IC Cold Links: Pacers Need To Toughen Up, Make Some Shots In A Hurry
by Tom Lewis on Jan 20, 2010 6:05 AM EST
in Indiana Pacers News
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PrintAfter laying down in Miami last night, the Indiana Pacers better raise their level of intensity and play in a hurry since less than 24 hours after absorbing a beat down in Miami, the Pacers have to face the Orlando Magic tonight.
The Magic will gladly roll over the Pacers if the blue and gold don't bring a stronger game to the court tonight. Consider the Magic should have a little revenge on their minds after the Pacers handled them at the Fieldhouse two weeks ago without Danny Granger.
In that game, the Pacers didn't shoot exceptional but they made plays and rode a strong effort from Roy Hibbert. On the other hand, the Magic went through the game with no-show performances from Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis. Plus, Dwight Howard only took six shots and didn't go to the free throw line until the fourth quarter. Carter hasn't been 100% lately but you have to expect that this trio will score more than the 21 points combined they put up in Indy.
So expecting Orlando's full attention tonight, how will the Pacers respond? Will anyone provide a spark? Will JOB shake things up, maybe give high-energy player Josh McRoberts a few minutes early? Something? Anything?
After the jump, more links of interest after last night's loss.
- Box score
- AP game report
- PACERS: Inside the Game: Heat 113, Pacers 83
Bruno's Inside the Game report has all of the notes, quotes and numbers along with highlights from the loss last night. - Pacers KO'd by Heat's physical defense
Mike Wells reports on the Pacers getting physically overwhelmed by the Heat last night. - Wade's 32 points leads Miami Heat over Indiana Pacers - Miami Heat - MiamiHerald.com
Israel Gutierrez reports on Dwyane Wade and the Heat lighting up the Pacers last night. - Heat slam Pacers by 30 in 1st home game in 2 weeks
PiM wishes the Pacers could play in Miami more often. - Game #41 Recap: Recap is “paceR” Spelled Backwards
Over at 8.9, Tim Donahue succinctly sums up last night's game. - Pacers Notebook: Poor marks on 1st-half report card
Jim O'Brien wants an incomplete grade for the first half of the season because of all of the injuries. - Playoffs vs. lottery debate thoroughly one-sided
Bruno's latest Caught in the Web Daily delves into the playoffs vs. losing for lottery position debate. - Can the Pacers at least fight back a little bit?
Wells blogs about the Pacers looking like the JV team compared to the varsity Heat. - NBA Power Rankings: Where The Middle Class Grows And Grows - SB Nation
Mike Prada offers up his latest NBA power rankings. - Vote: How many points will Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert score against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday?
Josh Robbins at the Orlando Sentinel is wondering if Roy Hibbert can match the big outing he had against the Magic in their last meeting. - The four factors of winning reveal the massive shooting discrepancy. The Pacers fare alright on the offensive rebound numbers, but the Heat didn't have many ORebs to grab in the first place. More on the Four Factors.
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Gotta disagree Tom
The Pacers need to trade anyone they can for future assets ASAP.
This roster isn’t leading us to anything worthwhile. Unfortunately keeping it intact will probably be just good enough to ensure that we are picking between 7-12 and in the exact same situation next year.
PUNT
I know Larry didn’t “sign up for” a rebuilding job. However at this point it’s long past due.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
They are rebuilding
The Pacers are rebuilding, they’re just doing it differently than the way some other teams have done it. They’re wating to strike free agency 2011, rather than mortgaging whatever assets they have now to get a shot some potentially good players in the draft. Think about it, if the Pacers signed Al Horford and Tony Parker (both potential FAs in 2011) to go along with Granger, Hibbert and this year’s draft pick (Evan Turner?), then wouldn’t you be excited for the team’s future? Obviously, getting Horford and Parker aren’t gurantees, but neither is it a gurantee the young guys you draft by “trading away all your assets” will all become superstars and make the franchise a contender.
This season is halfway over, a high draft pick is a very good possibility (please draft Evan Turner!), all we have to do is wait out another season and a half and a couple of drafts and then it’s put-up or shut-up time for Larry Bird. It seems like a long time I know, but it would probably be an even longer wait if the Pacers gave up everything now for a youth movement.
No FA is coming to Indiana...
and if they do, it would be mediocre players getting star money who aren’t worth it… ala Detroit with Charlie V and Ben Gordon
You don't need Free Agents
OKC
Memphis
San Antonio
Portland
Detroit
Aren’t really prime Free Agent locals, yet they have had varying degrees of success this past decade.
