Last season, the Indiana Pacers’ incredible depth at the guard position helped propel them to the NBA Finals. This season, they’re scrambling to find enough healthy bodies to field a team. Indiana knew this season would be challenging after All-Star Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the Finals, but the team did have multiple options to cover for Haliburton’s minutes. The team plans to have Andrew Nembhard slide over from shooting guard to start at point guard this season. It had enough extra guards last season to play a relentless pressure defense, but that might have to change given all of their injuries. Veteran T.J. McConnell averaged 12 points, 4.3 assists and 2.1 steals in the Finals — but he’s out for at least a month after injuring his hamstring. At age 33, don’t expect coach Rick Carlisle to rush McConnell back into action. The Pacers’ other backup point guard, Ben Sheppard, started nine of his 63 games last season, providing strong defense off the bench. He’s missed all of the Pacers’Read More
Pacers backcourt in crisis mode as injuries to guards mount
