It’s time for Chris Copeland to play
TYLER SMITH
ISL Correspondent
After his second consecutive 3-point shot on Monday night, Chris Copeland looked right at Indiana coach Frank Vogel and said, “I told you!”
I can’t help but feel like Copeland was speaking for far more people than just himself.
I, for one, have been calling, begging, pleading for Copeland to get more playing time throughout this season. From the very first game when Copeland was not in the rotation, I had two thoughts in my mind: 1) Why pay a guy $6 million to not play? and 2) He can’t even play with Danny Granger hurt?
“He’ll play eventually,” I kept telling myself. Little did I know at the time, Copeland would only play in 41 games, for an average of 6.5 minutes per game.
What did Copeland do in his two games of extended minutes late in the season? He averaged 18.5 points and shot 9-of-16 from 3.
I’ve never been one to say that he should be playing 30 minutes per night. He has limitations on the defensive end and isn’t a great passer. There are also some matchups that wouldn’t make as much sense to include him in the rotation. But in other matchups, he makes perfect sense. Not only is he a career 42 percent shooter from behind the arc, but that threat alone spreads the defense, opens up lanes to drive and creates matchup problems for the opponent.
You would think, Vogel would remember watching Copeland torch the Pacers last season with the Knicks.. You would think, Vogel would use Copeland to match the Hawks’ shooters. You would think Vogel would learn from Game 5 and finally insert Copeland into the rotation.
It’s strange to say that a guy who averaged 6.5 minutes per game for a top-seeded team is the key with the season on the line, but I fully believe he is.
I believe Paul George and David West will shine in Game 6. I believe Roy Hibbert will not. I believe Lance Stephenson has a ton of talent but hasn’t been consistent enough to trust in this game. Add all of that up: The Pacers need another player, another spark to get a second road win and keep their season alive. It’s time for Copeland to be that guy.
You can talk all you want about how, “They were a 1-seed without him.” Well, the Pacers are also down 3-2 to an 8-seed without him.
Vogel may or may not be coaching for his job. But he is coaching for the season. If he wants it to continue, I believe this is an adjustment he simply has to make.
I asked the fans on Twitter what they thought the Pacers needed to do in order to win the next two games of this series. My personal favorite response was from @Nthomas91 who said: “remove the head from their (butts).” There was an overwhelming response of Copeland supporters.
Here are some of the tweets from fans:
The Pacers haven’t handled pressure well in the past few months. There’s no pressure like an elimination game. The Hawks clearly aren’t afraid of this Pacers team. It’s time for the Pacers to bring in a spark and beat them at their own game.
Follow Tyler Smith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sports_TYs_20.
