Pacers guard Rodney Stuckey is waiting, teaching in preseason

Through three exhibition games, the youngest players on the crowded Indiana Pacers roster have played more crunch-time minutes and enjoyed more looks in the offense than some of the veterans. With these tenderfoots ruling the preseason, one familiar name has gone missing.

Where have you gone, Rodney Stuckey?

Stuckey, who re-signed with the Pacers this summer, has scored four, one and four points, respectively, this preseason. During Thursday’s night win over the Orlando Magic, Stuckey attempted three shots in 17 minutes, 51 seconds on the court while second-unit rookie running mates Joe Young and Myles Turner each put up seven shots.

So, where exactly is Stuckey in the offense?

“I’m still trying to find him,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said Friday afternoon. “I don’t want to say it the wrong way. What I mean, he’s out there with a unit that in the preseason I’m trying to get Myles some touches. I’m trying to get Joe Young some opportunities, get Glenn Robinson some opportunities. So I haven’t called his number very much in the preseason. So if he’s not doing what (fans) are used to seeing him doing, it’s because of me and because of what we’re doing, trying to get some young guys some opportunities.”

When asked how the regular-season routine will change, Vogel answered: “We’re going to put the ball in Rodney’s hands. Absolutely.”

However, this preseason version of a silent Stuckey appears much different than the one who enjoyed a breakout 2014-15 season.

The most commonly used five-man bench rotation for the Pacers included Ian Mahinmi, Luis Scola, Damjan Rudež, C.J. Watson and Stuckey. Stuckey led this group with 10.6 shot attempts and 12.6 points per game. This year, that unit has been busted up in favor of fresh blood. Even so, Stuckey expects to make more of an impact once the real games begin.

“A lot of new guys are in there, but I’ll get acclimated to them,” Stuckey said, referring to the regular season. “I know that there’ll be a couple of starters out there as well when I’m out there with the second unit. Don’t know who yet. I’m looking forward to it.”

Even if the Pacers keep a starter or two on the floor to run with Stuckey and the reserves, the likelihood grows that he’ll still have to play alongside a rookie. Besides just filling up baskets, this is where Stuckey must lean on his eight years of NBA experience.

“Just trying to coach these young guys up. A lot of young guys out there on the court, a lot of teaching,” Stuckey said. “That’s how training camp is, trying to get the young guys up to the system. I mean, the system is new to me… (We’re) just trying to figure out one another.”

BLOCKS NOT ALWAYS A GOOD THING

The good news: Even without Roy Hibbert, the Pacers have still seen flashes of rim protection during the preseason by averaging 9.3 blocks per game.

The bad: So many blocks do not bode well for so-called stout defense.

“Ideally we don’t get any blocks because we keep the ball in front of us on the perimeter,” Vogel said. “If we’re getting a lot of blocks, that means we’re not containing the basketball very well, but our rim protectors have done a strong job.”

Indiana’s still work-in-progress defense will continue to feature paint protectors with Mahinmi and the blossoming shot blocker Jordan Hill. On Thursday against the Magic, Hill pulled down seven rebounds, all on the defensive end, and swatted three shots to add to the team’s total of nine.

“Rebounding has always been a part of my game,” Hill said. “(With) shot blocking, I try to block as many shots as I can. Block or alter them. But I’m trying to progress my game every day.”

After the 97-92 win over the Magic, Vogel specifically credited Hill for his contribution. This summer, while the Pacers did not chase after Hill, who was a free agent, for his defensive reputation, his work on that end has been a preseason revelation.

“Every player that’s a free agent, they list his strengths and weaknesses. Just with analytics, (Hill’s) shot-blocking totals aren’t that great, so he’s known more as a defensive rebounder,” Vogel said. “(But) he’s just done a good job for us on the defensive end, so I’m pleasantly surprised.”

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.