IC Cold Links: Pacers Continue Calibrating Lineup, Looking For Winning Combination
by Tom Lewis on Dec 3, 2009 6:35 AM EST
in News
15 comments
There was plenty of promise in the Pacers play by the end of the first quarter last night.
Not only were the Pacers winning 33-30, but nine different players had played with enough energy and focus to make it appear that maybe Jim O'Brien was closing in on a reliable playing rotation. Prior to the game, JOB mentioned his intention to include nine players in his rotation (starters: Ford, Dahntay, Granger, Murphy, Hibbert, bench: Dunleavy, Watson, Foster, Hansbrough) with the remaining three used as needed.
The solid play continued through much of the second quarter with the second unit making all kinds of hustle plays and extending the lead to ten points. For maybe the first time all year, things seemed settled with clearly defined roles. You could actually envision everyone understanding, accepting and then building on their role in the rotation.
But then the starting unit returned flat to finish out the half allowing the Kings to turn a 10-point deficit into a three point lead at the break. From there, the team just didn't play well or adjust to the adversity of falling behind with enough sense of urgency to do anything about it. Plus, minute limits on Dunleavy and Hansbrough left the playing rotation jumbled at a critical time in the fourth quarter. Even though the game remained within reach in the fourth quarter, it never felt like the Pacers would get over the hump to steal the win.
So while it remains a work in progress, I still think the playing rotation used last night gives the Pacers their best chance to win and it would be nice to see the players get a chance to grow into their roles by maintaining some consistency. Then all the players have to do is, you know, play better.
After the jump, plenty of links of interest from the loss last night.
- Box score and highlights
- The Associated Press: Tyreke Evans scores 26 points in Kings' victory
-
PACERS: Inside the Game: Pacers at Kings
Plenty of goodies in the numbers to drive you nuts. Pacers not only won the battle of the boards but also scored more points in the pin, fast-break points and second-chance points. Points off turnovers went to the Kings, though. -
Pacers fall to Kings, drop 4 under .500
Mike Wells reports on the Pacers dropping another game, remaining in a losing funk. -
Struggling Rush heads to bench, Jones replaces him
Mike Wells reports on Brandon Rush losing his starting spot to Dahntay Jones. -
It will be a winless road trip for the Pacers
Mike Wells sees an 0-4 road trip playing out by Sunday morning, especially if Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster continue to lead the team in assists. -
Danny Granger Featured as a Guest Writer for SLAM Magazine’s “How to Improve Every Year”
8.9 reviews Granger's "How To" advice, hoping he'll practice what he's preaching. -
Teamwork helps the Kings win fourth in a row
Sam Amick reports on the Sacramento Kings working together to beat the Pacers and extend their winning streak to four. -
Kings Move Above .500 With 110-105 Win Over Pacers
TZ and Sactown Royalty embrace the Kings' win which moves them over .500 for the season.
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I agree
that this rotation is probably going to best work for the Pacers. Only problem now is that our players are not very good which when you think about it is quite the conundrum. Hopefully our young guys develop soon and we stop consistently giving up 30 point quarters
If Youre not First, Youre Last
Foster starting
The guy was a freaking animal last night. He looks healthy again and I can’t take serious the idea that Murph deserves to start ahead of him. I’m not saying ice Murph on the bench, his shooting and ability to box out can help the second unit. Foster will give us more D and intensity with the starting 5. I don’t think I need to mention Watson starting, within a month that will works itself out. Watson was the PG when we started fighting back into it in the second half, and coach went with Watson with the starters in the 4th as well. TJ is so inconsistant as a point guard.
Let's not forget what was working when we put together some Ws
It was the smaller unit, we had atheletes on the floor. Roy and S Jones were recycling shots. Our atheletes were rotating better, and the pick and roll and pick and pop weren’t automatic points for the opposing team. Guards (like Ellis and Evans) weren’t driving into the lane casually…Ide just like to see coach back his words that outside of Granger, all the other minutes would be dictated by whoever is putting in work on efective defense.
