Which Pacers player from yesteryear would thrive today?
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 12:16 am
JermaineOyea's question about favorite Pacers team of all time got me thinking, which former Pacer would thrive in today's NBA?
Reggie Miller would be able to get shots off with ease in today's game, now that defenses have softened up considerably and hand checking isn't allowed. Also, 3 point shot attempts are higher than ever, so offense today would be playing to his strength. However, would Reggie's lack of athleticism be his demise? Klay Thompson is a lights-out shooter, but he's also pretty adept as an on the ball defender.
Jonathan Bender could have dominated during any era, but the value of a stretch four has never been higher. Had his knees been healthy, are we looking at a Durant-Porzingus hybrid? Sadly, JB will always be one of the ultimate cases of "what could have been?"
Al Harrington is another guy who played the stretch role so well, shifting between the 3 and 4 most of his career. Baby Al was incredibly versatile and it was a massive advantage to be able to bring him off the bench, subbing easily for JO or MWP. While with the Warriors, he became Draymond before there was a Draymond. I would have to think Al would probably feast nowadays.
Do any of our former point guards translate very well to today's NBA? I'm mostly talking about Mark Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley. Both were pretty limited offensively, at least scoring wise; however, don't tell Tinsley that. I don't remember prime Mark Jackson, so I cannot vouch for him though. I do think Tinsley's vision would have been valued today.
What would Dale Davis do in today's NBA? Are there any teams willing to play such an offensively limited player? How about playing a Steven Adams type role? Or possibly like Tristan Thompson?
Danny Granger would be another incredible stretch-four today, and had his knees not deteriorated he'd probably still be playing that role today.
Could JO have evolved? What about Brad Miller, great passing and shooting big man; but would have he been better served to play in the era he did or today?
Reggie Miller would be able to get shots off with ease in today's game, now that defenses have softened up considerably and hand checking isn't allowed. Also, 3 point shot attempts are higher than ever, so offense today would be playing to his strength. However, would Reggie's lack of athleticism be his demise? Klay Thompson is a lights-out shooter, but he's also pretty adept as an on the ball defender.
Jonathan Bender could have dominated during any era, but the value of a stretch four has never been higher. Had his knees been healthy, are we looking at a Durant-Porzingus hybrid? Sadly, JB will always be one of the ultimate cases of "what could have been?"
Al Harrington is another guy who played the stretch role so well, shifting between the 3 and 4 most of his career. Baby Al was incredibly versatile and it was a massive advantage to be able to bring him off the bench, subbing easily for JO or MWP. While with the Warriors, he became Draymond before there was a Draymond. I would have to think Al would probably feast nowadays.
Do any of our former point guards translate very well to today's NBA? I'm mostly talking about Mark Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley. Both were pretty limited offensively, at least scoring wise; however, don't tell Tinsley that. I don't remember prime Mark Jackson, so I cannot vouch for him though. I do think Tinsley's vision would have been valued today.
What would Dale Davis do in today's NBA? Are there any teams willing to play such an offensively limited player? How about playing a Steven Adams type role? Or possibly like Tristan Thompson?
Danny Granger would be another incredible stretch-four today, and had his knees not deteriorated he'd probably still be playing that role today.
Could JO have evolved? What about Brad Miller, great passing and shooting big man; but would have he been better served to play in the era he did or today?