The Pacers are 'unlocking each other' under new center Ivica Zubac ahead of regular season

INDIANAPOLIS – The Pacers’ final preseason game offered a glimpse of their new roster construction while providing a reminder of what the team once was.

Friday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks saw the team’s former franchise center, Myles Turner, battle the new franchise center, Ivica Zubac, before Zubac sat for the entire second half. While Zubac and Turner faced off in one of the five games Zubac played for the Pacers after they acquired him from the Clippers last season, neither of the Pacers’ All-Stars – Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam – played.

Zubac had 11 points and 11 rebounds while Turner had seven points and 13 rebounds in a 128-127 Bucks win. Turner played eight second-half minutes, but before Zubac and the Pacers’ starters sat the second half, the Pacers led 71-56.

Zubac is tasked with fitting into a lineup that has had plenty of reps without him. Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Siakam gained a season and a half (plus two deep playoff runs) together with Turner as the center.

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In half-court offense, the Pacers will no longer have the spacing of Turner – who has attempted at least four 3-pointers per game for seven straight seasons. The team has to play differently with Zubac, but it put some pieces together in its final two preseason games.

Lloyd Pierce – who was the Pacers’ acting head coach Friday as Rick Carlisle attended his daughter’s sorority event at the University of Virginia – said there’s “a level of patience that all of them have shown” when it comes to playing with Zubac.

“Those four guys – Drew, Ty, Pascal and Aaron – have had chemistry for a couple years,” Pierce said. “And Zu has kind of jumped into that seamlessly thus far.”

As the engine of the offense, Haliburton has placed the onus on himself to perfect the chemistry and timing with Zubac. With the regular-season opener coming Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, he’s figuring out how to play with Zubac.

“I think the more it goes, the more I think we’re unlocking each other offensively – figuring out where guys want to be,” said Haliburton, who had 17 points and six assists Friday. “As time goes on, we’re putting in more and more sets – more hot sets – that we like to just flow into. … I think, offensively, we are who we are – one of the best offensive teams in the league.”

Turner’s presence often allowed Siakam to be the only Pacer inside the 3-point arc. Siakam likes to work in the mid-post, but he now spends much of his time sharing the space within 15 feet of the basket with Zubac – who has attempted just 12 3s in his career.

Throughout training camp, Siakam said he has “had a couple of talks” with Zubac about how to work together inside. Both players are capable passers, which matters when fitting the ball into tight windows. Against the Bucks, Siakam spent a lot of time letting Zubac be the only Pacer inside the arc, as he attempted seven 3s (and made five).

“I feel like we’ll get a lot of easy stuff together,” Siakam said. “And I think, obviously, when I choose to extend my range, it’s only gonna (make) us better. So for me, it’s just a matter of working on that. And again, (Zubac’s) smart, he’s high IQ and I think his rebounding also helps us. He’s one of those guys that you’ve got to continue to work on, and we’re going to figure it out.”

Many have also questioned how the slower-footed Zubac will affect the team’s pace. At their best, the Pacers became known for an up-tempo style of basketball that wore defenses out.

Almost all of Zubac’s time with the Clippers came after Kawhi Leonard joined the team, and Leonard plays a deliberately slower brand of basketball. But Siakam feels Zubac can actually accelerate the Pacers’ transition offense because Zubac, unlike Turner, is one of the league’s best rebounders.

“Having someone like Zu that can secure rebounds, I think should give us an opportunity to run even more,” Siakam said. “… He can get that rebound, and once he gets that, we can get going on offense. So, I’m looking forward to seeing how we do in the regular season.”

With Zubac as their starting center, the Pacers are absolutely not the same team they were when Turner sported the blue and gold. But that doesn’t mean this team can’t be just as good, if not better.

Ideally, Zubac will fill some of the Pacers’ holes without subtracting from what they do best. Little by little, the Pacers are working to maximize Zubac’s skills to return the franchise to championship contention.

“Our synergy is only growing by the day, by every moment that we get to play together,” Haliburton said. “Everything is definitely exciting.”

Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.

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