Indiana Pacers: What Have We Learned From Training Camp?
By Shane Young
“Impressive” is the most accurate term to describe the 2013-14 training camp thus far for the Indiana Pacers. New faces joined the team this offseason and have already looked promising to coach Frank Vogel. Chris Copeland, who spent his rookie year with New York last season, has brought his perimeter touch and physical defense to practice on a daily basis. Vogel is sold enough on Copeland’s ability to use his size, as coach stated on Wednesday that he will play at the power forward position “90 percent of the time.”
Understanding that they didn’t have one of the best 3-point shooting teams last season (6.9 made 3-pointers per game), the idea for this game plan is to stretch the floor with Copeland and play newly-acquired Luis Scola more at the center position off the bench.
Chris Copeland and Danny Granger have looked impressive in the first week of training camp. Photo Credit: Anthony Young, HoopsHabit.com
Discipline in all significant aspects of the game is something Vogel seems to be aiming for during training camp. In a similar method to the “push-ups for penalties” technique the New York Jets have implemented, the Pacers addressed free throw shooting in the same manner at Thursday’s practice. Finishing 19th overall last season in team free throw percentage is just one of the many improvements Indiana needs to make in order to jump to the next level. Each player was given the chance to shoot two free throws. One miss meant 10 push-ups for the entire team, including all the coaches. Even if the pair of free throws were split, push-ups were still going to be done.
It was simple; make your free throws to save your teammates’ arms. Considering the training camp roster is so large, the process got tiring. At one point, forward Danny Granger shouted: “I can’t feel my arms!”
Vogel wasn’t so sure this method was intended for “team building,” but instead getting his players to maintain focus at all times. Assistant coaches, even Nate McMillan, joined in on the drill.
Sample of the routine can be seen in the video below:
The Pacers will kick off their preseason action on Saturday, Oct. 5, at home against the Chicago Bulls. When asked if Danny Granger will start the game, Vogel claimed that he hasn’t made his final decision, but he will “probably start Lance (Stephenson).” Granger, having only played in five games last year due to the severe knee injury and surgery he underwent, will definitely get a great deal of minutes in the preseason, but Vogel wants to bring him back gradually.
Coach Frank Vogel looks forward to the potential return of Derrick Rose in their first preseason game Saturday. Photo credit: Anthony Young, HoopsHabit.com
After Saturday’s game is concluded, the Pacers will travel overseas to play two games against the Houston Rockets. Those games are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10, in Manila, Philippines, and Sunday Oct. 13 in Taipei.
Coming back to the states, they will close out their preseason schedule with one more game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and three road games:
-Wednesday, Oct. 16 vs. Dallas
-Friday, Oct. 18 at Chicago
-Saturday, Oct. 19 at Cleveland
-Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Atlanta
Traveling to the Philippines for basketball purposes is something new for this group, but point guard George Hill looks to make the best out of the trip. “Looking forward to going overseas and interacting with the fans and things like that,” he said. “It’s going to be a great learning experience.”
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