IC Cold Links: Pacers Prep For Bulls; Rush For Amundson Makes Sense For All
by Tom Lewis on Dec 19, 2011 9:45 AM EST
in Indiana Pacers News
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The Indiana Pacers tuned up for their second preseason game against the Chicago Bulls with a spirited scrimmage at the Fan Jam event yesterday which followed the team's regular practice workout. Despite the end results which don't matter, the Pacers were fortunate to draw the Bulls for the preseason home-and-home since Derrick Rose and Co. provide a dynamic, high-intensity attack to challenge the Pacers at every position.
The Pacers will look a little different on Tuesday at the United Center since they will be without Brandon Rush after three frustrating years. Rush and the Pacers mutually agreed to part ways some time ago but on Sunday word hit that the Pacers finally found a trading partner in Golden State.
Lou Amundson completed the swap of role players which gives the Pacers another front court option. In the last year of his contract, Amundson is owed $2.4 million this year which saves the Pacers about a half million while offering some type of cross between Jeff Foster and Tyler Hansbrough to utilize off the bench.
Also, Amundson seems to provide the perfect Hansel to compliment Jeff Foster's Derek Zoolander. Photoshop pros need to get to work on that pronto.
The Pacers have been active in this micro-offseason the past couple of weeks, so who knows what may happen next. In fact, there was even a report out of New Orleans about the team's interest in Mexican center Gustavo Ayon (thanks, MillerTime31).
After the jump, a mix of links with stories on the trade, Troy Murphy joining the Lakers and Mark Jackson enjoying his opportunity to coach.
- Pacers: Fans all abuzz for this season | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
- It was time to part ways with Rush | Pacers Insider blog | The Indianapolis Star | IndyStar.com
- Golden State Warriors notebook: Agent confirms trade for Indiana Pacers swingman Brandon Rush - San Jose Mercury News
- Lakers FYI: Troy Murphy is added for depth - latimes.com
- Reversing Indiana’s Learned Helplessness on Offense - 8.9
- Bulls will decide Monday if Rip Hamilton will play vs. Pacers - Chicago Sun-Times
- New Orleans Hornets talking with Mexican center Gustavo Ayon | NOLA.com
- Nick Young To Sign $3.7 Million Qualifying Offer, According To Report - Bullets Forever
- New coach Jackson thrilled to finally have shot to preach the gospel of winning to NBA players - NYPOST.com
- NBA.COM - 2011 NBA Free Agent Tracker
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warriors looking scary out west
we just gave them another nice piece to add to their puzzle this year.
lol, get league pass and see it for yourself
that’s all i’ll say
by pacers4life on Dec 19, 2011 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
Wait
You’re being for real? No way. I love Mark Jackson, and I hope for the best, but we stole from them in this trade. Rush traded was over due. I don’t think they will do well. Not a deep team, and they don’t have much that impresses me. I do think they are headed in the right direction, just a couple of years away.
I have a pretty good feeling the warriors are going to make mark jackson look like a genius this year
I also think the warriors are going to be the winner of this trade when it’s all said and done. I’ll be the first to tell you how inconsistent Brandon Rush is, but at the same time he was very important to us last year. I don’t think we would of beaten some of the elite teams last year without him.
Here’s why:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201011220MIA.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201101120IND.html
In arguably our two best wins last year, which were against the Heat and Mavericks, rush stepped up big time in those games, scoring 20 in each of them. As inconsistent as he was, I always thought he stepped up big time when it mattered most. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, you tell me?
With the warriors being a dynamic team and with strength at every position(chest their roster), along with coach Jackson emphasizing defense more, that’s a scary team out west. Rush will get a lot of open shots down there and I’m confident he’ll do well for them.
That's the whole problem
You can point to two instances where Rush “stepped up big,” but I can point to an entire career where he made a living playing well below the league efficiency average. While there are plenty of guys drafted higher than Rush who sucked worse, they too should not be in the NBA. When you suck, and/or are so wildly inconsistent that you can’t carve out a meaningful rotation spot on a bad team, you don’t deserve to be in the league. What makes it even worse for Rush is that him sucking is only a derivative of him not trying, a problem that should be intolerable for any NBA player.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
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can't argue much there
but i’m just saying, if it wasn’t for him, we would not have gotten a win against the 2 top teams last year
How many times did we lose...
- Because our wing depth was not what we thought it was?
- Because of distractions/divisive stuff going on in the locker room (not directly blaming Rush, but I’d bet money he didn’t step up and help)?
- Because he DIDN’T step up and hit shots when he should have?
I’m willing to bet that our net gain from trading him for nothing would be to, at the very least, break even. Any warm body who can foul opposing bigs 6 times should equal a game or two increase, in my book.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
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lol warriors fan here
just wanted to say that the warriors are gonna make the playoffs. k bye
by gswarriors12 on Dec 19, 2011 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
Cool.
But if you think you’re going to make the playoffs because of the Rush and Kwame Brown additions..that’s another story.
by MillerTime31 on Dec 19, 2011 4:05 PM EST up reply actions
I doubt it
I would have definatly traded Brandon Rush for Mark Jackson. . . In a heartbeat.
Check out my website at www.bradwellssucks.com
Is it just me?
Anyone else find it hard to believe that Mark Jackson was able to become a Head Coach with no coaching experience whatsoever..
