IC Cold Links: Waiting On The Pacers vs. Kings
by Tom Lewis on Dec 2, 2009 6:38 AM EST
in Indiana Pacers News
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PrintCould this be the night Dahntay Jones starts over Brandon Rush?
Bruno's Scouting Report broaches the subject and and it seems like the time is now for a change. The Sacramento Kings offer up some crazy matchup problems, what with a 6'11" shooting guard and 6'7" center in the starting lineup. But the biggest problem is their stout, 6'6" rookie point guard, Tyreke Evans who was just named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month.
It would be nice to have Dahntay Jones following the rookie's every move, but initially T.J. Ford or Earl Watson will have to try to pester Evans. I know, this sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen, but the Pacers only succeed with a full team effort on defense and with some of these odd matchups that team mentality should take root out of pure necessity. Plus, the Kings normally spend more time playing with a traditional lineup by sliding Evans to the two-guard and bringing Beno Udrih and Sergio Rodriguez in to play the point.
Any way you slice it, I'm looking forward to seeing how the Pacers attack the Kings tonigt. And attack they must, or they'll be left on the side of the road again dragging another L with them to Salt Lake City.
A few more links of interest after the jump.
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Pacers must put up better defense
Mike Wells reports on the Pacers looking to shore up their defense at the point of attack with another scoring guard to contend with tonight in Tyreke Evans. -
Video: Dahntay Jones springboards off Monta Ellis - Ball Don't Lie
Forget the poster, this is Dahntay's Picasso over Monta Ellis. -
Game #15 Recap: The Monta Ellis Show
Jared Wade at Eight Points, Nine Seconds recaps the Dubs second-half destruction of the Pacers. -
Kings game plan vs. Indiana - Sacramento Sports
Quick preview of tonight's game from the Sacramento Bee. -
Team celebrates Evans' accolade
Sam Amick reports on Tyreke Evans lifting the Kings' spirits after being named Western Conference Rookie of the Month yesterday. -
Let's Not Decide the Rookie of the Year Race Just Yet...
Zach Harper makes the case that despite Brandong Jenning bursting on the scene early in his rookie year, that Tyreke Evans and his steady (and huge) play for the Kings deserves the same amount of attention. So let the rooks play it out before locking up your ROY vote too early. -
Also, I will be talking about the Pacers this evening on WNDE-1260AM around 5:30PM with Zakk from Indy Sports Nation who is hosting The Drive today while WNDE tries to figure out how to replace JMV.
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He left the show last week
No reason other than family, but gotta figure there will be a comeback somewhere.
Coach O'Brien
Tom, I know you work closely with the team and so it would probably be in your best interest to not rankle any feathers, but do you have an opinion on whether Coach O’Brien should still be coaching? The common excuse is that he’s never had a fully healthy roster, and I think that’s valid to a certain extent, but do you really need a fully healthy roster to avoid constantly blowing double-digit leads? I guess it’s possible that it’s the personnel not the coaching, but I think we can all agree it’s harder to replace 15 guys under contract then one coach. What do you think, is a coaching change a reasonable option when discussing how to improve this team?
Heh, don’t think I could rankle any feathers at the Fieldhouse if I tried. As for JOB, the franchise still has a long slog to go before reaping any benefits of rebuilding. Unless they can trade some of the big contracts this year, things won’t change much next year either, regardless of the coach. I’ve always viewed JOB as a bridge coach, brought in to change the culture in the locker room and on the practice floor and to offer an exciting style of play during the transition years. He succeeded in that task last year, but I don’t see him coaching for the long term. If the team completely quits responding and Bird feels a change is needed before the end of next season, I’d love to see Lester Conner get an extended look maybe on an interim basis. Love that guy’s spirit, he seems to have a great way with the players while still demanding effort.
Playing time for trade value?
I’m beginning to think that some of the minutes people are getting are an attempt to up their trade value. Foster for instance. He needs to play some minutes to show he’s still got it if we want to get max trade value for him this year. I also had the thought that perhaps LJB and JOB have realized Brandon Rush isn’t going to make it and are hoping to get a few good games out of him in order to use him as “young talent/potential” bait in a trade.
Wish I could say the same for Murphy, But no one is going to take on his contract no matter what kind of numbers he puts up.
Agreed
JOB has to find a team that plays together and perhaps tighten his rotation. I always feel he seems compelled to start Murph cause he counts 11 mill off the cap. Murph has his strong points, but if were ever gonna be a defensive minded team it won’t be with Murph in the starting lineup. It’s looking more and more like were in spiral one of a five spiral crash. JOB has to be feeling pressure to find something that works. The bodies are back now, Bird won’t give him forever to tinker around. I wish him luck.
Foster and Watson starting...FOR GODS SAKE!!!
Whatever happened to “All the minutes will be dictated by who’s playing good D” I remember almost those exact words from JOB. Was it just lip service to get players to put in effort on that end of the court? Must have been, because I keep seeing Murphy on the court. Ide rather see S Jones out there…seriously. If coach makes a statement like that to the team, then let’s see the proof in the pudding. Foster needs to start at the 4, Watson needs to start at the 1. He plays almost as good of D as TJ, and he just runs the team better. Watson, Jones, Granger, Foster, Hibbert. There’s our starting 5. Let the other guys earn their minutes by…oh, I don’t know…playing D in practice (just like ya said coach). It’s easy to lose a team when you make that kind of pronouncement to the team and media, then stick guys out there who aren’t getting it done on defense. S Jones, Hansbrough, Rush, TJ, Murph, Dunleavy…let those guys earn their minutes in practice getting stops. Who cares who gets paid what. Time to back what you sold JOB.
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