[Lotto StudParticipant]

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110319/SPORTS04/103190350/1062/SPORTS04/Pacers-rookie-Stephenson-returns-bench

Pacers rookie Stephenson returns to the bench

With team fighting for playoff spot, rookie will sit

Mar 19, 2011  |  

Written by

Mike Wells

The Indiana Pacers wanted rookie Lance Stephenson to get a taste of what it’s like to play in the NBA.

Stephenson experienced it in nine games, but now he’s back on the bench because the Pacers are trying to lock up the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We’re in a playoff push," Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel said. "He’ll be ready when he gets in there. I’ve got confidence in him."

Stephenson, who spent more than half the season on the bench, went into Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls having appeared in just one of the previous four games. That appearance came during the final two minutes of a game that was already decided against Boston earlier this week.

Stephenson, an offensively talented player, averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 assists in 13 minutes a game during a seven-game stretch from Feb. 27-March 9. Vogel usually had Stephenson’s minutes scripted unless the game was a blowout.

Playing Stephenson disrupted the continuity the second unit had developed. Vogel went with him over A.J. Price as the first point guard off the bench, and the coach didn’t want to use 11 players.

"We wanted to give him a look and evaluate him in some real minutes and we’re not done with that," Vogel said. "We felt like he made plays, but he’s not ready yet in terms of being an everyday rotation player.

"I just wasn’t comfortable playing 11 guys, and I wasn’t comfortable going away from the guys that got us off to a good start."

Vogel said Stephenson would be further along in his development if he had been getting as many minutes as fellow rookie Paul George. George has appeared in 48 of 69 games this season.

"If Lance had been seeing minutes the entire year, he would be as far along as Paul, but he’s a little green in terms of experience, so the mistakes counter the positive things he was bringing," Vogel said.

[Pacers_Fan33Participant]

he got a couple minutes off the bench tonight vs. the nets, and i think that the whole thing boils down to the fact that when they gave him some minutes he was way too selfish and the vets on the team dont like him. i was suprised to see him get the minutes tonight. But i am pulling for him, he could be something special if he plays his cards right.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

I repeat nothing special. He is honestly covered and spoken of too much. He is at best a bench player who can give you servicable minutes in a second unit, and that is a maybe. He either wakes up and realizes, he needs to improve his J and D and except being a role player. He is at best a role player. Make the extra pass, post up weaker guards and kick out. He will be a problem on any team he is on, and he will more than likely be out of the L after this year. Wasted pick.

[STEVEDOT2Participant]

 lottery talent drafted in the second round^put one one hell of a show in summer league 6-6 sg able to play point gaurd  and maybe a little sf …….how is that  a waste of a pick? I wish new york would have drafted him and landry they would have been set a sg for years to come. I admit he has some growing to do but cant deny the upside or game he has now.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

NY loves him. Does not make him capable of doing jack sh!t in the NBA based on summer L performance. See Anthony Randolph, kid has been a summer L all star. You love him cause he is from NY not on what he really can do night in and night out. This kid was not lottery talent. He wasn’t

[raybeasParticipant]

AJ Price missed the shootaround before the game (stuck in traffic was his excuse).

 

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