On a team where youth is served in heaping portions, two of the Pacers' most prized young players must bide their time.
Tyler Hansbrough, the No. 13 pick in 2009, the most decorated college player of the last decade, and Paul George, the No. 10 pick in 2010, the highest draft selection for the Pacers in this millennium, both are making an adjustment entirely new in their basketball careers: battling for the chance just to play.
Because Hansbrough missed most of the offseason prior to his first season recovering from a shin injury, and then was out most of the 2009-10 season with an inner ear disorder, Coach Jim O'Brien considers him a virtual rookie. And so, like the team's other two actual rookies, George and second-round pick Lance Stephenson, minutes have been difficult to earn.
"I think it's just a matter of coach trying to build up his confidence in me," said Hansbrough. "Obviously, the guys on the court are doing something good and we're winning ballgames. That's what's important right now. As far as my playing time, I just have to earn it through practice.
"I feel like as the year goes on I'll see myself play a bigger role with the Pacers. I just have to earn coach's respect. He's one of those guys where you're not going to just walk on the court and get playing time. I'm not saying I haven't earned his respect already but I'm trying to get there."
In 15 appearances, Hansbrough has averaged 14.3 minutes, 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. In the last three games he has totaled just 11. Veteran James Posey has been the primary backup to power forward Josh McRoberts.
Hansbrough working on passing skills
O'Brien uses his big men as facilitators in the offense, which means they must be able passers, particularly from the high post. Hansbrough was used to having the ball thrown to him throughout his college career, so he must work on sending it the other direction.
"He's never been a passer," said O'Brien. "If you have thrown 10,000 passes from that position coming into the pros, it seems comfortable. I don't know how many times in high school in college he got the basketball at the elbow. It's a matter of repetition. We try to put him in those situations as much as possible at practice and he'll get it.
"It just takes a lot of first-year guys time, especially when you have to change what has made you successful in the past. But his attitude, his aggressiveness, his passion for the game is all there and those are the ingredients, once he gets all these other things, will make him the type of player that we drafted."
When Brandon Rush starts, the starting lineup has a combined 13 seasons of NBA experience – and five of those belong to relative senior citizen Danny Granger. But this is not a team throwing young players to the wolves hoping they learn through playing. The Pacers are 10-9, very much in the thick of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, so development must take place on the practice floor.
That's where George, who has made just two appearances in the last 13 games and has been inactive the last five, is trying to have an impact. He has been doing extra work, as well, including running the steps of Conseco Fieldhouse with veteran Jeff Foster to maintain his conditioning.
George getting his time on the practice floor
"I'm able to bring a lot of energy," he said. "Since I'm not playing, I don't want there to be a setback with my energy level. So I bring energy and try to make the practice more game-like for our starters and our reserves.
"I feel like I'm getting better, getting more comfortable and hopefully when I get my chance on the court, everything that I've prepared for will be right in place."
George is behind the productive wing threesome of Granger, Rush and Mike Dunleavy. There are 96 available minutes at the shooting guard and small forward position; Granger averages 37, Rush 30 and Dunleavy 29. Add it up and you see George's dilemma.
It's much the same situation facing 2009 second-round pick A.J. Price, who is stuck behind Darren Collison and T.J. Ford in the point guard rotation.
"I think Paul is growing as a player," said O'Brien. "It's a tough task for rookies like Paul and Lance because they're not getting uniforms right now.
"But they're on the court a lot in practice, they're getting a lot of repetitions and they're with some very good veterans from the standpoint of having voices to explain things to them so it's not just the relationship they have with the coaching staff, they have a lot of guys that are very patient with them and try to be good mentors."
The two lottery picks continue to work on their games, hoping for the day their number comes up, once and for all.
"The team's bigger than me," Hansbrough said. "My playing time will come."
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