T.J. McConnell is J.J. Barea Lite?

Assuming T.J. McConnell isn't Rick Carlisle's cup of tea is understandable. Whether you go by late-game benching of the backup Indiana Pacers guard or starting the 2023-24 season out of the rotation, it makes sense to assume the two are at odds. However, if you squint your eyes enough, a silhouette of J.J. Barea forms. Few guards benefitted from Carlisle's coaching more than the Dallas Mavericks legend.

McConnell is an ode to the old school in how he plays the game: A 6-1 guard with a cutter's mentality rather than hoisting shots from deep.

Similar to J.J. Barea, McConnell is a maestro in pick-and-roll ball-handler sequences. According to Synergy Sports, the Pacers' backup guard lands in the 89th percentile in points per possession rank, which aligns with an excellent grade regarding points per possession rating.

The Pacers finished the 2023-24 season with the second-best offensive rating in the NBA. Without McConnell, Tyrese Haliburton wouldn't have a cushion while resting on the bench. McConnell's career-high 10.2 points beat the drum of the backup point guard deserving more opportunities.

In the 2024 playoffs, McConnell showcased how he's a variation of Barea. McConnell delivered when the chips were down, and the Pacers desperately needed another scorer. In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, McConnell scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

However, unlike Barea in the 2011 NBA playoffs, the Pacers couldn't finish the job.

Nonetheless, with the Pacers signing McConnell to a four-year, $45 million extension, Carlisle might appreciate the Barea comparison in time for the 2024-25 season.