Nate Taylor

nate.taylor@indystar.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Within a new up-tempo offense, the Indiana Pacers who come off the bench don’t always have to play at top speed.

C.J. Miles explained the team's philosophical intricacies Monday. After two losses in which the reserves struggled, Miles repeated coach Nate McMillan’s message that he and his teammates need to play with better energy and intensity. How that looks, though, could be in a methodical halfcourt set where multiple players are moving before a shot is attempted. The foundation, Miles said, is Al Jefferson, the Pacers’ veteran backup center.

He felt Indiana’s bench lost contact with Jefferson last week when the Pacers lost their fourth-quarter lead against the Brooklyn Nets and when they were blown out in the second quarter by the Chicago Bulls.

“We have to do a better job of using him, even if we don’t throw it down into the post,” Miles said of Jefferson. “I would much rather have an open shot off of Al or just throw it in to Al. Those are the two best options in that scenario. We have to be patient.”

Jefferson, by a wide margin, is the Pacers most plodding player. Miles and McMillan agree that the bench needs to better turn Jefferson’s interior scoring into an advantage. The importance for the Pacers’ bench, it seems after three games, is to find the right balance in terms of their tempo once most starters sit on the bench.

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McMillan wants his reserves to run to the basket when they create a turnover or have the advantage early in transition after a defensive rebound. If that running opportunity is not available, set up the halfcourt offense and find Jefferson. From there, Miles said he and his teammates have to display discipline by moving within their motion offense, not standing around. The quick shots from the bench, in particular Saturday, compromised the team’s defense in allowing the Bulls to score 38 points in the second quarter.

“I came in and I got a couple of good looks, but I just kind of rushed it because we were down,” Miles said. “You want to come in and make an impact right away because you don’t want the game to slip out. We got ahead of ourselves, which helped (the Bulls).”

McMillan used Monday’s practice to remind his players they need to give maximum effort, no matter how fast or slow the game is being played.

“One thing you do is you talk about it and then you sub,” McMillan said with smile. “It’s simple as that. If you’re not getting it, then you put some guy out there and you search until you find it.”

Aaron Brooks could bolster the Pacers’ bench production if he makes his Indiana debut Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. One way the bench could successfully switch between certain speeds is by having Brooks, a nine-year veteran, run the offense, which he was expected to do when he signed in the offseason. The Pacers have played their first three games without Brooks, who is recovering from a sore right knee. Brooks is eager to help the Pacers.

“The plan was to be active in Brooklyn, but I had a little tweak during practice,” said Brooks, who fully participated in Monday’s practice. “I’m doing a lot better now. You want to be out there to help and bring your energy. The hardest thing to do is watch basketball games for me. They’re long. I just want to get out there and help. I’m tired of wearing suit jackets.”

Miles suggested that perhaps the bench can’t play as fast as the starters can because of Rodney Stuckey’s absence. Stuckey sustained a right hamstring strain late in the first quarter against the Nets. The Pacers are not sure when Stuckey, who had an MRI on Monday, will return. He only did shooting drills during the team’s practice and will not play in Tuesday’s game.

“He put so much pressure on the defense,” Miles said of Stuckey. “I don’t think he gets enough credit for how good of a passer he is, too. When you want play that (faster) pace, he sets the pace himself. If you’re running, either your run gets him a layup or your run gets you a shot.”

Without Stuckey’s speed and Brooks still questionable, McMillan is fine with his reserves taking more time on the shot clock — as long as they demonstrate balance and patience by running their sets with more precision. Unlike the past two games, McMillan said the slower speed on offense does not mean the Pacers can relax in those moments.

“It’s really affecting our defense where we’re not getting back in transition for whatever reason,” he said. “Maybe that’s the side of the ball we’re resting on. I’ve always said and believed that your defense starts on the offensive end of the floor. If you execute and you have a balanced floor, and on (the) shot you rotate back, you should be able to have your defense set.”

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

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Lakers at Pacers, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Fox Sports Indiana

Storylines

NIANG SCORES FIRST POINTS: Georges Niang, the Pacers’ second-round rookie, scored his first NBA points during Saturday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. Niang scored on a baby hook shot and finished Saturday’s game with four points and two rebounds. He was active on the roster during the team’s two-game road trip after Aaron Brooks sat out with a sore right knee. In the preseason, Niang averaged 5.5 points per game in the preseason.



NO MORE KOBE BRYANT: For the first time in 20 years, the Los Angeles Lakers are playing without Kobe Bryant. With Bryant retired, the Lakers are a young team that features Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram. “We’re looking at it as a game to win, not necessarily the Kobe-less Lakers,” said Paul George, who idolized Bryant growing up in Palmdale, Calif. “I don’t really remember a time at all, so it’ll be new to see the Lakers without Kobe.”



A TELLING QUOTE: “It takes a while to make a new philosophy second nature. They (the newcomers) know the concepts if you ask them, but when you get in a game and you get moving, you’re reacting and it’s not the same. Some old habits might come out.” – C.J. Miles on the Pacers still learning to play defense as a cohesive unit.



PREDICTION: This game won’t be an easy one for Indiana. The Lakers have plenty of young athletes who could give the Pacers problems. Myles Turner exploiting the Lakers’ interior defense could be the biggest reason the Pacers win. Pacers 112, Lakers 105.



– Nate Taylor