Positional fluidity.
It might not be a household phrase, but it’s a concept that Indiana Pacers fans will become quite familiar with throughout this next season.
More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds
What is it? It’s the “positionless basketball” Erik Spoelstra talked about when coaching LeBron James-era Heat. It’s the difference between the Mark Jackson-coached Warriors and the current NBA champions. And, in a less successful example, it’s the Atlanta Hawks team built by Billy Knight that featured Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, and Josh Smith. In short, it’s having versatile, athletic players who can occupy a variety of spots on the floor offensively and defend a variety of positions defensively.