Since the NBA training camps are going to be starting in a couple weeks, I thought I would take the time to learn the audience on the happenings of the Indiana Pacers.
The team was a major disappointment last season to say the least. But, I don't want to say the least, I want to expand on that thought. Team cohesion was a big problem, at least on the court. The players had no trouble off the court sticking together and finding ways to bond. Add the fact that four players were added to the team during the season, consistency was not a strong point for this team.
The team finished 35-47 last season, the worst season since the 1996-97 season when they finished 39-43. Rick Carlisle was shown the door after coaching the team to a 61-21 record in 03-04, then falling to 44 wins and 41 wins the following two seasons. Larry Bird is also to blame for the lack of winning from this team. He has signed a few players from overseas that haven't panned out, made trades that left the team without draft picks in one of the deepest drafts in as long as I can remember, and he has left the team salary-cap crippled for the next few seasons.
But, enough about the negativity of last season. Let me get down to this year's squad.
Guards: Darrel Armstrong, Jamal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels, Kareem Rush, Travis Diener, Stephen Graham, Mike Dunleavy, and Andre Owens. Tinsley, Daniels, Rush, Dunleavy, and Diener seem to be the core rotation of players at the one and two positions.I would like to see Darrel Armstrong take a more hands on "coaching" role and let the younger guys get their growing pains out of the way early. Rush and Diener are two free agent signings that could help provide some much needed long-range shooting that this team lacked last season. Dunleavy didn't actually play that bad when he got to Indianapolis, but his reputation for underachieving fuels most spectators' opinions of him.
Forwards: Danny Granger, Ike Diogu, Troy Murphy, and Shawne Williams. Granger is the guy to watch in this group. He has the greenlight to do whatever he wants in this offense, now he just has to grab onto the "can't beat me" attitude and take over. Diogu is a heck of a rebounder and could be one of the best in the league if he can stay healthy enough to get the minutes he will need. Murphy is an interesting player. He had a couple seasons of averaging a double-double in Golden State, then last year battled some early injuries and was never as consistent as he or the team needed him to be. Shawne Williams will get no mention in any Pacers' article written by me the rest of the season until he accepts responsibility for his actions.
Centers: Jermaine O'Neal, Jeff Foster, David Harrison, and Stanko Barac. Harrison is a draft day BUST who hasn't learned how to play defense without fouling out. Stanko Barac (who??????) is a super player (sarcasm). He is so good that Larry Bird traded ANOTHER DRAFT PICK for him. He sent next season's second round pick away to get him. Jeff Foster is probably the hardest working post player in the NBA. I am being very serious when I say this. He doesn't pack a ton of offense into his game, but his rebounding and post defense are outstanding. That leaves me at Jermaine O'Neal, the Kobe Bryant of the Eastern Conference. No, I don't mean that he scores 81 points at will, I mean he flip-flops on his DEMANDS of where and when he wants to play. Give me a break. How about you start producing more like Yao Ming and less like Andrew Bogut, while staying healthier than Emeka Okafor.
Predictions: With a new coach in Jim O'Brien, the organization has put their faith in him to right the ship. I think that he is the kind of no-nonsense coach that this team needs. I think that he can get the team to not just play together, but WANT to play together.
I am going to say the Pacers finish with a record of 45-37 and make the playoffs. I don't see us making it to the Eastern Conference finals, but a trip to the second round of the playoffs is looking very promising.
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Comments
I wouldn't mind getting a different employee number 8 (24 now). That would never happen though.
I don't doubt the three ball going up. Diener, Rush, Dunleavy, Murphy, Granger, and even Tinsley will be gunning (not at a strip club) it up.
Not to rain on your parade, but in my humble opinion, i'd be shocked if the Pacers didn't have a top 5 draft pick next year. Look at that roster...it has zero talent. Obviously O'Neal is there, and Granger is pretty good, but those guards are awful, so is the depth.
My parade has not started yet, so LET IT RAIN!
I think with the team being together at the end of last season and through this training camp, the team can actually establish an identity and HOPEFULLY a consistent rotation. I respect your opinion, but I am trying to start the pre-pre-pre-season on a positive note!
This is just going to be a bad team for the Pacers and I think they even realize it. O'Brien and Bird are out in the community begging people to come to games.
If the Pacers win 45 games and make the playoffs I'll quit blogging.
Tinsley, Dunleavy, Granger, Murphy and O'Neal.....pffft.
Get ready for threes, threes, threes and more threes from this team. That's basically O'Brien's entire offensive philosophy.
I also wouldn't be shocked to see the Pacers trade for Antoine Walker, O'Brien has a huge boner for employee number 8.