The '09-'10 Pacers.

by Desean on Jul 8, 2009 3:09 PM EDT

First of all, I would like to say how deeply disappointed I am in some of the so-called Pacer fans out there. I see that we have become a spoiled bunch used to making the playoffs, but the reality of the NBA is that, eventually, every team has to rebuild. The Lakers missed the playoffs a few times since 2004 and now and the last time I checked, they just hoisted the trophey. Let Bird rebuild the team before you try to run him out of town. I don't and have never lived in Indiana, but I remain a fan of this team,

Now. On to business. I think that this year's Pacer team (albeit incomplete at the moment) will make the playoffs. Yes. I said the P word. Danny Granger is a top-ten wing player in the NBA and once he get's back to playing defense, he will be a special player. Brandon Rush showed that he can handle starting and with his combination of skill and athleticism, I think he will become the 2 to Granger's 1 (1-2 punch, get it?)

I am about to tick a few people off, but I really like Psycho-T. I think he's going to be a better player than most assume. He works hard, but aside from that the kid does have skill. He's developing the ability to score from anywhere on the floor and his tenacity is something that can't be taught. Indiana's problem last year wasn't talent, it was focus. We gave away leads more times than I care to remember and lost to some pretty bad teams. But we beat the Lakers, Cavs, and Celtics. Go figure. Hansborough fives the team that killer instinct that is missing on a roster full of nice guys.

I have to say that I am not a fan of T.J. Ford and would like to see him traded. Jack has grown on me, however he is not the answer at the PG spot. He's a little 2 at best. I think that he's best suited for a sixth-man role. Ford has to go; get a real point guard for him. Not neccesarily one that can score, but one who can play D and run the offense (Sessions is one that I've been hearing about. I really like Marcus Banks too. These are just some names that would be serviceable and in our grasp).

Even if Jack starts at the point next season, that gives us a starting line-up of Jack, Rush, Granger, Murphy, and Hibbert. Murphy I think is our best trade bait, but he does have some skills that work for us. Then you bring in Tyler and whatever wing we sign off the bench. Bottom line is, with this roster, the Pacers can still be an 8 or 7 seed. The 76ers made the playoffs and they have a worse roster than we do. We simply need to turn some of those one-point losses into wins, which I think can be done now that the team has had time to mesh and younger players are getting the hang of this NBA thing.

Oh and P.S., DO NOT trade for Stoudamire.....

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Comments

Great Post

I agree with everything you mentioned. The sooner TJ gets out of town the better. We are just wasting our time with him. Sessions is a really impressive(young) player- I would love to see him in the blue and gold next season

by pacers33 on Jul 8, 2009 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for the post!

I’m also impressed by the 12-1 voting margin that the Pacers will make the Playoffs. Love the confidence people!

by spstevenson on Jul 8, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

Being spoiled

It is true we’ve been spoiled by the team’s postseason positioning in the past two decades. It certainly doesn’t help our being spoiled when the one time we have rebuilt in the past twenty years (2000-2002), we were still a playoff team and even now in a rebuilding effort, we’re only a game or two out of the playoffs annually.

I think we’ll have a pretty solid team in 09-10, but right now, we’ve got some work to do. Playoffs feel very real next year though. Great post.

by Nathan S. on Jul 8, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

PG upgrade?

You really think that Marcus Banks could give us anything that T. J. Ford does’t? I’m not saying Ford is great, but give him another year and I think he will do just fine.

by Cooper99c on Jul 8, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

I think

that what Banks would bring is a POINT GUARD mentality. I’m in no way saying that he is more skilled than Ford, simply that he knows his role. T.J. is looking to score and make a name for himself, Banks, in my opinion, wouldn’t care about his shots making the offense flow better. And I think Ford has hit his ceiling as a player,

by Desean on Jul 9, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

We have a great shot at making the playoffs. The only locks in the East are Orlando, Boston, and Cleveland. All the other teams that made it last year have question marks.

I think Detroit and Miami will make it easily due to talent and a new coach (Detroit) and due to a super star and an improving young guy (Miami). Could also add Atlanta to that list.

That leaves 3 spots and a lot of teams vying for those spots. Indiana, Chicago, Washington (if healthy, they have talent), Toronto is trying, Philly (especially if they get miller back), NY should be better, and Charlotte could improve.

But I like our chances. Really depends on Rush being the end of season Rush and Hibbert staying on the court and improving. Granger needs to be the Granger from last year and stay healthy. And we have to pray something happens with the PG spot.

Oh, and Marcus Banks is an awful player. He has a PER of 7.8 last year which is just… horrid. Diener has a PER of 13.7 if that tells you anything (15 is average)

by dbcb on Jul 8, 2009 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

I think barring a decent move we could be worse than last season.

Other teams are getting more talent and the Pacers are not.

by SethGrandpa on Jul 8, 2009 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

it seems to me the tops teams are the ones gathering talent.

miami has stood pat so far.

detroit got better (even if they will be mediocre for the next 5 years)

atlanta didn’t get any better

chicago got worse

washington got a little better but for them, it depends all on health

charlotte hasn’t done anyting

ny hasn’t done anyting and they may lose lee and robinson

the bucks most likely got worse losing jefferson and losing charlie v and sessions is still out there

philly might lose miller

new jersey traded their best player

toronto did get better if hedo doesn’t drop off (he isn’t young anymore)… but did they get good enough

who am I missing that got better?

by dbcb on Jul 8, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Atlanta is still a pretty damn young team, so they get better by advancing a year.

All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!

by rollonubears on Jul 9, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but they might lose Marvin Williams, that would hurt…

by jantz101 on Jul 9, 2009 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions

and bibby is a year older and with a point guard you never know when the huge drop off is coming.

by dbcb on Jul 9, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Atlanta signed Crawford...

I don’t know is PER or advanced statistics or anything, but I think he is a good player. While in Ny i watched him a good amount, and he never complained, played his ass off, and was probably the oinly guy Knicks fan wanted to see succeed when he left over the last 4 years. He is clutch and a good shooter, I like Atl.

by captain flitzy on Jul 9, 2009 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions

He is a volume shooter… your classic chucker.

by dbcb on Jul 9, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Crawford in my opinion is an excellent scorer...but that's about it. he doesn't bring anything to the table the Hawks don't already have.

by Desean on Jul 9, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah Crawford is a very talented scorer

by pacers33 on Jul 9, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

the hansbrough effect

really impressive during summer league. i think he really had an immediate influence on the pacers players, most especially roy hibbert, with the kind of focus he has, the others would’ve been embarassed to slack during practice and games. roy’s playing a lot better than last season.

by kookygoddess on Jul 11, 2009 5:27 AM EDT reply actions