{"id":97810,"date":"2024-09-26T00:44:15","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T04:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=97810"},"modified":"2024-09-26T00:44:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T04:44:15","slug":"pacers-chad-buchanan-addresses-bennedict-mathurins-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/26\/pacers-chad-buchanan-addresses-bennedict-mathurins-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Pacers\u2019 Chad Buchanan Addresses Bennedict Mathurin\u2019s Role"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday, Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan spoke at length<\/a> about soon-to-be third-year guard Bennedict Mathurin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Drafted sixth overall in 2022, it seems like the 22-year-old has already experienced massive highs and lows in his young NBA career. The fact that he was forced to sit out what would\u2019ve been his first playoff season with an injury<\/a>\u00a0was even a fitting ending to how last season went. Mathurin entered 2023-24 with high expectations, but after just 12 games, he lost his starting spot.<\/p>\n

Pacers\u2019 Chad Buchanan Addresses Bennedict Mathurin\u2019s Role<\/h2>\n

\u201cHe wants to feel like he’s contributing,\u201d Buchanan says of Siakam, per the Indianapolis Star\u2019s Dustin Dopirak. \u201cI think he recognizes, ‘Hey, we found a group last year that plays well together.’ He’s got to figure, ‘Where do I fit into that group. Is it trying to fit in as a starter? Is it being a primary scorer off the bench? What is that role?’ I think a lot of that is determined in training camp. … His role is to be determined, and it’s in his hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mathurin is in the most awkward position of any Pacers player because of the questions about his best role in Indiana. As a top-10 pick, he\u2019s expected to have a major role in Indiana. To that point, there\u2019s still a feeling that he can be a star<\/a>. Averaging 16.7 points per game as a rookie is no small feat.<\/p>\n

So, should there really be doubts surrounding his viability as a starter?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s Only One Problem<\/h3>\n

Though floor general Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> is a fastball, Mathurin also likes to play an uptempo game. That\u2019s not an issue. Aaron Nesmith<\/a> has developed into a premier 3-and-D wing. On the one hand, this takes away one starting slot. Yet, it benefits Mathurin, because he\u2019s surrounded by long-limbed floor-spacers on the perimeter.<\/p>\n

Myles Turner<\/a>, who loves to dial it in from distance and defend the paint, also helps Mathurin. Because he\u2019s a legitimate 3-point threat, defenses have to respect that, giving ball-handlers more room to probe. At the other end, Turner provides a safety net if the frontline breaks.<\/p>\n

However, Pascal Siakam<\/a> isn\u2019t the most commentary piece, at least not for Mathurin.<\/p>\n

He wants to score inside the arc, whether attacking or pulling up. With that said, he\u2019s the clear-cut second option, pushing Mathurin down the ladder.<\/p>\n

Siakam could lean more into his playmaking when he\u2019s posting up, finding Mathurin off-ball. Last season, only 2.1 percent of his passes found the young wing. Nonetheless, getting that chemistry down will take time and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle willing to make it a point of emphasis.<\/p>\n

Defensively, it gets complicated. Siakam\u2019s a better team than individual defender, which places more pressure on his teammates. Yet, this is a trait he shares with Haliburton and Turner, exacerbating the issue and magnifying Mathurin\u2019s shortcomings.<\/p>\n

This is among the reasons why Mathurin has to have more pride in his on-ball defense.<\/p>\n

Not Perfect, But Needed<\/h3>\n

In the end, Mathurin is an imperfect fit with the first unit.<\/p>\n

He does<\/em> need to make quicker and better decisions with the ball in his hands. He needs to be more consistent from outside. Him playing defense at a high level more consistently could go a long way. Lastly, there are four other viable options for the final starting spot: Andrew Nembhard<\/a>, Ben Sheppard<\/a>, Obi Toppin<\/a>, and Jarace Walker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sheppard and Toppin are classic off-ball threats who won\u2019t mind not being able to dance around. They\u2019re also more impactful on the other side of the floor, Sheppard on-ball and Toppin as a help defender. Nembhard is more of a two-way playmaker who helps generate ball-movement and stops. Walker is a similar player, albeit with more of a scoring mindset and defensive versatility.<\/p>\n

Still, Mathurin is more capable off-the-dribble than any of them, which has its merits.<\/p>\n