Age: 34 years old
Years Pro: 12
Status: Player Option for 2015-16
Key Stats: Went from 14 points per game in 2013-14 to 11.7 (fewest since his second season in 2004-05). Averaged a career-high 3.4 assists.
When David West played his first game of the 2014-15 season, it was already November 28th. He had missed the first 15 games with an ankle sprain suffered during the preseason, and with the team just three games under .500, there was reason for optimism when West returned. In his first game back in action, the crafty veteran put up 18 points and grabbed six rebounds in a 98-83 demolition of the Orlando Magic. The Pacers felt as if they had their leader back on the floor. They felt like it was time to push hard on the accelerator and make up for lost time.
But instead, Indiana stalled out. After that win, the Pacers dropped eight consecutive games — their longest losing streak since 2009. As the losses piled up, head coach Frank Vogel preached patience to reporters inquiring how Indiana could pull out of its tailspin. When asked how they could turn it around, West said much of the same: we just need more time. Time for West to get acquainted with his new surrounding cast, sans Paul George and Lance Stephenson. Time to readjust to the physical and mental rigors of the NBA season. Time to figure out how to make it work.
PHOTO GALLERY: David West's 2014-15 Season »
On December 15th, it was the Lakers who were the unfortunate recipient of the game in which the Pacers finally seemed to bring it all together as a group. In the first quarter alone, West sunk three jumpers. After 12 minutes, the score was 34-15. At the half, it was 60-27. Suddenly, it became clear what Indiana had been working on building when the coach and players cited the need for more time. Continuity in the lineup had finally arrived.
Throughout the season, West did many of the same things that we've grown accustomed to seeing from the 12-year pro. Long jumpers from the top of the key that stretch the defense. Critical rebounds in crunch time. And of course, his near-trademarked snarl. When George Hill reentered the lineup after some injuries that kept him on the bench, West and Hill often ran the pick-and-roll with a great deal of success.
However, at the age of 34 and shouldering more of a burden to score without PG playing, certain areas of West's game suffered. His scoring dropped from 14 points per game to 11.7. His field goal percentage sunk to .471. Both stats the lowest they've been since his second year in the league in 2004-05.
"It was a tough year and you learn a lot about yourself in these type of situations," said West the day after the season ended. "We showed some resolve at times showed the ability to fight through controversy and adversity. Ultimately came up short, but you can be proud of the way the guys stayed in the fight."
West was able to raise his game in other ways, which allowed him to contribute a great deal. His assists rose from 2.8 to 3.4, a career high. And in a season when ball movement seemed to be preached more than any other facet of the game, West was a willing distributer; his passes often leading to open looks for shooters like C.J. Miles and Rodney Stuckey.
This could bode well for West's future with the club — if he chooses to opt-in to the final year of his contract this summer — since Vogel and team president Larry Bird seemed intrigued by the idea of speeding up play by going with small lineups next season. This idea appears to open the door to the possibility of deploying West at center with Paul George playing power forward alongside him for stretches. Or perhaps continuing to utilize the lineup of West and Luis Scola (if resigned in free agency) as forwards, which was also used sporadically this past season.
Either way, West's willingness to keep the ball moving, and ideally a scaled-down minutes per game to ensure better health next year, could lead to a strong season for the full-strength Pacers. It might not have been West's finest season from a statistical standpoint, but without his veteran presence in the locker room, it's hard to imagine that Indiana would have been alive in the playoff race going into the season's final game.
However, added pace on offense and a smaller lineup usually entail players bumping up a position — small forward to power forward, power forward to center — which means more responsibility rebounding and defending opponents with more size and physicality. For West, this means his offseason focus comes down to one thing.
"Get healthy, that's the biggest key," he said. "Just to get healthy and feel good physically."