Positives:
- I was encouraged by the hustle to the boards. Three Pacer players contributed double-digit rebounds with Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster out of the lineup.
- Roy Hibbert had his second outstanding performance in as many games. He finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks. I saw a lot of confidence in him and he has more hustle plays than most everyone else on the team. Diving after loose balls, keeping balls alive for his teammates, and getting on the offensive glass. That is pretty impressive to see a 7 footer do that...at least to me it is!
- Dahntay Jones continues to impress me with his play so far this season. He recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
- Brandon Rush finally had a breakout game! He threw down 12 points and 10 rebounds, along with 2 steals and 1 block. I hope this game with serve as a confidence booster for him, because the Pacers will need him this season.
- Keeping the Knicks off the free throw line. Only 18 attempts to the Pacers 28 attempts.
- The team shot poorly from three point range again. Only 5-for-21 shooting from downtown in this one. In the last three games, the Pacers have hit 12-of-66 from three point range. That is a clammy 18% from beyond the arc.
- Al Harrington was able to get to the free throw line 13 times last night. Too many for one player to be attempting.
- David Lee grabbed 19 rebounds, playing center in this Knicks lineup.
Record: 1-3
Next Game: Friday vs Washington Wizards (2-3)
The next three games are at home against the Wizards, Warriors, and the Celtics, so hopefully they can get to 3-3 before the showdown with the C's next Saturday.
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Comments
I would probably wait until the 40 game mark to see what the record looks like before making a change like that.
I'm not sure that Price is the future answer at the point. Looking back on this draft, I am really wishing the Pacers would have pulled the trigger on a deal to trade back a few picks in the first round. Grab Ty Lawson with that pick and then focus on a big man with a later pick. That didn't happen though...
I really like Watson as a veteran PG on this team. He has had a solid career up to this point.
Foster is out for a week or two more with that ankle sprain, so Solomon Jones and McRoberts will get some minutes until Hansbrough comes back.
Such a mess right now...DAMN YOU LARRY BIRD!!
I guess the rumor is Bird is gone at the end of the year and he fired Mel Daniels, because he leaked that to Peter Vecsey?!
Why wait until halfway through the season when you know you don't have a team that is going to contend for the title or make a deep run in the playoffs? At best, in my estimation, the Pacers are team #10 in the East.
When does Hansbrough actually play? Did something happen to him? Does anyone even care?
I think the Pacers really need to wait until the halfway point before switching up, because they need to show the fans that they are trying to win with their "best" players on the court. Even if they don't make a deep run in the playoffs, just making the playoffs would be a huge step for getting the fans back.
Hansbrough could play tonight. Shins or something like that. I might care if he plays like he played in the summer league.
How many wins is this team going to get? 25? Maybe 30? This team isn't making the playoffs in the East. They need to start Price, Rush, Granger, Murphy and Hibbert and let them learn together for two years while drafting support players wisely. Right now they are looking at another poor lottery #.
Trade TJ Ford and let Watson run as the back-up PG. When Dunleavy, Jr. comes back (if he does) slide Rush into the 6th man spot.
Here's what I'm rolling with if I'm the Pacers
PG: Price, Watson
SG: Rush, D. Jones, Head - Dunleavy, Jr. (out)
SF: Granger, D. Jones, Head - Dunleavy, Jr.
PF: Murphy, Foster, McRoberts, Hansbrough
C: Hibbert, Foster, Hansbrough
That team wins 25 games this year and builds for the future.