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| Myles Turner (left); Domantas Sabonis (right). Photo Credit: NBAE/Getty Images. |
Going back to draft night in June when the Pacers drafted big man Goga Bitadze, I started doing the math in terms of their current roster at that time. After giving it some thought, I said that Domantas Sabonis was going to be in the starting lineup along with Myles Turner, and Thaddeus Young would be the odd man out.
By the time free agency ended-- actually before then-- my prediction came to pass. The lineup change of Sabonis-- a 6th Man of the Year nominee-- teaming up with Turner in the frontcourt was announced, and of course, there were questions and speculations as to whether the Pacers would keep all three big men and if so, whether or not it could work.
My short answer is yes; personally, I was calling for this move to be made last year. They tried the pair on the court at the same time several times last year. I think they complement each other well; Myles has more range and is a great rim protector, and Sabonis has more of an old school style mixed with today's game, using his low post game and is a better passer.
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| Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports. |
I think Myles has a high ceiling being he can face up, shoot, attack and play with his back to the basket, although he tends to be too unselfish and settles for jump shots too much. In the preseason, I've seen him attack the basket more and I would like to see him do more of that. Well, I'll say mix it up; fully utilizing his inside and outside game. He has a complete skill set as a big man, and I think he can be a perennial All-Star. I'm hoping this year and onward he will maximize his potential.
Domantas offensively has been playing the way I thought Myles would play, mixing up his inside and outside game, and aggressively attacking the defense. While they both can play the 4 and 5 positions (power forward and center, respectively) I like Myles better at the 4 and Domas at the 5, but it looks like it will be the opposite.
As I alluded to a couple of paragraphs ago, Myles tend to be more on the outside, whereas Sabonis is usually attacking, so in that sense they balance out and complement each other well. So, do I think the frontcourt tandem of Turner and Sabonis will work? My answer is an emphatic yes. I think the Pacers have quietly created a modern day Twin Towers in Turner and Sabonis in the face of today's NBA which tends to favor smaller lineups.
This could be the duo that sets the pace for the return of the big men and bigger lineups. I think they both have All-Star potential and it wouldn't surprise me to see them both there one day.
