During a conversation about the Pacers on an episode of The Lowe Post podcast, ESPN’s Jeff Van Gundy and Zach Lowe said they’ve both heard chatter about the possibility that Nate McMillan could be on the hot seat in Indiana (hat tip to Alex Golden of PacersTalk.net).
“I had two people come up to me since I’ve been here (in Orlando) and say, ‘Nate McMillan’s in trouble,'” Van Gundy said.
“It’s been the hottest rumor all season,” Lowe replied. “… What you’ve heard in Orlando’s been going around all season.”
Indiana hasn’t won a playoff series under McMillan, and there has been some chatter about a need to modernize the team’s offense, which ranks last this season in three-point attempts per game (27.7). Still, the two ESPN analysts pointed out that the Pacers have exceeded expectations in recent years, especially given the injuries they’ve had to deal with. And Lowe cautioned that there has been no confirmation the Pacers are seriously considering a change.
“Let me be clear: It’s just a rumor,” Lowe said. “I don’t know if it’s true. When you talk to people around the Pacers, they say, ‘It’s not true’ or ‘Where you’d hear that from?’ … I think Nate’s earned the benefit of the doubt.”
Let’s round up a few more Pacers-related items…
- In addition to helping the Pacers pick up wins during this summer’s restart, T.J. Warren‘s huge games in Orlando are showing that he’s a crucial part of the team’s future, according to Chris Mannix of SI.com, who notes that the 26-year-old’s prime years line up well with the rest of Indiana’s core.
- Pacers rookie Goga Bitadze, who returned to action this week, acknowledged today that his left knee has been an issue almost all season (Twitter link via J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star). “(After the hiatus), it hurt me a lot more,” Bitadze said. “I basically couldn’t run… It’s hard for me to get back ready to play.” However, after undergoing an MRI, the big man was told by team doctors that the soreness isn’t a serious issue, so it sounds like he probably won’t need offseason surgery, tweets Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files.
- In case you missed it on Thursday, we passed along word that ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan walked back her claim that Larry Bird left his job as president of basketball operations in Indiana because he was frustrated by the team’s reluctance to spend.
As I said before, 8 more head coaches will Be parted ways offseason
Possible part ways In west
Doc Rivers
Gentry
Saunders
I consider Rockets underachieve at 4th to 6th seed because they traded 5 future Firsts obligation
The Rockets traded three future first round picks, not five.
The other two you are referring to are swaps which won’t occur because by the time OKC has the opportunity to make them, the Rockets will still be higher in the standings with worse picks available.
PHI, WAS, CHI, BRK…
There’s no reason to fire Scott Brooks. I would argue the Wizards have actually overachieved considering the dearth of talent to begin the year. He’s developed the likes of Thomas Bryant and Rui Hachimura into solid starters, while Wagner, Robinson, and Brown look to be following suit. It’s not his fault the team is beset by that atrocious Wall contract
When you lose Lamb, Oladipo misses time, and Brogdon misses time you are gonna lab in 3 pt shooting. Not McMillans fault
Pacers play hard. Don’t think Nate is in trouble. If so, I am rooting for mark Jackson. He deserves a chance.
Exactly. How does someone like Brett Brown get by scot-free, while McMillan’s on the hot seat despite working with significantly less talent? Oladipo hasn’t been himself, while Lamb already tore his ACL as the team’s second best shooter