate has dealt him a cruel blow.
By all indications, a healthy Allen should make a good account of himself off the bench should the Pacers decide to re-sign him this summer (he's in the last year of a two-year deal that pays him $948,163 in 2014-15).
If Allen won't be around anymore, we have seen the last remnant of the forgettable Danny Granger trade that brought Evan Turner and Allen to Indy last year.
11. Shayne Whittington
2014-15 stats: 2.8 PPG, 1.4 PPG, 0.3 APG
Why is first-year center Shayne Whittington ahead of guys such as Chris Copeland and Lavoy Allen?
In terms of recent impact, Whittington has had a bigger one—he's averaged 4.5 points in 7.2 minutes per game in six appearances in February and March (in contrast Copeland averaged just 1.7 PPG, while Allen chipped in with just 2.25 PPG).
He could use some more work on the boards, though. During that span, he's averaged just 1.8 rebounds.
In that regard, he could also take some pointers from backup center Ian Mahinmi, who's been averaging a respectable 7.0 rebounds per game off the bench in March.
It's been a while since Indy has had a reliable stretch 5 (think back to the days of Sam "Big Smooth" Perkins). With Whittington in tow, he could be just that next season. However, like most Pacers rookies, he will use his first year in the NBA as a springboard for better things to come.
10. Damjan Rudez
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2014-15 stats: 4.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.8 APG
The Croatian Rifleman.
That's how Rudez could be dubbed a few years from now if he continues to develop his game. Taking nothing away from the original "Rifleman," Chuck Person, Rudez can shoot the lights out when he's on his game. Hard evidence of this was his 18-point explosion against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on Jan. 25.
There's really something about Orlando that gets Rudez going: He scored 17 points in a 118-86 rout over the Magic on March 10, Indy's sixth straight win.
The truth is, Rudez is a one-dimensional player. He can't rebound (0.8 RPG) or pass (0.8 APG).
Defense? Nada. As of March 10, the last time Rudez recorded a block was on Jan. 17 against the Charlotte Hornets. He also has a penchant for committing silly fouls like any first-year player.
The good news is Rudez has potential if he puts more work into his game. Guys like Lance Stephenson and Solomon Hill shook off their rookie jitters to play more prominent roles with the Pacers. There's no reason to believe Rudez can't.
If Rudez becomes a better player, he and Rodney Stuckey (if re-signed) can join forces to make Indy's bench (currently first in the NBA at 41.8 PPG, per HoopsStats.com) one of the best in the league for years to come.
9. Roy Hibbert
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2014-15 stats: 10.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG
Roy Hibbert is back to his inconsistent ways again.
He sat out Indy's 105-82 home win against the New York Knicks on March 4 to rest. Apparently, it didn't work.
Since then, Hibbert has reeled off six-, three- and two-point performances. He has shot an atrocious 28 percent in March.
Ouch.
While his offense has sputtered, he has also been inconsistent on the boards. He grabbed 15 rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1 and snagged 11 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 7.
In two other games against the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic, he managed to grab a combined seven rebounds.
We didn't see this coming. There were no tell-tale signs Hibbert would go into one of his infamous funks this season. All we can hope is for the bleeding to stop sooner than later.
As of March 10, the Pacers are in sole possession of seventh in the East. Hibbert can use the upcoming playoffs to prove once and for all he's still got it.
It's imperative "The Great Wall of Hibbert" be the force that he is from here on out.
8. C.J. Miles
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2014-15 stats: 12.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 APG
At one point this season, C.J. Miles was the 2014-15 Indiana Pacers' version of Roy Hibbert.
He started off his career with the blue and gold on a sour note, shooting just 18 percent from both the field and three-point area in November before averaging 14.9 points the following month.
Miles then produced several memorable games, including a 26-point performance in a 103-99 win over his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Feb. 6.
In that game and in a 104-98 home win against the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 22, Miles hit clutch threes from right quarter-court. It's pretty obvious that's his sweet spot.
Just like Hibbert, Miles has struggled shooting the ball in March. The latter has a 30 percent shooting clip for the month through March 10. That won't cut it come playoff time. You have to pick your spots just like another former Pacers lefty, Jalen Rose.
Miles needs to be a more consistent gunslinger in the postseason.
7. C.J. Watson
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2014-15 stats: 9.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.7 APG
When C.J. Watson is on his game, the Pacers can be a dangerous team.
