Pacers' new backup point guard: Joe Young

When the Indiana Pacers selected Joe Young in the second round of the draft last June, coach Frank Vogel had a specific role in mind for his 23-year-old rookie. On Monday, Vogel announced that Young is ready to be the Pacers’ backup point guard.

Vogel said Young has impressed him enough through three preseason games be the floor general of the second unit in his remolded offense. Young, who played the past two seasons at Oregon, has averaged 11.3 points in the preseason and has demonstrated that he is quick enough to score at the basket and make shots over taller defenders.

Although Young will miss Tuesday's exhibition against the Detroit Pistons with a groin injury, Vogel emphasized that it is important for Young to play early and often when the season starts Oct. 28.



“If you don’t give them minutes early and they sit on the bench and watch the whole time, then they’re not really going to help you that much late in the season when we need them to,” Vogel said of his rookies. He added of Young: “He’s going to struggle at times. We’re committed to getting (Young and first-round rookie Myles Turner) some minutes early on as long as they keep proving themselves and having the right approach. We want to see they develop early on.”

Young was most known as a proven scorer after four years of college basketball. When asked where Young could improve, Vogel said everywhere else, from defense to learning how to run the offense.

But what has impressed the other Pacers is how willing Young is to learn from veterans. Paul George has noticed Young taking notes during the past two practices when he watched from the sidelines.

“Coming off the bench as a rookie and being a second rounder at that, he’s got a lot of pressure,” George said. “He’s very mature, like all of our rookies. He seems seasoned, poised and ready for this moment. I love the way he’s played thus far for us, even through practices.”

Rodney Stuckey, a veteran entering his ninth season, will likely be next to Young in the backcourt when the season begins. As a reliable defender, Stuckey can guard either the opposing point guard or shooting guard to help Young.

Stuckey said he understands he will be responsible for helping Young.

“I’m just going to be out there just trying to help him and take some pressure off of him at times,” Stuckey said. “I may bring the ball up and have it in my hands a little bit.”

Vogel demands faster pace

Breaking old habits usually takes time. Vogel is realizing this with his Pacers as they are still getting adjusted to playing at a faster tempo. In the past two practices, Vogel has shouted at his players to sprint more during scrimmages, whether after a missed shot, a made basket or a deflection that leads to a steal in transition.

“I’m finding that we've really got to push these guys to establish the style of play that we want to run in terms of pushing the tempo,” Vogel said. “Some guys are still playing at summer speed, and we've got to pick it up.”

In their most recent exhibition, a 97-92 win against the Orlando Magic, the Pacers scored just nine fast-break points.

Vogel knows that will not be enough in the regular season.

“He’s just been barking and trying to instill it in our heads that this is the way we’re going to play,” Stuckey said. “We need to do this day in and day out. It starts in practice. We can’t not do it in practice and try to come out in the games and try to do it.”

Pacers rooting for Fever in Game 5

Ian Mahinmi and George Hill spent their Sunday night in Bankers Life Fieldhouse along with 10,580 other Indiana Fever fans.

Mahinmi said Sunday’s game, when the Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx to push the WNBA Finals to a decisive Game 5, was exciting because the atmosphere reflected the many playoff games he has played in during his career.

“It was a such a fun thing to see so many people in the building for a playoff game,” he said. He added of the Fever’s Tamika Catchings: “Tamika is such a great leader. You can tell after she had a rough game Friday night that she was going to come back with a better performance. I expected nothing less from here. She’s such a winner. That first half she was all over the place – diving, rebounding, blocking shots. It’s fun to watch her play.”



Several Pacers said after Monday’s practice that they would watch Wednesday’s deciding game.

“They seem to play very well when their backs are against the wall,” George said of the Fever’s 5-0 record in elimination games this postseason. “I’m very proud of them, and they seem like a group that’s very focused and ready to win this Game 5. Being one of Catchings’ biggest supporters, I want to see her win one more.”

Injury report

The Pacers announced Young (groin) and Solomon Hill (sprained left ankle) will not play in Wednesday's exhibition game against the Detroit Pistons. Monta Ellis (sprained right knee) is listed as doubtful and Hill (sprained right ankle) is questionable.

Vogel said Chase Budinger, who missed the last three preseason games with a right hamstring injury, should make his Pacers debut Wednesday.

“He went through the whole practice today and looked great,” Vogel said. “We’re expecting him to play.”

Call Star reporter Nate Taylor at (317) 444-6484. Follow him on Twitter: @ByNateTaylor.

Pistons at Pacers, 7 p.m. Tuesday