Highs and Lows: Indiana Pacers
T.J. Ford, Dime #23The NBA preseason is underway. While we wait for the real games to start, we’re going team-by-team, from 1 to 30, exploring where each team’s ceiling is for the upcoming season and where their basement is. In other words, what are the realistic best-case and worst-case scenarios for each squad?
Additions: PG T.J. Ford, PG Jarrett Jack, SG Brandon Rush, C Roy Hibbert, C Rasho Nesterovic, PF Maceo Baston, PF Austin Croshere, PF Josh McRoberts.
Losses: C Jermaine O’Neal, SG Kareem Rush, SF Shawne Williams, SG Flip Murray, PF Ike Diogu, C David Harrison, PG Andre Owens.
Ceiling: Mediocre and trouble-free
If nothing else, the Pacers had a successful offseason in that they unloaded most of the remaining “bad apples” that had turned them into a bootleg version of the Portland Jail Blazers, had turned their own fans against them, and had Larry Bird‘s face looking longer than Andre 3000‘s. Ex-franchise player Jermaine O’Neal (big for small) and Shawne Williams (young for old) were dealt in trades that smacked of desperation, David Harrison wasn’t re-signed, and Indiana has taken every measure to get rid of Jamaal Tinsley (treating him like the kid in 2nd grade who had lice), they just can’t find a willing trade partner. The new-look Pacers have youth and depth on their side. T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack are both under 26 and have been full-time starters in the League, not to mention 26-year-old Travis Diener has been a solid PG off the bench. Rookie Brandon Rush is good enough to where he could be penciled in as the starting two-guard for some NBA teams, but for now will be a backup behind Mike Dunleavy and franchise cornerstone Danny Granger. Troy Murphy is productive at the four spot, and the team has three centers (Jeff Foster, Rasho and Hibbert) who will challenge for the starting job.
Basement: Mediocre without an identity
If Granger is really The Franchise, why haven’t the Pacers signed him to a contract extension? While fellow 2005 draftees Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut and Monta Ellis all signed big-money deals over the summer, Granger is still waiting to get his. Do the Pacers really believe he’s the guy to carry them (or at least be a Josh Smith-type second banana) in the future? Ford and Jack have talent and will be able to push the pace like coach Jim O’Brien prefers, but both of them (especially Ford) have a little too much gunner in their game. Guys like Dunleavy, Granger, Rush and Marquis Daniels need touches to be successful, and if O’Brien coaches this team they way he did the Pierce/’Toine-era Celtics — basically letting them do whatever they want on offense and focusing his efforts on defense — that could pose a problem. The Pacers are also weak defensively, and don’t have a true post scorer. Hibbert could eventually be a force in both those areas, but it’s not gonna happen right away. Indiana barely missed the playoffs last year, finishing one game behind the 8th-seed Hawks, but with the East having improved as a whole, this doesn’t look like their year.
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October 15th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Tyrone says:
Them Pacers are gonna make the playoffs this year y’all – they ain’t making no Finals, but they’ll be legit this year. My man, TJ Ford is gonna be monster pimpin’ for the Pacers this year. Brandon Rush outta Kansas is also the real deal y’all.
True thugs never lie.
Tyrone
p.s. FIRST, BITCHES.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
…does Andre 3000 have an unusually long face or something? I never noticed…
October 15th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Michorizo says:
Tyrone…true bitches say “First”
October 15th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Tyrone says:
Michorizo – You ain’t got the balls to holler at me like that in person biatch – you be sleepin’ easy at night thinkin’ the internet’s anonymous punkass.
True thugs never lie.
Tyrone
October 15th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Michorizo says:
Tyrone .. there is nothing wrong with being a bitch. You said “First” therefore you are a bitch like everyone else that does it. It’s just an unspoken rule. Don’t be upset about it. You aren’t the first bitch and you won’t be the last.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Brown says:
The Pacers are not making the playoffs. All the teams above them in the standings last year are still better than them this year, and that gap has widened. They’re going to lose more than they win, and TJ Ford’s scowl will be visible all year. He’ll see himself as their leader and will take a lot of terrible shots like he’s done for years, killing the offense in the process. I see an offense that’s going to look absolutely lost and the defense won’t be much better.
Is Danny Granger that dude, or does he just look good because he has so many mediocre teammates? He’s ok, but I wouldn’t build a franchise around him. He’s a second or third option at best.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Kobeef says:
At least they cleared some cap space and are rebuilding instead of stuck in that “we suck but can’t do anything about it” mode like the knicks.
The only good thing about the current Pacer’s roster is that most of them will be gone soon. It really sucks. Murphy and Dunleavy are bench players on any legit team and are getting paid to be stars. Rasho and Croshure are two of the worst players in the league and Hibbert is probably not far hehind.
