Indiana Pacers learn more about the value of Buddy Hield from his absence
Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield never misses a chance to play. After joining the Pacers via trade in 2022, the sharpshooter played in 101 straight games for the franchise. He is as reliable as they come in the modern NBA.
That's why it was so stunning when Hield had to miss two games for the blue and gold last week. On March 27 and March 29, the 30-year old was out while dealing with a non-COVID illness, and he sat at home for three days.
"Hell. Boring," Hield said of being stuck at home. He had the flu, and it required an early morning trip to the hospital. The guard was hoping he could play and hoped to, but he was so sick that he was told to stay away. With how bad Hield always wants to suit up, the illness had to be serious
Without Hield, the Pacers went 0-2. They turned to George Hill as their reserve shooting guard, but they lost a lot of shooting and spacing, as would be expected. The Pacers had recently moved Hield to the bench, so they were already in an adjustment period.
The Pacers had one good shooting night and one rough outing without Hield. That's where he provides the biggest boost on the court, and the spacing that was lost without him was obvious.
"The guy's just a really good player for one thing. Everywhere he moves on the court he has to be accounted for," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Hield's absence. "He just has a real aggressive attitude to do what he does at a high level... That kind of threat is important to have on your team from an offensive standpoint."
The Pacers offensive rating is nearly 2.5 points per 100 possessions better when Hield is on the court this season, though he does often play with the high-powered starting lineup. His chemistry with Tyrese Haliburton elevates many units.
Indiana was happy to have Hield back for their last two games, one win and one loss. He scored in double figures in both games.
"It's great to be out there with the guys. There's nothing like playing basketball," Hield said last Friday. He canned three outside shots in a win over the Thunder. and noted that simply feeling the ball bounce in his hands felt good.
That night, he was a +11 in a four-point victory. Hield scored 13 points and added three rebounds and five assists. It took him no time to re-establish himself with the blue and gold for the first time ever.
"Being a part of the team and not being in prison," Hield joked when asked about what he liked about being back on the court with his teammates.
The Pacers enjoyed it, too. They have a more jovial vibe when Hield is around, and it's infectious. Hield is silly yet serious in an effective way, and that benefits the younger Pacers.
With Hield back, those emotions returned, and the Pacers learned how important they are when he was out.
"It's not the same around here without him. There's just a certain energy that we lack, and there's a certain buzz that you can hear," Carlisle said. At that exact moment, Hield was yelling something that made a few Pacers assistants and players, including guard Gabe York, smile.
Buddy Hield hates missing games, but sometimes a player's absence is the best way to truly feel what is lost without them. In Hield's case, the lack of outside shooting, spacing, and personality was obvious. Indiana is happy to have him back.
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