Insider: Pacers will start both Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis. Why? The East demands it

INDIANAPOLIS – The plan going into the 2019-20 season — to start Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner next to each other — raises eyebrows. 

How can it possibly work? 

They played together in 64 of 82 games last season. They spent just 6.7 minutes together on average as the Pacers scored 14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, shot 39.8% on 3s and 45.8% overall.

Why would coach Nate McMillan insist on Turner and Sabonis in the starting lineup? Why would president Kevin Pritchard believe in it?

While the West is small-ball heavy thanks to a trend set by Golden State and Houston in recent years, the East has gradually gotten bigger and more physical. 

It's too early to say it can't work for Indiana until there has been a sustained commitment to it. 

Looking at some of last season's playoff teams from the conference, they haven't downsized:

>> Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid is a matchup nightmare for everyone, and he gave Turner fits on the low block. He's the 5. Now they've added Al Horford who'll be the starting 4. Both can stretch with the occasional 3. Both can post and beat an opponent unconscious in the middle. 

>> Toronto Raptors: Without Kawhi Leonard, they're not championship material but they're still a tough out. With Marc Gasol at the 5 and Pascal Siakam as the starting 4 (with Serge Ibaka off the bench), bigs to combat them are necessary. Siakam can shoot the 3 now. They can be exceptionally strong on the boards. 

>> Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo plays various positions, including the 4 and 5. Brook Lopez is a 3-point shooting 7-footer who can get back to his roots and post up and generate second-chances with offensive rebounds. His brother, Robin Lopez, is a true 5 who also is 7-0. Ersan Ilyasova isn't small, either.

>> Orlando Magic: Center Nik Vucevic re-signed. Aaron Gordon, an athletic 4, remains. Both can be physical inside and will spread the floor with some success. Off the bench they have young, rangy, athletic bigs in Mo Bamba (7-0) and Jonathan Isaac (6-10).

>> Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond is a rebounding-and-putback machine down low. Blake Griffin is having more of the offense run through him in the high post and via iso. He's putting the ball on the floor and pulling up from range. They've added Markieff Morris, who can be hit-and-miss but also a problem matchup against switching defenses in the post and vs. traditional bigs on face-ups. He's 6-10.

>> Boston Celtics: Pending what happens with 7-6 center Tacko Fall, the darling of Las Vegas summer league, they can be sizable, too. Enes Kanter is projected as the starter. Daniel Theis is a big body off the bench at the 4. Does 6-10 center Robert Williams factor in at all? Who knows. They'll probably go with more small lineups to take advantage of their versatility in other spots but there's potential with size.

This explains why the Pacers have shifted to Sabonis and Turner — and drafted 6-11 center Goga Bitadze at No. 18.

They've restructured the roster with more players who can play multiple spots such as Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb and T.J. Warren. That's what Boston did so effectively in sweeping the Pacers in the first round. When Sabonis is swarmed on post-ups, in theory he'll have more shooters around him to counteract those aggressive coverages.

No team, however, wins long-term playing one way. The best ones succeed playing both ways.

That was true of the Cleveland Cavaliers when they won with LeBron James surrounded by shooters — and had Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love exploit size mismatches in the post — and Golden State during their dominance with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson as their bigs (JaVale McGee, David West, Andrew Bogut, Kevon Looney, Zaza Pachulia, etc.) performed crucial roles and spot duty.

The Pacers have to be able to play big. It's only a question of which combinations work best and at what spots on the floor.

Will Turner be able to post up more effectively, especially when defended by smaller opponents?

Will Sabonis shed his reluctance to shoot when facing up, spread better than his predecessor Thad Young and not be so left-hand dominant?

Exactly where does Bitadze fit?

Before knocking it, it's only fair to give it a chance to work first. 

If going small is the only thing they do effectively, it'll be in a long season.

Follow IndyStar Pacers Insider J. Michael on Twitter at @ThisIsJMichael.