The Indiana Pacers starting lineup will certainly have a different look to it this season as they no longer have mainstays Roy Hibbert and David West in the frontcourt. Frank Vogel plans to go small a lot this season, which means Paul George may start at the power forward spot, which he is not thrilled about. The center spot is an interesting place to look at because Vogel reportedly plans to start Ian Mahinmi there instead of newly acquired Jordan Hill, according to Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star.
Hill is coming off the best season of his NBA career a year ago with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he still was only able to sign a one-year $4 million deal with the Pacers this summer. Mahinmi, on the other hand, has been with the Pacers for the past three seasons as Hibbert's backup, so his familiarity with the team might be the biggest advantage he has to win the starting job.
Mahinmi has been a very solid player for the Pacers as a backup, but he has never been a full time starter in the NBA. Mahinmi is the much better defensive option of the two players, but Hill brings more offense to the table, so it will depend which direction Vogel wants to go and how much offense the rest of the starting lineup will be able to bring. With George and Monta Ellis in the starting lineup, there may be plenty of offense there, which would give Vogel the luxury of using Hill off the bench.
Mahinmi has never played more than 19 minutes per game in his seven-year NBA career, so it will be interesting to see how he handles starters minutes, but point guard George Hill is confident that he can handle it.
"I think he deserves it right now, he's our lone big that's been here the longest. He's done a great job when he's been in the game so far for us with changing the style of play and the speed of the game and doing a great job defensively," said Hill.
Jordan Hill probably brings more versatility to the table at the center position, but if Vogel is looking for defense, Mahinmi is the way to go. Hill is also the better rebounder of the two centers, but you don't lose much in the way of rebounding with Mahinmi. Hill is coming off a season with the Lakers, where he averaged 12 points and 7.9 rebounds in less than 27 minutes per game, but those numbers alone won't be enough to earn him a starting spot this season.