It was only a matter of time
He’d been turning down assistant coaching jobs, saying he would only be a head coach. This happens with players from time to time, though usually it takes a strong personality (which Jackson proved he had during his TV stint). I’m personally of the opinion that he is going to be an abject failure, but that’s just me. I don’t have a good reason other than a hunch.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
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It's a good thing they aren't in the Eastern Conference
Can you imagine if we traded Rush to, say, the Bulls or Knicks? Man, I mean, we’re talking about BRANDON RUSH here. He defines “difference maker.” Larry Bird was stupid to let him go, but at least we won’t have to see Golden State until the NBA finals. He’s going to make us really regret trading him, that’s for sure. Seriously, with all he brings to the court, like the way he just sort of stands there at the three point line and waits for people to pass him the ball, or how he kind of looks on, disinterested, when he should be playing help side defense…I mean those are real intangibles that you need to win an NBA title.
When I think “winning,” “heart of a champion” and “impeccable character,” Brandon Rush’s name is the first and only one that comes to mind. And don’t get me started on how great of a role model he is off the court. He’s tolerant, passionate about clean living and just generally a cheery and confident person, teeming with enviable personality traits. If there ever was a stand-up character who defined Indiana Pacers basketball, it’s Brandon Rush. This is a sad end to a very storied era in Pacers basketball, and this is a player, no, a legend, who will be missed, and impossible to replace.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
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by LukeNukem on Dec 19, 2011 12:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I heard
That they were gonna take down Reggie’s jersey, burn it, and replace it with Brandon Rush’s. In fact I think it was bleacher report that broke the news. Or was it hoopsworld?
I heard
that the entire league was going to retire Brandon Rush’s number out of respect for his greatness in all of three seasons. Brandon Rush makes Micheal Jordan look like Dleague water boy.
by latrell spreewel on Dec 19, 2011 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
I always wanted to make sweet sweet love to Brandon Rush. . .
Check out my website at www.bradwellssucks.com
Big Mistake
I havent seen really anyone on the web disputing the releasing of Mike Dunleavy. I am a new pacers fan and as I watched old games to catch up, I loved watching Dunleavy. Hell, I would have paid him 35 million for a 5 year contract. i believe it was a huge mistake to let him walk away
Sorry
You feel that way man….HOWEVER, the thought of Dunleavy backing up our 2 & 3 issue sounds good right now since we couldnt land Mayo or Crawford and whatever happened to the talks w/ Redd. But for 7 mil a yr?!?! No way! Maybe a 1 yr til we can get Gordon or Mayo. Seriously, I neutral on the Dunleavy thing, but there are a few on here that will shred this to pieces. BEWARE and get ready for semi-hard to Blisstering Hot critisism.
***Forever Grunge...Man!***
*I'm Alive* Eddie Veddar, Pearl Jam
by rockguyinindy on Dec 19, 2011 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
Talent
Granted, I havent been a fan of basketball or watched in a very long time thus i am just getting back into basketball. When i saw the highlights of various games, I really saw Dunleavy as another Stockton. In no way could he compare to Stockton but the man has talent
by Pacers Court on Dec 19, 2011 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
Honestly
Dunleavy would be a good back up in our core to play back up mins at the 2 and 3. Maybe..Just maybe, some of the DUNLEAVY HATERS will man up that he would have been a good back up for Paul and Danny at spot mins. But the Bucks thought he was worth 7.5 mil per. Never saw that coming.
***Forever Grunge...Man!***
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by rockguyinindy on Dec 19, 2011 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
Totally agree that Dunleavy would've been a good backup
But you have to make good money decisions. I’m like you, that was WAY too much. I thought Dunleavy’s days of fleecing people for big contracts were over and he would take a low-ball to come back here. But I’m not even sure we offered him anything.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
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At $3ish million a year I wish we would have re-signed him
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
Dunleavy would've been a nice compromise
But that’s too much for him. The Bucks paid too much for him.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
I wish you wouldn't have said that. . . Oh look here comes the DoneLeaving Guy!
Check out my website at www.bradwellssucks.com
wow
Ive been a pacer fan my whole life. I have probably watched every game of Brandon Rush’s career. I am EXTREMELY happy he is gone. Hate to say it, but he wasnt good. He clogged the court, and acted like he had no clue how to dribble. This move was good for the locker room. Why have another pissed off SG not getting time. Lance Stephenson is better than him anyway.
Him and dunleavy both had good games 1 out of 15 games. All he is gonna prove in GS is that he can average 6 points and 2 assists, at 40% FG, and 35% 3PT FG
there was never any indication Rush was a bad locker room influence
quite the contrary in reality
Sup Jello Shot?
How was it "quite the contrary" in reality?
I never heard anything about his leadership skills one way or the other. My argument was never that he was a bad lockerroom presence, but that he was NO lockerroom presence for a team that needed a leader. There was some dissent at times last year, I believe particularly related to Lance Stephenson, and I would have liked a few guys to step up and slap some sense into the team to avoid some of those guys during the bad streaks. Rush was clearly not one of them. This doesn’t, by itself, make him culpable and worthy of jettison, but in combination with all the other things (the weed, the laziness, the lack of improvement, the general apathy, the inability to carve out consistent minutes and endear himself to an open-minded new coach, which he likely could have achieved with a little more practice effort) it was just another strike against him.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
Don’t know what it is but the Rush boys always show some talent but they end up fizzling out of the league. I know before B Rush there was Kareem and before him I think they had an older bother that didn’t make it either. These guys for some reason can’t push themselves to reach their potential. Shame.
JaRon
was the oldest brother, he has some crazy highlights on youtube from his UCLA days catching passes form Earl Watson (seriously, look it up – wow). But he washed out due to alcoholism, fortunately he now (according to a quick search) has his life together a bit better.
So, yes I agree on the Rush brothers, hopefully Brandon becomes the exception with a change in scenery.
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