INDIANAPOLIS -- Rick Carlisle has acknowledged in the past that what he's asking Bennedict Mathurin to do as he tries to develop into the player the Pacers need him to be is awkward, and arguably unfair.
Mathurin's greatest gift is his ability to take defenders on one-on-one and beat them, creating enough space to beat them with jumpers or just blowing by them to get to the rim. The Pacers don't want the fourth-year wing to part with that gift, but they often ask him to mute it somewhat so that he can more easily fit into the hyperkinetic offense conducted by All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton . They want him to make quicker decisions to shoot, pass or drive so the ball doesn't stick, which means hanging out on the perimeter and hitting defenders with jab steps and crossover dri