The loses suck, especially when you should win some of those games. But playing Granger 40 minutes a night while he’s injured is just plain stupid. Hopefully nothing serious comes from it.
The Pacers are a better team without Murph, but when a guy has such a large contract, you have to play them. It’s a bit frustrating.
I’ve never really understood that logic. Why in the world should we play him just because he has a large contract? Besides, it’s not our contract, it was Golden State’s. It was the price of getting rid of SJax to the only team that would take him.
I’ve never understood that logic either, but JOB keeps putting Murph out there. I would think that management might feel differently than us on this point.
Murph can fill up a stat sheet, but he isn’t going to win you games. Just look at Zach Randolph. Numbers look good on paper, but he’s not a winner.
The logic
behind it, to me at least, is audition him. Let teams see him put up the numbers, and hopefully someone will wanna take him off our hands. If you sit him, albeit for different reason, look what happened with Tinsley. He could sit and rot away till theres no value for him AT ALL.
I am probably oneof the biggest Troy detractors on this site. That is the biggest word i have ever used in a sentence and I hope I used it correctly. But the fact is he does put up numbers. When you watch him on a day to day, you can see how inflated/over rated those numbers are, but it’s not like the guy is a hump. He should definitely be playing, he should be in the rotation, but no team is a winning team with their PF shooting 3’s and trailing fast breaks with those god awful pump fakes!
by captain flitzy on Dec 3, 2009 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
Absolutley right
20 to 22 minutes in the rotation (off the bench) would be bout perfect. Ide love to see him traded, and we’ll have our best shot in the offseason when he’ll be walking around with an 11 million expiring contract.
by Rush Rules!!! on Dec 3, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions
Good point bout Granger
I’ve been thinking the same thing. He needs to get 100% and play 30 to 35 a night. If by some chance we do make the playoffs, we need him healthy and effective…I know we pay Murph 11 million, but I still think he can earn it with the second unit playing 20 minutes a night. We took on that ridiculous contract to unload Jackson. I understand that, but I don’t think it entitles him to a starting role…when his contract is up we can resign him for the 2 million a year that his play dictates, or part ways.
by Rush Rules!!! on Dec 3, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
This is sad Tom
But I hadn’t read the Bee until coming over here to IC. I should be ashamed as a Kings fan. Oh well.
Anyway, what I did want to say was that as good as Tyreke Evans was, Danny Granger was, umm, wow? And that was probably a good game for him. I’m just shaking my head at that one. I don’t even know what to say.
Napear & Reynolds kept mentioning why JOB didn’t put Dahntay Jones back in the game, and I have to admit I was curious what JOB’s reasoning for that was as well.
I was actually scared about this game if only because the Pacers seemingly come into Arco and won regardless of how good the Kings were.
Pacers are a tough team, and I consider this the best win for the Kings so far. This is true if only because the Pacers, while not playing terribly, didn’t play poorly either. It should be interesting to see how much better each team gets as the year moves on.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Oh, hes in the laegue two and Jayson Thomson and that Boggins dude on Milwokee, and Occur for the Jizz. Its a talented laegue.--Kfan in Korea
Coaching Decisions
Coach is still stuck on last year’s rotation. For some reason he still believes the tandem of Foster and Murphy works. I believe Hibbert, who actually started but still didn’t get the minutes, should be our center. Murphy is a defensive liability and having troubles shooting now anyway should be on the bench relieving Foster. Foster should be starting along with Hibbert. The guard situation is a serious problem. Our guards allowed the Warriors and Kings Guards to have career games. Assists?? It’s hard to have many assists when we just come down and shoot the long ball. Offensively, we are shooting the 3 pointers at such a rapid rate there is never anyone under the basket. Maybe Coach should watch Butler play, at least they pass the ball and work for the good shoot. Our coach must think have a team of sharp shooters. I thought during our winning streak we didn’t rush our shots as much. Last night was a much better effort by our Pacers. Go Pacers!!!
Foster and Hansbrough worked pretty well in Sac
and they played together a bunch. I want Hibbert to play and do well, as well, but after the first six minutes his level of play really declined last night.
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