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Getting reacquainted with Doug McDermott
🕑 Added 2024-02-09 13:02:51 +0000 UTCLooking back at past versions of Doug McDermott, both with the Pacers and when previously coached by Rick Carlisle, to project his second stint in Indiana.
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
Happy "the trade deadline is finally over" to everyone who celebrates. Also, happy "the Warriors-Pacers game is finally over" to everyone who, well, probably isn't celebrating but at least the game is over. To that point, there arguably isn't much reason to relive that particular contest (i.e. why exactly does the NBA play games the night of the trade deadline?), but there is reason to relive some other games from the past for the Pacers -- especially now that a familiar face is rejoining the team.
That's right. After trading Buddy Hield to Philadelphia, the Pacers looked to replenish some of what was lost in gravity and movement shooting with Doug McDermott, who not only played three seasons for the Blue & Gold, with the most recent coming during the team's tumultuous 2020-21 campaign, but also suited up in another shade of blue, playing 26 games in 2017-18 for the Dallas Mavericks under then-head coach Rick Carlisle.
As such, McDermott obviously doesn't have to be photoshopped into his new jersey to imagine how he'll look playing for the Pacers. In order to get reacquainted with his game, here's what's relevant from his prior stops -- especially by comparison to Hield.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introductions
1:13 - Instant trade reaction
2:23 - Doug McDermott in Dallas
2:38 - There's a lot of similar plays!
7:50 - Differences between McDermott and Hield as movement shooters (My apologies to everyone about the quality of my internet connection during this segment. I didn't realize that the film portion of the video was struggling to connect and stream until after I was completely finished recording. It comes back on shortly and with clarity, just hang in there.)
12:31 - Doug McDermott with the Pacers (who almost always comes off screens moving to his right, which is the opposite for Hield), playing alongside T.J. McConnell (who also prefers to attack baseline to his right)
17:35 - The frequency numbers for Hield and McDermott as ball-screeners
19:17 - Bring back the Sabonis-McDermott short-angled, inverted pick-and-roll at the elbow for Siakam!
20:59 - Or, perhaps more wedge action?
22:46 - A brief aside on defense
25:22 - Zooming out big picture
29:10 - Thank you and goodbye
Comments
Jason S.
You and me both! Also I am sure Sheppard will get better.
Caitlin Cooper
It's a fair concern. He won't keep missing all of the shots, but there are several key differences between him and Buddy that are already showing up. Doug operates more as a movement shooter off screens and out of hand-offs, whereas Buddy blurs with momentum and sprints to the line in transition. Those things jell better with how the Pacers play. We'll see. Hopefully, he can get spot-up shots to go down soon.
Jason S.
I am worried because I have vivid memories of McDermott missing so many shots during his last pacer’s tenure. As I write this he just went 0 /4 against Charlotte. Fingers crossed.
Keith Correll
I’m hoping you do another of these for Thad Young in near future, but who knows if we sign him. Domas definitely got McDermott a nice contract. :) I think we’ll all feel better about these moves if/when Tyrese gets back to 100%. I’d put him at about 80% last night. Not good. Thanks for the video…
