IC Cold Links: Jack Jumpin' The Border, Pacers Looking Ahead

by Tom Lewis on Jul 13, 2009 6:22 AM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

More photos » Ron Hoskins - NBAE via Getty Images

T.J. Ford will have to rise up and lead the Pacers this season unless the team makes more moves this summer.

With the general assumption that the Pacers will not match the Toronto Raptors' generous offer for Jarrett Jack, the Pacers have to finish the summer filling out their roster.

Just how they fill out the roster should make for an interesting few weeks ahead. Do they add some short-term help at point guard or lean on A.J. Price and Travis Diener to back up T.J. Ford? Please keep in mind that, barring a trade, Ford was going to head into this season as the preferred starter at point guard, even if Jack was re-signed. I appreciate the way Ford ended the season last year and attacked his role off the bench. He should certainly be energized heading into this season knowing the show is his to run.

At this point, only Ford's production on the court will allay my concerns that he can stay healthy and consistently guide the Pacers in the right direction. But that's why I love watching the games, to see what will happen next.

Here are some links of interest from both sides of the border:

Pacers' youngsters enjoy successful summer
Mike Wells breaks down the summer league success of Tyler Hansbrough, Roy Hibbert and A.J. Price.
Pacers putting it together, piece by piece
Bob Kravitz gets on board with the Pacers' rebuilding plan, although I have a couple of quibbles. It started two years ago but took until moving JO's salary to show some progress. Also, the summer of 2011 is when the team is currently slated to have excess cap space.
Raptors jump at chance to bring in Jarrett Jack - The Toronto Star
Doug Smith reports on how adding Jarrett Jack could impact the remaining summer plans for the Toronto Raptors.
Raptors hope guard provides fringe benefits - The Globe and Mail
Michael Grange reports on the Raptors' effort to add Jarrett Jack to their roster.
'Til It's Over: Hansbrough, Hibbert give Pacers glimpse of future
Craig Pearson offers his thoughts on Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough as part of the Pacers' future.
PBN report from Vegas
Chris Tomasson reports on player news coming out of Vegas including Jarrett Jack.

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Comments

if we could get a guarantee from God/Zeus/whoever that Ford and Diener could stay healthy next year I wouldn’t be so worried.

For, statistically, has been a very solid point guard his whole career. And he has been and was last year better than Jack.

by dbcb on Jul 13, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ball Don't Lie Story on Pacers...

by Kelly Dwyer today.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/The-Pacers-hold-off-rebuilding-for-another-year?urn=nba,176171#remaining-content

What do you all think?

by captain flitzy on Jul 13, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Link Fail

But I made a fan post about it…

http://www.indycornrows.com/2009/7/13/947587/article-by-dwyer-at-ball-dont-lie

and I agree with 90% of it

by dbcb on Jul 13, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ooo..

whoops! didnt ever see that…but yea, i do agree with alor of it as well

by captain flitzy on Jul 13, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

KD has some great points as always, although the rebuilding began a couple of years ago but has been mostly demo work. Plus, the summer of 2011 not 2012 is the critical time Bird is pointing toward. That’s when they need the “steak” in place.

Speaking of steak, I was on a local radio show on Friday for an hour at a remote show. I brought up the Rounders comment and credited captain flitzy for the point.

Indy Cornrows

by Tom Lewis on Jul 13, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs