Pacers Need To Expand Definition Of Garbage Time
by Tom Lewis on Mar 4, 2010 6:30 AM EST
in News
15 comments
It's broken record time again.
During the last five minutes of the game last night, more affectionately known as garbage time, the Pacers played with a lineup of A.J. Price, Brandon Rush, Dahntay Jones, Josh McRoberts and Roy Hibbert. For some reason I was still awake to see it and I couldn't help but think how much, at this point in this season, I would enjoy watching that group play 15 minutes or so a game together. Actually, put in Danny Granger for Dahntay Jones and I'm all in for as long as you want.
This apparently would give Jim O'Brien the cold sweats or a rash or something because I'm certainly not expecting to see this group play together again until the next trash pickup in a future fourth quarter (Friday?). But why?
Seeing these guys get some serious minutes during the serious part of the game was addressed by Mike Wells today in his Pacers Notebook. The young players are well aware of the deficiencies keeping them from more playing time. All have them, they're legit and good for them for working on their games.
"There's not a phase of the game where you can point to any of those guys and say they have that phase of the game down," O'Brien told Wells.
So how many players who are playing have a phase of the game down? None have a complete game that's for sure. Granger is a good scorer. Murphy can hit the trailing three and rebound. Then there's...what else?
And what's the point of grinding for wins at the expense of developing players at this point? Talk about garbage time. With a 20-41 record and six weeks left in the season, it's ALWAYS garbage time. Personally, I can handle the losses and loose play much better if they include the young players who may be part of the future plans.
Just a thought.
After the jump, more links from the loss last night.
PACERS: Inside the Game: Blazers 102, Pacers 79
Bruno's Inside the Game report has all of the numbers, notes, quotes and highlights.
Granger can't make Pacers winners
Mike Wells reports on the Pacers coming up short with Danny Granger providing the only offensive threat. Troy Murphy sums up the game neatly: "We turned the ball over way too many times," Murphy said. "Portland did a good job defensively, but we just had some ridiculous turnovers."
Portland 102, Indiana 79: Blazers wear their playoff faces
Jason Quick reports on the Blazers' strong effort last night which includes a great picture of Mike Dunleavy trying to make himself invisible. Didn't work.
Game 64 Recap: Blazers 102, Pacers 79
Dave recaps the game from a Portland perspective.
CITW: Diener may get first taste of playoffs in Portland
Bruno reports on Travis Diener jumping into playoff contention, takes exception to JOB's "irrelevant" remark and laments the first half finish againts the Lakers. The Pacers gave up another late 5 points to the Blazers last night too.
Pacers Notebook: Young Pacers must earn time
Mike Wells finds the young Pacers working on what will give them more playing time. Travis Diener talks about his move to Portland.
That was not an irrelevant loss
Mike Wells found a little more measured Jim O'Brien after last night's loss. He actually thought Danny Granger played well in scoring 30 despite the big loss.
Media Row Report: Blazers 102, Pacers 79
Ben reports from the Rose Garden for Blazers Edge and comes the the familiar conclusion that the Pacers need John Wall.
Updated Lottery Standings 3.4
jsams at Liberty Ballers is maintaining the lottery standings which now find the Pacers in fourth.
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And what’s the point of grinding for wins at the expense of developing players at this point? Talk about garbage time. With a 20-41 record and six weeks left in the season, it’s ALWAYS garbage time
Exactly right. What are they doing anymore? What’s the point? JOB is starting to sound more and more bitter in his interviews. Any chance he just resigns?
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
zero chance he resigns
there is no rationale for why these other guys arent playing more.
