Play faster. Spread the floor. Use strong defense to push the pace.
Last season, Frank Vogel talked about these objectives as the Pacers started preseason looking to play a little smaller and a lot faster, to move away from a ‘smashmouth’ style and join the space and pace revolution in the NBA.
Like Vogel, Nate McMillan hit the same notes prior to the team’s first preseason game. And just like the 2015-16 Pacers, the current team opened against the New Orleans Pelicans as they tested their adjusted style of play.
The results ended up being similar in some ways but starkly different in others, both on and off the court.