He shot 50 percent from both the field and the three-point area in the Pacers' last two games against the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic. He finished with 13 points and 12 points, respectively.
Not surprisingly, Indiana came away with victories against both teams.
Watson's decent play as George Hill's main backup has relegated surprise performer Donald Sloan to the bench. Watson has also done a credible job of getting guys such as Ian Mahinmi, Luis Scola and Rodney Stuckey involved in the offense.
The bothersome thing about Watson is his penchant for disappearing on offense. Just last month, he recorded two zero-point games against the Cleveland Cavaliers while averaging 19 minutes of playing time.
Give Watson some credit for shaking off those forgettable performances. Although he's not an explosive scorer, he has done his share in putting Indy back in playoff contention.
However, will his recent performance be enough to merit a contract extension for next season? That remains to be seen.
6. Solomon Hill
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2014-15 stats: 9.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.3 APG
Solomon Hill is turning out to be a shorter and more athletic version of Derrick McKey, the sleepy-eyed defensive specialist who played for the Indiana Pacers during the mid-to-late 1990s.
It turns out Hill could be more than that. He could actually be McKey's reincarnation.
McKey's stats during his almost eight-year stint with the Pacers from 1993 to 2001 are strikingly similar to Hill's: 8.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 2.7 APG.
It became apparent even back in November when the Pacers were still struggling with a heap of injuries that Hill is more of a role player than a scorer. He averaged 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists that month and has produced modest numbers since then.
Hill can shoot from anywhere on the court. He is also good at creating his own shot. Just like McKey, Hill can play lockdown defense on the opponent's best wing scorer (he has been averaging 0.9 steals this season).
When Paul George returns, head coach Frank Vogel can go with either Hill or Miles at the starting 2-guard spot. Either way, Hill will be able to produce as a starter or bench player.
It's been fun to watch Hill develop into a better performer in 2014-15. Let's hope this trend continues in the years to come.
5. Ian Mahinmi
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2014-15 stats: 4.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.6 BPG
While Roy Hibbert has struggled at center for the Indiana Pacers, his backup, Ian Mahinmi, has flourished.
In Mahinmi's last 10 games, he has come off the bench to average 5.1 points and 7.3 rebounds. He can never be a go-to-guy on offense, but he has provided plenty of hustle buckets and putbacks during that 10-game stretch where the Pacers went 9-1.
What's most impressive has been his board work. He's been everywhere for the Pacers.
The biggest chink in his armor is his free-throw shooting: He's shooting a putrid 36 percent from the charity stripe.
Never have Pacers fans imagined that someday, somebody would fare worse from the free-throw line than a certain enforcer named Dale Davis (who shot 56 percent for his career).
However, Mahinmi had a bit of a coming-out party in his 16-point, 11-rebound performance in a 98-84 win over the Chicago Bulls on March 6. He shot 6-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Pacers.com's Mark Montieth described Mahinmi's value in the aftermath of that game:
"It's easy to feel sorry for or make fun of a struggling shooter, but it can be deadly serious business. Games are lost at the foul line, and the Pacers can't afford unnecessary losses as they play this six-team game of musical chairs for two playoff spots in the East.
If a poor foul shooter such as Mahinmi is on the floor late in a close game, teams are likely to foul him. If Mahinmi can't hit those free throws, (head coach Frank) Vogel can't afford to play him. And if Mahinmi sits on the bench, the Pacers would have to go without their best rebounder and a valuable defender.
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With the exception of his free-throw shooting, this is the Mahinmi we've always wanted to see.
4. David West
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2014-15 stats: 12.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.3 APG
Are we about to see the last of David West in an Indiana Pacers uniform?
Like Roy Hibbert, West also has a player option for the 2015-16 NBA season. The latter's is valued at $12.6 million. Whether West will exercise or forgo this option is anybody's guess.
The Indianapolis Star's Candace Buckner spoke with West a month prior to the opening of the 2014-15 NBA season. He admitted he was very close to retiring two years ago:
"Oh, yeah. Absolutely. You know, that's part of it. You've got to be prepared for that. I was already close to retiring a couple years ago. I was telling guys then, if we had won the championship (in 2013), I probably would have walked away.
I think about it now. I was thinking about it yesterday some, I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish. Proud of what we were able to do when I got here, sort of change the direction of this group and help these young guys.
