The Pacers are no-longer an inside-out team.

 

That doesn't mean they're ignoring the interior (leading scorer David West will still get plenty of touches in the post and at the elbows)...but the "working through Roy Hibbert" mentality has to fall by the wayside.

 

The $58 million dollar man is averaging 9.5 points and 8.4 rebounds through 22 games this season.  He's shooting just 38% from the floor (down from 50% a season ago)...and is on pace for the lowest offensive output since his rookie season.  

 

Defensively he's been brilliant.  But offensively he's been an enigma...

 

How can a 7-2 center air-ball hook shots 3-feet from the rim?  Why is he unable to finish strong around the hoop?  Where is his head at?  We've asked these question all season.  We've waited and waited.......but now it's time for the offensive game plan to move on.

 

Roy Hibbert now has to revert to more of a "Ben Wallace" role.  Be a menace on defense (he's averaging three blocks a game), rebound, hustle, etc.  However, on offense...more and more of your touches are going to have to come from put-backs and at the charity stripe.

 

This decision is much easier to make now because of the emergence of Paul George.  After an unconscionable "goose-egg" against Golden State on December 1st...PG has been sizzling.  He's averaging nearly 25 points per contest since the debacle against the Warriors. 

 

And the most impressive part is that he's scoring in a variety of ways.  He's hitting three's from deep, he's slashing to the hoop, and he's showcasing an improved mid-range game.  At the beginning of the season we were all hoping for a "more aggressive" Paul George...but the team's offensive approach did little to help him build that confidence.  Paul would receive the ball on the perimeter thinking he had to immediately feed the post.   He's had his moments...but he hasn't been consistent...

 

Lately he's been looking to get his own shot off more and more...and slowly but surely we've seen plays drawn up specifically for Paul; either to get him open looks from deep...or to make plays in an isolation situation.  

 

That's where the offense is going:  A team that's perimeter oriented.  Paul can hurt you...George Hill can hurt you...(when he returns~>) Danny can hurt you...and David can take post defenders inside and out.

 

The double-nickle?  Rebound and block big fella.  It's a frustrating formula considering his contract...but as long as you're getting key scoring from the aforementioned players...and assuming the scoring from the second unit improves...we may forget about the point production from Roy, and focus more on the fact that he's the backbone of a defensive unit that's #1 in the NBA in rebounds, #1 in defensive field goal percentage, and #2 in points allowed per game...