How Terry Stotts could steady the Pacers

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesWith the Pacers announcing last Wednesday that the team has fired Nate Bjorkgren, the search for a new head coach begins now. According to Chris B. Haynes of Yahoo Sports, former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, who was rumored to be a candidate for the Pacers even before Bjorkgren was formally dismissed, is expected to get a look for the gig. Known for implementing a deliberate, pick-and-roll heavy offense geared around the limitless range of Damian Lillard, what worked as a base in Portland, where defenders routinely got caught off guard by quick threes and pulled toward the logo, obviously isn’t going to be directly applicable for the Pacers. After all, as a tandem, Lillard and backcourt teammate C.J. McCollum attempted more pull-up threes per game last season (13.8) than Indiana did as team (9.0), which is to say nothing of Lillard’s shot-volume from between 30-34 feet — a massive tally (116) which eclipses that of the Pacers by well over three-fold (36).

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