Expectations For Pacers Starting To Develop After First Week Of Training Camp
by Tom Lewis on Oct 3, 2010 9:00 AM EDT
in Indiana Pacers Training Camp
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PrintThe Indiana Pacers made it through their first week of training camp and will rest their weary legs today.
On Saturday, Jim O'Brien divided up the Blue and White teams for an intense scrimmage which the Blue team dominated. Pacers.com video of the scrimmage is well worth a watch or three.
Roy Hibbert made a big impact for the Blue as they ran a lot of their half-court sets through the big fella. He looked real comfortable in that role even providing the back-breaking 17-footer from the elbow when all else failed.
The other glaring item of goodness I took away from the brief video was Danny Granger's assertive play, not only coming off high screens to knock down shots be even finding a rolling Hibbert for a layup on one play. The last half of the video caught Granger on the sidelines in a full lather imploring his team to continue punishing the White team. Can't help but think that's a little something picked up during the competitive scrimmages he had throughout the summer with Team USA.
Mike Wells has a fabulou wrap upof week one with his first-hand observations from the Fieldhouse. After digesting the practice videos and reading Mike's thoughts, I can say things aren't going exactly as expected so far in training camp which may require shifting some expectation.
Josh McRoberts seizing the opportunity at power forward has certainly been a positive surprise. Bruno has more on McRoberts in his latest Caught in the Web.
Tyler Hansbrough still isn't fully participating in camp scrimmages even though he's supposed to be cleared for contact. Seems more than a little sketchy to me and can't just be a conditioning issue. If so, you'd think they would be trying to build up his conditioning with at least a couple minutes of run. As we sit here today, my expectations for Hansbrough playing significant minutes are null. We'll see where we're at next week.
The team-only discussion of defense? Whoa! That 's nothing but a good thing and the subtle point Wells raised about everybody being healthy enough to practice (Hansbrough is practicing, just not scrimmaging) helps because they're all going through the grind together at the same time. With a lot of new young players that are eager to learn combined with vets eager to hang onto playing time, the intensity is naturally higher as everyone focuses on how to earn a role.
Expectations for Paul George are higher than I thought I could raise them for his rookie year. I honestly was expecting minimal minutes from the rookie as he developed his game and physical stature to play in the league. But suddenly, with Brandon Rush out for the first five games, I'm expecting George to be an option off the bench for JOB. If he can produce early as he has in camp, he may carve out a role in the playing rotation. That may still be raising the bar to high for the 20-year-old rookie, but it is not out of the question.
There's plenty more to ponder with Darren Collison, Lance Stephenson, T.J. Ford and the remaining power forwards. What are some things that are sticking out for you from the training camp reports?
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I’d definitely like to see more of Hansbrough;thats the big question mark for me. And what’s everyone else’s opionon on who gets cut. A.J? Solo?
Who
Solo has the look of being a dependable backup at the 4 and 5. Price is obviously still trying to get back from his injury. I think they cut Price. Not only can you tell he’s struggling out there, but I believe his contract isn’t guaranteed either, while Solo’s 1.5 mil is fully guaranteed. Maybe they bring back Price next season (if he doesn’t land on another team), when he’s another year removed from the injury and they have more available spots on the roster.
I really hope Stephenson is cleared...
That kid sure is talented. And we look ridiculously long in the backcourt with him in. I think with the way McRoberts is playing Lance Allred is probably not going to make it. After that I say Price is cut if TJ is not traded and Stephenson is cleared. I cannot see us dumping what looks to be an improved Solo with Hansbrough in limbo and Foster at his age and propensity for injury. Hibbert cannot play 36 min anight.
call me crazy
but i wanna see lance experimented with at PG, his vision and size would give us a rare advantage against teams….tyreke evans 2.0 if we atleast tried it
I use to believe that too, until I saw the srimages
Stephenson simply is a awful defender, every time he is on defense, he either gets cross or loses his man on pick and roll situations. His offensive capabilities are not at a level where he is able to make up for his defensive liabilities.
by latrell spreewel on Oct 3, 2010 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
But...
It seems like he is very aware of that and will work to improve upon his defense. Or, at least that’s the feeling you get from the brief point made in the Mike Well’s article.
by infinityzero.systemerror on Oct 4, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions
yes i've heard that, but I doubt we will see drastic improvements over his rookie season
I’d think most rookies will need to gain ‘experience’ first before they actually know what to improve on. The NBA is loaded with elite ball handlers, I’d think all rookies learn mostly through trial by fire. The coaches can tell you what to do and the players can watch all the videos and scouting reports they want, but with all sports, you only get better through hands on experience. Although, I do think Lance will improve to some extant before the season since really there is no way he can get any worst on defense. if you watch the scrimmages closely, the opposite team attacks Lance with every opportunity they get, and he just looks so confused. On another note, maybe, Lance isn’t so bad on D, but THAT Darren Collison is really that good!!!!
by latrell spreewel on Oct 4, 2010 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I really wish Lance would've Join George and Hibbert over the summer in their MMA training, instead
of chilling out back home. Lance’s greatest flaw on defense is his lack of foot speed, he playes defense with his hands and not with his feet, that is simply not the right approach. In order to guard faster PG in the league like the Collisons of the world, He absolutely has to improve his conditioning and footwork first.
by latrell spreewel on Oct 4, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Impressions
Collison, McBob, and George are the obvious choices for those who’ve impressed. Dunleavy has looked fantastic. I don’t know if Duns will be a 19 ppg scorer again, but he’s going to have a nice season. Offensively, Lance Stephenson is lights out from near the basket to about 20 feet out. He creates his own shot and attacks the rim with ease, and his mid-range jumper has been seamless. It’s really a shame Lance put himself in such a difficult position off the court because his talent is unquestionable.
I would agree with others that TJ has been impressive, but we’ve seen this story before. We know Ford can attack the rim effectively with his speed; we know he can hit that mid-range, fadeaway jumper; basically, we know he can score. But he doesn’t know how to run a team. That’s always been his problem in Indy. The good thing about his position now is that he’s going to mostly be relied on as a sparkplug off the bench which means his weaknesses of running a team and creating opportunities for his teammates won’t be as exposed. He can just focus on what he does best: score.
i honestly don’t expect to see a minute of hans this year. The team is hiding something. I am sorry, but when a player is out of shape in training camp, you don’t hold them out of things that would get them in shape. You can’t get in game shape without playing the damn game. All the sprints and shit in the world won’t get you in game shape as ANYONE who has ever played will tell you.
something is still wrong. I hope they figure it out but the team is hiding something
Rush
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Rush shipped to a team under the cap for a 2nd round draft pick. He isn’t of any use to us at all if Dunleavy is playing well and George is going to get minutes. Somebody would take him off our hands for either a second rounder or nothing at all. A team under the cap could simply absorb his salary.
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