These young guys will remember how they are being treated once their contracts come up.
and I guess I will officially join the club and give a big…
FREE AJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Youre not First, Youre Last
At least we moved in the last 5 minutes
I thought the same thing that the Pacers had good ball movement and actually moving towards the basket at the end of the game. I am sure they will be suspended for playing that way though by JOB. After watching Brandon Roy last night, we dont have a player even close to him. Even with Granger scoring all his points they werent nearly as exciting as watching Roy creating for himself and his teammates. We really need a player that can create for himself and score at will if needed or just dish it off to a teammate for a easy basket. You could hear the buzz from the crowd each time he touched the ball. I hope the Pacers draft a play like that to make things buzz in Indy again.
by Slick4President on Mar 4, 2010 10:03 AM EST reply actions
You might get your wish
Evan Turner’s game is very comparable to that of Roy’s and if the Pacers can’t land Wall and could somehow get their hands on Turner in no way would I be disappointed.
by HoosierHoops14 on Mar 4, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
+1
Turner reminds me of a more expolsive B. Roy.
At this point, I’d almost prefer him over Wall.
Why buy the cow, when you get the sex for free?
by return2greatness on Mar 4, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
Free AJ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we need to Trade up and ensure we get Wall or Evans.
There are some real stat guys out there and I bet you can prove this is the worst PG/SG backcourt tandem in the last 10 years and maybe of all time.
I’m sure there is number that proves what we have witnessed.
From the bench or the team?
What’s this “Free AJ” stuff? Is it to trade him or play him?
by FortWayneKarl on Mar 4, 2010 3:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Wall worthless if...
Getting Wall would be worthless if JOB was still coach… Heck, what top 5 pick would want to play for JOB?
by FortWayneKarl on Mar 4, 2010 1:26 PM EST via mobile reply actions
JOB
Was at the game last night and it was pathetic. The starting line up had me baffled. Ford’s worthless, Murphy is a scrub, and JOB is easily the worst coach in the league. Thanks Larry for turning the franchise around…for the worse. Right now, the Pacers are unwatchable!
JOB makes Hansbro Dizzy?
My theory is that Hansbro is just sitting out until JOB is fired, because the never ending ear infection seems like a very thin excuse. I’ll bet Diener mysteriously recovers from foot surgery to now that he’s in Portland too.
by FortWayneKarl on Mar 4, 2010 3:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Lame Duck Coach
I really think JOB was hired all along as a lame duck coach. At the time of his hire, our team was in shambles – no youth, bad contracts, off the court issues, and poor attendance. There were few coaches in the NBA who wanted to touch this team. O’Brien was despirate enough to get a head coaching gig and took the job. I think Bird knew all along he wasn’t the answer. I think Bird knows right now that O’Brien isn’t the answer.
Bird is in a bind. He can’t throw his people under the bus. No one will want to work form him. That’s why he had no choice but to extend O’Brien’s contract. To outsiders, it makes Bird appear that he’s willing to stick by his coach even through difficult times. That will pay dividends in the long-run when it comes time to hiring a new coach.
Bird is well aware of the situation the Pacers are in. He’s at all the games. He knows his players don’t mesh with his coach’s style. Yet, he still has an obligation to all the season ticket holders and sponsors to continue to operate this team as a NBA franchise until they return to normalcy.
Likewise, O’Brien has an obligation to fulfil the promises made when he signed his contract. He still has to put a team on the court that can compete. Unfortunately, Indiana has few competitors on its roster. We all know the NBA frowns on “tanking.” Playing our young core this early is a sure sign of doing so. Just wait until the middle of March with fewer than 15 games remaining. That’ll be a more appropriate time for Indiana to begin tanking playing their younger players without major reprocussions.
Eventually, Bird will hire a new coach before the start of the 2011-2012 season. When that time comes, this team will look more attractive than it did when O’Brien was hired and more suitors will be willing to take charge. They’ll have a young, buildable core, plenty of cap flexibility to add veteran contracts, and a fan base willing to fill the seats at Conceco once again.
If we look far enough into the future, things are looking VERY bright! We only have 1.5 more years of this mess to get through. Be strong, Pacer Nation!
The FAULK
holy optimistic
dumb, but as least you see the good in a shit hole operation… i guess?
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