With Frank Vogel announcing his projected starting five consisting of George Hill, Monta Ellis, C.J. Miles, Paul George, and Ian Mahinmi, it shakes up most people's views on the roster, including yours truly. So if you haven't heard, this author re-did the point guard article. Go take a look and come back and read about the other guard position.
There could be three players to play shooting guard for the Pacers or there could be as many as five. This position received the biggest addition of the entire roster in Monta Ellis. They will also have the returning Rodney Stuckey and situationally C.J. Miles. There is also the possibility of seeing Joe Young or Glenn Robinson III slot in there. This is one of the more complicated, exciting and talented positions on the roster.
Monta Ellis: Starting Shooting Guard
The one non-complicated player in the probable shooting guard rotation is Monta Ellis. He will spend the vast majority of the upcoming season as the starting shooting guard for the Indiana Pacers. He may dabble in some situational point guard, but he is the clear cut starter at the two guard. Known around the league as a pure scorer, Ellis is elite at getting his team on the board. He is a quick, slashing shooting guard who makes impossible cuts and insane lay-ups and occasional dunks. He is also a good jump shooter and has hit many last-second go-ahead shots. He is not up to Indiana Pacers' level of defense but gets his fair share of steals. He fits perfectly in the Pacers new up-tempo, smaller system.
Rodney Stuckey: Backup Shooting Guard
Rodney Stuckey seemed poised to be the backup point guard this year, but with Paul George moving to power forward and C.J. Miles moving to starting small forward, it appears more likely he will move to backup shooting guard. With no other true guards on the roster other than G. Hill, Young, and Ellis, it seems inevitable. Stuckey produced big time for the Pacers last year and many Pacers fans are ecstatic to have him back. He is a gritty player who is able to create his own shot. He is like Ellis in the fact they are both primarily slashers, but still very effective from outside. Stuckey is also the better defender over Ellis, always hustling and very athletic which is something he easily excels at.
C.J. Miles: Situational Shooting Guard
C.J. Miles appears to be moving up in the rotation to starting small forward. He is deadly from outside and the best pure shooter on the Pacers roster. He, like Ellis, is not the best defensive player but neither of them are liabilities either. Although Miles will now surely see most of his time on the floor at the three spot, he could see a bit of time at the two.
Joe Young: Very Situational Shooting Guard/Glenn Robinson III: Third-String Shooting Guard
Joe Young is a skilled scorer but not the best defender. He will likely backup George Hill at the point guard position, and he may see a very small amount of time at shooting guard. Glenn Robinson III may not even make the roster. But with Indiana's lack of guards, he could be used as a third-string two guard and situational small forward. He has spent most of his career as a small forward, but he is a versatile player and wouldn't have much of an issue sliding to the two position.