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West, who missed 15 games this season with a sprained ankle, is having his least productive season in four years with the Pacers (his best came in 2012-13, when he averaged 17.1 PPG). It's not to say he is no longer a force. At 34, he can still take over a game like he did when he was 24.
For now, he's happy to share the load with the younger guys. It's his way of passing the baton to the next generation of Pacers. That's leadership personified for you.
These are the two words we'd like to say to him: Come back.
3. Luis Scola
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2014-15 stats: 9.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 APG
Thirty-four-year-old Luis Scola has been the Indiana Pacers' Energizer Bunny off the bench.
Last season, you just didn't know what to expect from Scola in his first year as a bench player. He'd have a decent game and then shoot 37 percent from the field like he did in Feb. 2014.
Call that his adjustment period. Call that what you will, but we now know what to expect from him: hustle, hustle and more hustle.
He had two key deflections against the Philadelphia 76ers in a 106-95 road win on Feb. 20 that led to fast-break points for the Pacers. He had another key strip job to help preserve Indy's 93-86 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers a week later.
And he's been doing that on an almost nightly basis ever since.
Plus, he's been hitting from the inside as well as the outside. In five games this month, he's been shooting a season-best 51.2 percent from the floor.
More importantly, he's one of the reasons why Indiana's bench is the best in the NBA. Through March 12, it has averaged 41.8 points, tops in the league, per HoopsStats.com.
Let that sink in: The Pacers' bench is the best in the league.
Several seasons ago, Indy's bench was flat-out laughable (29th in 2012-13). Now, it is a force thanks to Scola and Co.
He is in the last season of his two-year deal. Larry Bird would be wise to re-sign him.
2. George Hill
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2014-15 stats: 13.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.5 APG
The Indiana Pacers have been doing well with George Hill at the point guard spot, thank you very much.
Hill has put to rest any notion a combo guard can't orchestrate the offense. With him at the helm, the Pacers are a respectable 17-7. Without him, they are just 12-27.
Hill has also been more assertive on offense without Paul George around—his 13.8 points-per-game average is almost four points higher than his average of 10.3 last season.
Plus, his first triple-double performance (15 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists) against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 27 served notice to all the naysayers. Yes, he can get the job done on both ends of the floor.
In the aftermath of that game, Indiana's head coach spoke with Pacers.com's Mark Montieth about Hill's versatility:
"He's really versatile. He had the ability the last couple of years to play off the basketball while it was in Lance (Stephenson) and Paul's hands, or in the post with David (West) and Roy (Hibbert). This year you're seeing what he can do with the ball in his hands more. It's changed our whole offensive identity.
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With Hill leading the way, the Indiana Pacers should make plenty of noise in the playoffs.
1. Rodney Stuckey
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2014-15 stats: 12.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.2 APG
Rodney Stuckey has been the Indiana Pacers' best player.
He averaged a modest 11.3 points in December and January before his most recent tear. He had two consecutive 30-point games against the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors in February. He shot almost 54 percent from the field that month.
In March, Stuckey has been averaging a season-best 18.4 points to go along with 4.4 assists off the bench. His transition from starter to Indy's sixth man has definitely worked wonders.
The fans have noticed.
In his latest masterpiece, Stuckey scored 34 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the three-point area in a 118-86 rout of the visiting Orlando Magic on March 10. Pacers.com's Mark Montieth reported on Wednesday the fans in attendance at Bankers Life Fieldhouse even chanted Stuckey's name:
"Coach Frank Vogel did him the courtesy of waiting for the first dead ball after a timeout to take him out, with 5:15 left, so he could get a standing ovation from the fans. Many of them chanted,'Stuck-ey!' 'Stuck-ey!' Others went with 'Rod-ney!' 'Rod-ney!' Neither had the ring of a good old-fashioned 'Reg-gie!' 'Reg-gie!' but the point was made.
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Here's another point that needs to be made: Stuckey, who is on board on a one-year, $1.227 million deal, needs to be back next season.
With a healthy Paul George starting and a rejuvenated Stuckey coming off the bench, it's not a far-fetched idea for the Pacers to be a solid, top-4 team in the East next season.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are current as of March 12 and are courtesy of ESPN.com while all salary information is courtesy of HoopsHype.com.
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