Indiana Pacers: 5 reasons they won’t make the playoffs in 2017-18
2. The team does not have a clear go-to guy
Once Indiana jettisoned their only All-Star this summer, it left the team with no obvious No. 1 option on the offensive end. There are some candidates, but none who are proven in a role such as this.
Myles Turner and Victor Oladipo would seem to be the logical alternatives to become the focal points of the offense. However, neither of them has ever been in the role of primary scorer.
The Pacers may find that they have to proceed without a single go-to guy, but rather replace Paul George by committee. The committee approach typically doesn’t work well enough for a team to have much success in the NBA.
I think it will be tough to be over .500 this year w/o an established go-to guy down the stretch. Unless @Original_Turner can be that guy
— Pacers Talk (@Pacers__Talk) August 10, 2017
One player could emerge as the No. 1 option, but that player will lack experience in the role and will not have the talent and ability of a typical primary scorer — at least not one on a playoff-level club.
There is something to be said for team-oriented basketball, but at the pro level it is very important to have that one player who can get a bucket or get to the free throw line when the chips are down.
No matter how this plays out, Indiana will be at a disadvantage in this area, and this is one more reason they won’t be good enough in 2017-18 to participate in the postseason.