Pacers' C.J. Miles ready to shoot in new offense

Many of C.J. Miles' shots during the preseason came with him wide open, at an alarming rate and from a perplexing distance. It was something Miles had never experienced during his 10-year career.

A new offense installed by Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel has been fun for Miles to learn. The system, predicated on skillful players and space, has shown Miles what might be possible during the regular season, which starts Wednesday when thePacers visit the Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m., FSI).

Miles, with the help of Paul George, Monta Ellis and George Hill, could be one of the rare players in the NBA this season who could have some of the most clean looks from the perimeter. If he makes those shots, especially his 3-pointers, the Pacers could be explosive on offense.

The preseason showed him that.

“In the beginning, I was so wide open I was shooting the ball so fast because I was like, ‘Oh, I’m open,’” Miles said with a smile after Monday’s practice. “Now, it’s about finding a pace and time. That was something we had been talking about coming into training camp: playing the system and playing this way with those guys. My job is to make those shots, because it makes those guys’ jobs easier.”

Those guys Miles referred to are George, Ellis and Hill. In the six preseason games he played, Miles took 60 shots, which was second most among the starters behind George’s 95. Miles made just 20. After many of those missed shots, Miles ran back on defense while slapping his hands in frustration because he was so open.

Yet Miles’ performance in the preseason improved with each game as his minutes increased. In the Pacers’ final exhibition, Miles scored a team-high 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Miles took the most shot attempts in that game because of how the Charlotte Hornets defended the Pacers, as they paid more attention to George and Ellis.

Miles said that strategy is something the Raptors, along with other teams this season, could replicate.

“I understand the flow of the game and understanding where Monta, George and Paul are and how to be out of the way and still help them and be aggressive,” Miles said. “You have so much talent out there. It’s just about timing and playing.”

Vogel took a simple approach in managing Miles during the preseason. In the first exhibition, Miles played just 10 minutes. Vogel chose to not have Miles play too much because he was teaching him and the rest of the starters the new offense. He also acknowledged that he made his players sprint more to get them ready for the tempo that would be expected in the regular season.

“He looked really good to me a lot of the preseason, except for making shots,” Vogel said of Miles. “That’s OK. I don’t really worry about him making shots.”

Miles also is learning multiple positions, which he hasn’t had to do much with the Pacers. A natural shooting guard, Miles will start the season as the Pacers’ starting small forward, which allows George to move to power forward. Miles said he has learned the power forward’s responsibilities on offense in case Vogel wants to go with an extremely small lineup.

George said he was confident the Pacers could use the space on the floor correctly, whether that is him driving to the basket against a slower defender or finding Miles for an open jumper once an extra defender overcommits.

“We’ve showed that we could score the ball,” George said. “I know preseason doesn’t mean much, but we still managed to play decent basketball despite not really going over defensive schemes.”

Last year, Miles averaged a career-high 13.5 points. With a remodeled offense, a healthy George and the addition of Ellis, Miles realizes he could average more points per game this season.

All he has to do is make his shots.

“As time went on, I played more and more, and I found my rhythm a little more the last couple games,” Miles said of the preseason. “Now the real popcorn will be popping. I know what I got to do.”

Vogel remembers Saunders

After Monday’s practice, Vogel took time to remember Flip Saunders, the longtime NBA coach who died Sunday at 60 after being diagnosed in June with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

“It was sickening news,” Vogel said. “I always related to his story when I was an up-and-coming assistant and seeing how he came from the minor league ranks and became an NBA head coach. I always admired that about him and his journey and his ability to connect with players.”

Saunders was the team president, coach and part owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the franchise he led as a coach to the Western Conference finals in 2004. In September, the team announced he would take a leave of absence after complications with his treatment. Saunders’ death surprised many in the NBA, and both players and coaches took to social media to honor him.

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