Cap space will help facilitate so many different deals.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
rebuilding?
thats just another word for SUCKING. its been put-up or shut-up for 4 year already, and especially since we let JO go. I know JO stunk up the place, but sheesh, wouldn’t his expiring contract be nice about now? where is the forsight in that? why wait until 2011 when we could of had it this year?
i was at the game in miami last night. i live in miami and go to the game(s) each year when the pacers are in town. in the past, there were always other pacer fans. i did not see ONE other fan last night. it is really depressing. and watching the effort by those guys was even more depressing. they just walked backed to the bench, getting blown out, absolutely no emotion. i mean, i appreciate a zen attitude of acceptance, but that was ridiculous. very bitter right now.. don’t get me started on granger, whose limitations are becoming more and more evident as the nba figured out the way to guard is simple- just crowd him at the 3 point line because he can’t drive by anyone, and for some reason he can, has no touch at the rim. franchise player missing wide open 15 footers? ARGH!!
Agreed!
If Bird won’t do this and JOB can’t (apparently) coach youth, then ownership should sh*t can the coach and GM now and start the “fire sale”!
by FortWayneKarl on Jan 20, 2010 11:23 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
you're not disagreeing with me.
I’d love that to. My point is that you need a trading partner to give up future assets for bad contracts.
I’ll be surprised if there isn’t some type of trade at before the deadline this year.
Man blogs are fickle.
Win a game and everyone is happy, talks about improving Hibbert, surprise Price, Granger doin his thing
Get smashed, the “FIRE SALE!” people come out in full force and everyone is a bum
How is..
“Granger doin his thing”?
He is so inconsistent. Last night he was 3-22… THREE for TWENTY-TWO!!! That is ridiculous. Sure he can score some nights but other nights he is terrible. On top of that, he only had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and committed 3 turnovers. Those aren’t all-star numbers and frankly, he isn’t playing like one this year. He has become too obsessed with his jump shot and seems afraid to drive to the basket. I love Danny but he needs a lot of work to be a premier scorer in the NBA, let alone a premier player.
by return2greatness on Jan 20, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
3-22??
What boxscore you looking at? 2-16 mate. Sure it’s bad, but quit freaking out over a few games. Completely agree with dbcb that people jumping to too many conclusions about the Pacer’s best player.
Looking for in-depth basketball analysis? Try http://www.basketballfreeforall.com!
3-22
That includes 3-pointers my main man.
by return2greatness on Jan 20, 2010 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
Umm
2-16 FG’s INCLUDES his three point makes/attempts…
Looking for in-depth basketball analysis? Try http://www.basketballfreeforall.com!
kind of glad i missed this game.....
ill be home to watch every bounce of the ball against orlando tonight though so hopefully we can put on a better showing. No reason to get too upset about being in Pacer Purgatory right now but I am wondering a couple things….
Is Danny really healthy? Has anyone heard a status on his injury since he came back? After seeing his stats last nite I’m relatively concerned.
Are the Nuggets still interested in Foster and why isn’t he playing? Is he hurt? Not that I think he’s going to be the difference between winning and losing in blowouts but it’s always nice to watch a guy hustle.
Whats the plan with TJ Ford? Its been a few weeks now, are we just going to just shelf him until the end of the year and pray he doesn’t pick up on his players option? TJ’s too smart to not pass up on that kind of money and I would think he would have some fire in him and wanting to get back on the court. I do like what I see especially out of Price most nights but it seems like we’re spending a lot of money on point guards to not play.
And I hope the “no news” on murph as of late is serving as the calm before the storm before we can make some sort of move to shake some things up. Murph isn’t in our plans for the future so it would be nice to see something get done with him before the deadline.
If Youre not First, Youre Last
by drsuessrunner07 on Jan 20, 2010 1:07 PM EST reply actions
foster note
ps i know fosters back is hurt but is his back really hurt or is this one of those situations where the Pacers are just saying its hurt?
If Youre not First, Youre Last
by drsuessrunner07 on Jan 20, 2010 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
Ford
I’m surprised we haven’t heard more about this story in the past few weeks. The team has essentially pulled the Tinsley card on him and banned him from the lineup. Would he even play if Watson and Price both went down with injuries? Hopefully we can toss him in a last-minute trade deal coming up. I agree to that I don’t see Ford using his player option this summer. No chance in Hell he makes that kind of money with a new contract somewhere else.
Indy Cornrows
I bet Granger isn't healthy...
Danny doesn’t seem healthy to me, and if this is the case HOW THE H*LL IS HE BEING COACHED/MANAGED LIKE THIS???
by FortWayneKarl on Jan 20, 2010 1:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions
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