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By Mike Wells
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Indiana Pacers' second unit dubbed itself the "Goon Squad" last season for its ability to bring energy off the bench.
This year, the second unit has been more of a "Missing Squad." It has shown a knack for missing shots, missing energy and missing point production.
"They're probably a little bit disorganized and they need to come together more and calm down and just continue to try and keep the tempo high and make the other team work," coach Frank Vogel said.
The Pacers, who conclude a three-game trip today at Orlando, believe they are one of the deepest teams in the league. They bring George Hill and Tyler Hansbrough off the bench. Both have starting experience.
The problem the Pacers have encountered lately is that the second unit lacks continuity on the court. It's also when opposing teams have made runs on the Pacers.
The unit features Hill, Hansbrough, Lance Stephenson, Dahntay Jones and Lou Amundson. Vogel has starter Paul George play with that group, too.
"The offense flowed better last year with the second unit," Jones said. "We had an identity. We knew what we were going to do every game. This year we have to try to get something going on the defensive end so we can try to get something in transition. That's the best shot we've got."
The Pacers are missing veteran Jeff Foster off the bench. Foster has played in only five games this season because of back issues. He hopes to play Tuesday against the New Jersey Nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Amundson is a blue-collar worker like Foster, but he lacks the experience the Pacers need in the second unit.
The Pacers are 9-1 this season when their bench outscores the opponent. They're 3-4 when they get outscored.
One of their best stretches came when A.J. Price got some playing time three weeks ago. He was one of the reasons the Pacers beat the Celtics in Boston on Jan. 6.
Price's presence kept Vogel from worrying about overloading starter Darren Collison's minutes because the Pacers could go with either Price or Hill at point guard.
Price moved back to the bench once Stephenson returned from a sprained ankle. Stephenson is primarily used at shooting guard.
Vogel wants to get his bench situation taken care of because the Pacers will go deep into the roster with so many games in a short period of time.
It doesn't help that Hill and Hansbrough are struggling from the field.
Hill is 3-of-18 from the field in the past three games.
The scouting report on Hansbrough has made its way around the league. Teams no longer allow him to catch and shoot the ball in rhythm. They force him to think about his moves.
That has led to a career-low 36.9 percent shooting.
"Right now I feel like we're doing different things," Hansbrough said. "We're not moving the ball as well. It's not going to go in every time I shoot it, but anybody who knows me knows I'm still going to shoot it. I've got a lot of confidence that my shot will come around."
Vogel said he needs to come up with a better way for Hansbrough to get involved in the offense.
"I don't feel like I'm getting him the shots that he was getting last year in terms of his midrange rhythm catch and shoots," Vogel said. "Guys are on to him. We have to make sure we get him some more shots in the rhythm of the offense that he hasn't been able to get
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Additional to this I want to share a twitter message from Mike in response to a question I sent him.
@MikeWellsNBA Any indication of lingering injury to Tyler's eye or head? Any other reason for current prolonged slump?
@El_Peckbo Got a story about Tyler/2nd unit in tomorrow's paper. Tyler's a catch n shoot rhythm player, teams r not letting him b in...cont
@El_Peckbo in rhythm when he catches it. Vogel acknowledged he has to find way to get Tyler rhythm shots. Other issue is not alot of...cont
@El_Peckbo pick and roll or pick n pop plays for Tyler anymore
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