The new look Indiana Pacers, one of only five teams in the league currently logging over 105 possessions per 48 minutes through three preseason games, are caught in a strange predicament. Establishing the pace at which they want to play requires swarming defense, but maintaining that breakneck speed produces the undesirable externality of them reaching with their hands and arms rather than moving their tired legs and feet.
“Fouling is what’s going on right now,” McMillan said of his team’s defensive miscues following yesterday’s practice. “Way too many out of position plays, where we’re not moving our feet, staying in front of the ball, and we’re getting beat to the basket and we’re reaching.