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NBA: The Big Question Facing Every Team In 2015-16

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 20, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) defends during the first quarter at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) defends during the first quarter at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 15, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (24) in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Indiana Pacers

Can The Pacers Go Small-Ball Overnight?

The Detroit Pistons are one of the two big mystery teams in the East, and the Indiana Pacers are the other. After bullying opponents down low on the defensive end with Roy Hibbert and David West, Larry Bird adopted the small-ball game plan overnight, trading Hibbert and watching West leave while adding Monta Ellis, bringing back Rodney Stuckey and telling Paul George he’d be playing power forward.

PG-13 has already expressed his lack of enthusiasm about his new position, but he’s also looked every bit the MVP candidate he proclaimed himself to be in preseason play, averaging 19.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game while shooting 39.5 percent from three-point range. Oh, and doing stuff like this:

If Paul George is back at 100 percent, the Pacers will be in contention for a playoff spot. The only question is whether or not Frank Vogel is able to coax a top-10 defense out of a team that has Monta Ellis on the perimeter and Paul George giving up a ton of size down low.

Ian Mahinmi is a fine interior defender in his own right, but the sooner the Pacers are able to turn the starting center spot over the rookie/monster shot blocker Myles Turner, the sooner this small-ball transformation can fully begin.

Next: Los Angeles Clippers