2013-14 NBA Bench Power Rankings

April 17, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Luis Scola (14) reacts during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 118-98. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

6. Indiana Pacers

If Danny Granger is still a Pacer next season he’ll either move to the bench or force Lance Stephenson out of the starting lineup. Either way this will bolster a bench that was-charitably-hopeless at very important times. With a trip to the Finals on the line, it was brutal watching DJ Augustin and Tyler Hansbrough soak up meaningful minutes. The Pacers did what any self-respecting contender would do: upgrade their biggest deficiency (awful bench production) on the cheap and hope the offensive infusion (along with Paul George’s development) will make the difference in the likely third straight post-season matchup against the Miami Heat.

Luis Scola, the further thing from anyone’s idea of an Indiana Pacer, will be a great gamble or a tragic miscalculation, but let’s assume the former. Never a good defender and slow to boot, Scola is a creative and dogged. Chris Copeland was a fan favorite in New York and even the threat of a three-point shooter is going to change the way the opposing defense treats the long-bomb challenged Pacers. Not to overstate the value of CJ Watson, who is a shoot first combo guard who has never quite mastered the art of running a two-on-one fast break, but he’s a significant upgrade over DJ Augustin in that confidence will never be a problem for CJ. He is more than up for the task of carrying an offensive load if the other Pacers can’t hit the broadside of a barn (this cliché rings truer when discussing Indiana) and that suits him just fine.