[From the FanPosts, Duke is primed and ready for tonight's preseason opener. Enjoy!  Note by Tom Lewis ] 

October 2, 2009

April 15th seems like an eternity ago, if you are a Pacers fan. The come-from-behind victory over the Milwaukee Bucks that night had the Pacers showing that "We'll be back." In the Terminator-esque sort of fashion.

That was April 15th. Just about 6 months ago. Like any offseason you begin to see new faces and lose familiar ones. We have seen the long-awaited departure of Jamaal Tinsley, and the somewhat-heartbreaking loss of Jarrett Jack to free agency.

With every door closed another one opens. Larry Bird went dollar-store shopping this summer and found some decent bargains. He was able to sign Western Conference starter Dahntay Jones on the cheap, and Earl Watson from Oklahoma City. These players were brought in to help out this whole defense problem we had a season ago.

 

The ACC's best player, no question about that, suprisingly landed in our laps on draft night back in June. Tyler Hansbrough came to Indiana with one thing in mind: To use his love and intensity for the game to help us win.

Coach Jim O'Brien was given a 1-year contract extension in September, a move that has left people scratching their heads or sighing in relief. Let's watch him lead this team into year number 2 of Bird's 3-year plan.

TJ Ford survived trade rumors earlier this summer and is hoping to jump into the starting point guard position as O'Brien's "quarterback" for this team. In a recent interview he said that being benched last year did not hurt as badly as it did while he was in Toronto. He just wants to help win games.

Danny Granger returns to the court tonight as the reigning Most-Improved Player, humbled and more eager than ever to put aside personal statistics and help this team win ball games.

Off the court, the front office changed some things up a little and made season tickets a little affordable to obtain. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter delivers team news and events to the fans to help make them feel closer to the team. And not to mention, Tyler Hansbrough was the Grand Marshal at this year's Brickyard 400...the first Pacer to carry that honor since Reggie Miller at the 2006 Indianapolis 500.

People have asked me this summer, "How are the Pacers going to do?" It was easy to say last year because of all the new faces that they couldn't be worse, but this year there is that uncertainty. I tell them We have to glance into the unknown. Some "experts" are saying we could be as high as a 6th seed, or we could be lottery fodder. That is what is making everyone excited for this upcoming season. Who knows were we'll be in April?

Either way, this team has something to prove. Not only to the league but the citizens of this city, state. No one is talking championships or dynasties here. The buzz around Pennsylvania Avenue is humming playoffs. Larry Bird and the team both know that you have to start out small, and work your way up.

So in the words of Pacers' PA announcer, Reb Porter:

"Alright fans, as you know no one sits for the tip-off. Get up! Get your neighbors up and make noise! IT'S GAME TIME!"