The Role-iest of the Role Players
Every championship team has one. The player that just makes sense. A player that bridges the gaps in every other players game. The Heat have Shane Battier, OKC has Thabo Sefolosha, and the Spurs have every role player ever. Without these role players established championship contenders would find there window for a championship significantly smaller. These players need more recognition outside their home arena. So here's to you Lance Stephenson, for your evolution into one of the most role-iest of role players.
The Pacers have been absolute monsters through the early goings of this season and Lance Stephenson's role can not be understated. The Pacers starting lineup has posted Of Rtg of 114 and a Def Rtg of 80 points per 100 possessions through 5 games. Lance Stephenson has taken his game to the next level, building off of the career year he had last season. The most interesting aspect of Stephenson's evolution is just how well it jives with how the Pacers operate.
Pacers are a defense first team and Stephenson can play some hard noised defense, but Stephenson's growth on the offensive side of the ball should fit perfectly with what the Pacers do. The Pacers offense looks to run a specific sets while circling through different options within those sets on separate possessions. During these sets, the movement of the players open up different opportunities in these sets. With Paul George expanding his ball handling, West and Hibbert setting screens, and Hill operating at the one, Stephenson is left to move, spot up, and occasionally create. Guess what Stephenson has come into this season? Yup, that stuff.
Stephenson has been averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and assists. However, the most important part of Stephenson's improvement lies beyond the 3pt line. Stephenson is shooting 51% from three, which is great, but how he is taking them is what's important. Of the 4.4 3pt shots he is taking, 3.8 of them are catch and shoot 3pt shots and he is making 58% of those shots. That's pretty good, especially for a team that features two low post presences. Al in all, Stephenson is morphing into an Iggy-lite type of player. I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes this season with a line of 15-5-3 and some MIP considerations. Really, some adulation has to be sent Larry, the Legends way because many people weren't sure about Stephenson 3 years ago; me included. Larry must have seen this coming. Good lookin Larry.
Of course, sample size has to be brought up and yes it is only 8 games. But still, because it is this early we are just getting a glimpse of the foundation of improvement. We are seeing the early work players put in to improve their game. It is understood that whatever trends we see through this small sample size theater could be here and gone in a weeks time. But these glimpses give a quick look into the future of these players. And the glimpses we have seen of Stephenson sure are indicating a bright future as the Pacers role-iest role player.
The Pacers have been absolute monsters through the early goings of this season and Lance Stephenson's role can not be understated. The Pacers starting lineup has posted Of Rtg of 114 and a Def Rtg of 80 points per 100 possessions through 5 games. Lance Stephenson has taken his game to the next level, building off of the career year he had last season. The most interesting aspect of Stephenson's evolution is just how well it jives with how the Pacers operate.
Pacers are a defense first team and Stephenson can play some hard noised defense, but Stephenson's growth on the offensive side of the ball should fit perfectly with what the Pacers do. The Pacers offense looks to run a specific sets while circling through different options within those sets on separate possessions. During these sets, the movement of the players open up different opportunities in these sets. With Paul George expanding his ball handling, West and Hibbert setting screens, and Hill operating at the one, Stephenson is left to move, spot up, and occasionally create. Guess what Stephenson has come into this season? Yup, that stuff.
Stephenson has been averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and assists. However, the most important part of Stephenson's improvement lies beyond the 3pt line. Stephenson is shooting 51% from three, which is great, but how he is taking them is what's important. Of the 4.4 3pt shots he is taking, 3.8 of them are catch and shoot 3pt shots and he is making 58% of those shots. That's pretty good, especially for a team that features two low post presences. Al in all, Stephenson is morphing into an Iggy-lite type of player. I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes this season with a line of 15-5-3 and some MIP considerations. Really, some adulation has to be sent Larry, the Legends way because many people weren't sure about Stephenson 3 years ago; me included. Larry must have seen this coming. Good lookin Larry.
Of course, sample size has to be brought up and yes it is only 8 games. But still, because it is this early we are just getting a glimpse of the foundation of improvement. We are seeing the early work players put in to improve their game. It is understood that whatever trends we see through this small sample size theater could be here and gone in a weeks time. But these glimpses give a quick look into the future of these players. And the glimpses we have seen of Stephenson sure are indicating a bright future as the Pacers role-iest role player.
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