Rush and Granger are worth building around but the rest of this team is on the short road out of the NBA.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
fallinup says:
When your ceiling is: Mediocre and trouble-free
What does that say about the team and it’s management. Hmmmmmm.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
RENO says:
Ceiling: #1 Draft pick.
Basement: Lottery pick.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
fallinup says:
Oooooohhhh snap! Michorizo.
Tyrone just anonymously called you out!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
Tyrone says:
Michorizo – You ain’t got the balls to holler at me like that in person biatch – you be sleepin’ easy at night thinkin’ the internet’s anonymous punkass.
True thugs never lie.
Tyrone
I say–
Tyrone’s a 13 year kid living it up in rich suburbia. He’s the next John Brown from the White Rapper show.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Three Stacks says:
Actually, Ty is probably 16, just very immature and virgin-y for his age.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Diego says:
@ Drink the Haterade: Gotta lol re. Tyrone, “the next John Brown from the White Rapper show”!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
doc says:
The Pacers will stink.True bugs never fly.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
RENO says:
True bugs never fly…. That’s some funny shit.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Sam I Am says:
LOL
True Slugs are just so sly
October 15th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
E$ says:
I’m droppin’ 18 assist on 2k9
October 15th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
nick says:
@ haterade
haha at the white rapper reference.
no way the pacers make the playoffs with ford running the show. he is the king of jack shots. dude shoots like 40% from the field. if i am not mistaken, jarrett jack had 17pts the other game and took 8 shots, while ford who scored 18, also took 18 shots, thats a bad ratio when he is supposed to be the leader of the team and get the ball in the right people. maybe it will change once granger and dunleavy are back but i highly doubt it. If he couldn’t share the ball on a raptors squad that had a shot at going deep in the playoffs what are the chances he will share when he is on a lottery team.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Damon says:
pacers in the playoffs?
tyrone you have no idea what you are taking about.
is there one team that doesn’t make the playoffs in your book?
that thug shit is really annoying
October 15th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Tyrone says:
Y’all are just a bunch of whiny punkasses who ain’t got no balls to holler at me in person like y’all speak. And no I’m no 13 year old kid, I’m from the Southside of Chicago and can grind your whiny little punkasses into dust. Show some respek, sons.
True thugs never lie.
Tyrone
October 15th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
So Tyrone seems to think we are a bunch of punk asses?
I find it funny how he acts all hard over the internet. Talking all kinds of mess with his True Thug sign off.
But hey Tyrone I live in Las Vegas and am Originally from So Cal and I have never met a True Thug on the internet. In fact the thugs I know don’t need to brag about it.
It’s sort of like the guy who has mad game, he doesn’t need to brag about it everyone knows. But the one that doesn’t needs everyone to tell everyone he does. Sort of Like you.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
dillinger says:
Shut the f- up, tyrone.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
dj ho says:
Losses should include Jerryd Bayless. Brandon Rush may turn out to be a stud and make me eat my words, but I think the Pacers should have held onto him.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Jah says:
The Indiana Pacers are in serious need of an identity at the moment. I stopped paying attention after Ron Artest was traded, to tell you the truth. I remember THIS:
PG – Jamal Tinsley
SG – Reggie Miller (Stephen Jackson)
SF – Ron Artest
PF – Jermaine O’Neal
C – Jeff Foster
Now I’m supposed to get hype over this?
PG – T.J. Ford
SG – Mike Dunleavy
SF – Danny Granger
PF – Troy Murphy
C – Roy Hibbert (Rasho Nesterovic)
I’m going to have to wait and see how they gel on the court but I expect this to be a 20-something win season, personally. I’ve been wrong before, though…but not much.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:44 am
M says:
@ kobeef:
I dont think Rasho is one of the worst players in the league. He’s a decent backup or a starter if he has some star forward with him. Not to mention his locker room presence is very good, which should count for something in a younger / troubled team.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:48 am
fallinup says:
I’m an hour away from Chitown, Tyrone. We should hook up and have some latte’s. Maybe we can hit up the aquarium and show how true thugz roll at the Field Museum. What what, jigga!
October 16th, 2008 at 9:21 am
MSkittle says:
They will be horrible
October 16th, 2008 at 10:46 am
English Off The Glass says:
Tyrone says:
I’m a white boy but my neck is red
i put miracle whip on my wonder bread. HOLLA.
Cat is wicked and nasty y’all. Dope Dimes y’all. get a thesaurus Y’ALL.
True Thugz stay indoors and argue on the internets.
October 16th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
wanabballer says:
lmao @ English Off The Glass