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Indiana Pacers
2007-08 Record: 36-46
Cool 2007 Stat: The Pacers have never had a player average 10 assists in a season. They still haven’t.
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- T.J. Ford
SG- Mike Dunleavy Jr.
SF- Danny Granger
PF- Troy Murphy
C- Rasho Nesterovic
Bench: Jarrett Jack, Brandon Rush, Marquis Daniels, Jeff Foster, Roy Hibbert
Biggest Strength – Perimeter Shooting (especially from the 3pt line)
This team had three players (Granger, Murphy & Dunleavy) that shot 40% or better from the 3pt line in their starting line-up. And they all take at least 3 attempts per game. That is very impressive. What makes that even better – T.J. Ford. He will get into the teeth of the defense and create plenty of open looks for these guys this year. The Pacers will also be excellent from the free throw line. Granger, Murphy and Dunleavy are all 80% or better. But this year they swap out 71% career shooting Jamaal Tinsley for 80% shooting Ford and 85% shooting Jarret Jack. This team won’t lose games at the line and can spread the floor. That leads me to my next two points…
Biggest Weakness – Inside scoring
Trading Jermaine O’Neal created a fresh start for the Pacers as well as shipping away the only inside scorer on the roster. Troy Murphy, as I already mentioned, likes to shoot the three and scores most of his points from the perimeter. Rasho Nesterovic averages 7ppg for his career and never gets to the line, so it’s clear he won’t help in the paint. Danny Granger is probably the Pacers’ best offensive threat in the post right now. That is until Roy HIbbert proves he can use his length and soft touch to score consistently in the NBA.
Key Player in ’08 – Roy Hibbert
It is very difficult to win consistently in the NBA without inside scoring. Having a high percentage scorer insides provides stability when outside shots aren’t falling. The only front court player on this team with the potential to be an offensive threat inside is Hibbert. It is well documented that I have not been a Roy Hibbert fan, but I certainly am willing to acknowledge his soft touch inside and true big man post moves (drop set and hook shot). With all the perimeter shooters on this squad Hibbert will have plenty of one-on-one opportunities to prove his worth on offense. Why is Hibbert the key? If he can score inside it will put significant pressure on opposing coaches to pick their poison: double team and succumb to strong 3pt shooting or allow Hibbert to score inside without sending any help.
Their Thaddeus (exciting player 22 or under)– Josh McRoberts! Just kidding… Roy Hibbert
In our blog’s early days, Dannie’s dislike for Roy Hibbert was a surprisingly popular topic. It’s hard to imagine that the player who was raved about in many NBA draft workouts was the same one I saw play at Georgetown, often with concrete on his feet and tape over his mouth. (Sounds like a mafia hit, but I’m getting at slow feet and quiet demeanor). For Hibbert to be anything more than the second coming of Olden Polynice, he’ll have to improve his rebounding, aggressiveness and footwork around the hoop.
Pete’s 2008 Outlook: 4th place, Central division / 10th place, Eastern conference / 21st place, NBA
You’ll see a lot of people picking Indiana to make the playoffs this year, and I can see where they are coming from. However, all of it stems on T.J. Ford staying healthy for the whole year, and that rarely happens. Ford is perfect for O’Brien’s uptempo offense, but without him, I see them being pretty stagnant. They have some good young players in Granger and Rush, and Mike Dunleavy quietly had a great season last year. But Indiana is far from being a contender, and I’m not sure what their plan is to get there. There are a lot of “if’s” with this team, and I’m banking on a couple of them going the wrong way.
Dannie’s 2008 Outlook: 4th place, Central division / 11th place, Eastern conference / 22nd place, NBA
I was back and forth between the Bucks and the Pacers on who would be my borderline playoff team in the Eastern Conference. I decided to go with the proven, veteran players on the Bucks compared to the young, up and coming Pacers. With that said I really like this team and where they are going. As Pete said there are a lot of “if’s” about Hibbert and his ability to score inside, Ford’s health and whether or not they have enough bench depth. Looking at their stats from last year defensively and considering their off-season moves, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pacers DO steal a playoff spot.
Philly Connection: Jim O’Brien
O’Brien was born in Philly and went to Roman Catholic and St. Joes. He’s been a coach in the NBA for 6 years, and last year was the first time he coached for the whole season and had his team under .500. O’Brien was the Sixers coach for one season, 2004-05, and he led the Sixers to the playoffs and a first round exit with Iverson, Chris Webber, Marc Jackson and Kyle Korver as his leading scorers. He was Iguodala’s first coach in the league and saw enough in him to start him all 82 games of his rookie year. I would have liked to see what he could have done with the group we have now, but his tenure lasted only one season.
The Indiana Pacers will be removing a lot of salary cap in hopes of landing the free agents of 2009 and 2010, but for now here is what I think of this current team:
Greatest strength(s):
-Perimeter shooting (You have to in O’Brien’s system)
-High scoring (last year one of the highest in the East)
-Quickness
-Potential
-Good pieces (Granger, Dunleavy)
Greatest weakness(es):
-Removing the bad contracts and bad seeds (Foster, Tinsley)
-Jim O Brien’s system (bad shot selection, no defense)
-Interior scoring
-true PF’s and C will be in the doghouse!
-Too much competition in the East
-Toughest division in the East
-Youth
-Disorganized roster
-Health
-Consistency in coaches
1993-97 Larry Brown
1997-2000 Larry Bird
2000-2003 Isiah Thomas (who did a “good” job than in NY)
2003-2007 Rick Carlisle
2007-? Jim O Brien
This team has too many missing pieces especially in the frontcourt and have too many guards. This is similar to Golden State’s style of play playing small ball and having no conscience on offense. This team still has to remove the headcases and clean their organization similar to what Portland did. Indiana is a place for basketball (Hoosiers especially) and deserves better!
It is amazing what the Pistons-Pacers brawl in 2004 did, it really changed the team, the culture, and to some extent the game. Artest, Jackson, O’Neal, Harrington– even though they were volatile, they had skills as players especially on the defensive end.
The Pacers need to find their identity and build on that!! Only one playoff appearance since Reggie Miller retired in 2005.
(I think the Pacers will be 5th in the Central Division, 12th in the East!)
(On a side note, the Sixers will be 3-1 against the Pacers. One loss will be at Conseco Fieldhouse. Last year, the Pacers swept us due to their perimeter shooting and also for the Sixers lack of frontcourt. Now that the Sixers have a MUCH better frontcourt, they should have a field day against the Pacers in the paint. The Sixers just have to contain them better from the perimeter, the big question mark. But, luckily we have Kareem Rush, who torched us last year. Also, I can’t wait to see the Rush brothers play against each other!!)