While the Pacers prepare for next season, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers meet up tonight to decide a champion for what is still, this season. This NBA Finals series is playing out in dramatic fashion with the C's appearing in control, although despite appearances they did only beat the Lakers by six in Game 5 at TD Garden.
I can't imagine Andrew Bynum will be of much use tonight which should allow the Celtics to effectively tag team Pau Gasol with Keving Garnett and Rasheed Wallace. I'm not sure Kobe Bryant can do much more for the Lakers, but he may have to do it defensively whether on Paul Pierce or Rajon Rondo, which is the problem the C's now present. It's hard to tell which player may carry the C's during various stretches of the game. Then there's always the option of Ray Allen nukin' up Staples Center again. This is going to be fun!
Speaking of fun, Mike Wells has a nice look back at the Pacers' run to the NBA Finals ten years ago. Also, after about 10 days of analyzing talent out of town, the Pacers started working out NBA draft prospects again at the Fieldhouse yesterday. More on the workouts and trade chatter after the jump.
Patrick Patterson (Kentucky), Craig Brackins (Iowa State), Robert Glenn (IUPUI), Damion James (Texas), Anthony Mason, Jr. (St. John's) and Latavious Williams (Tulsa of the NBA Development League) worked out for the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse on Monday.
Patterson is the highest rated prospect and appeared to win the day among the media with his play and interview. He seems like the type of player Larry Bird would love to draft if he hadn't picked a similar player in Tyler Hansbrough last year. In the hindsight Olympics Patterson would be a good fit if the Pacers selected Ty Lawson last year.
Speaking of Lawson, the Nuggets are willing to move him for a pick and the Pacers are interested, according to Mike Wells. There will need to be more parts involved than Lawson and the pick, but adding a solid PG on a rookie contract would be nice if the price isn't too high. The Pacers have also inquired about Darren Collison from New Orleans.
Paul George (Fresno St.), Xavier Henry (Kansas), Devin Ebanks (West Virginia), Keaton Grant (Purdue), Landon Milbourne (Maryland) and Andy Rautins (Syracuse) will workout for the Pacers on Tuesday. George, Henry and Ebanks are all extremely intriguing prospects. Hopefully we'll get some workout video from this one.
Here are the links:
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PACERS: 2010 Draft Central
Pacers.com has all of the post-workout interviews for the draft prospects at the Fieldhouse yesterday. -
Brackins, Patterson believe they can make an impact in league
Mike Wells reports on Patrick Patterson and Craig Brackins trying to impress NBA decision makers in the midst of a crowded pool of power forward prospects. -
Patrick Patterson works out with the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse Monday
Jeremiah Johnson has the workouts covered at Indy Sports Nation with workout and interview videos included. -
Lakers have to hope home is where their heart is
Mike Bresnahan wonders if the Lakers can revive their championship hopes at home. -
WOELFEL WORLD OF SPORTS: Spurs interested in Pacers pick
A note in this report has the Spurs interested in the Pacers pick at 10 so they can select Ed Davis. -
Pacers, CIB stuck on control of fieldhouse
Francesca Jarosz updates her report on the Fieldhouse negotiations. -
NBA.com: 2010 NBA Draft: Consensus Mock Draft
With just over a week until the NBA Draft, the Consensus Mock Draft is finally living up to its name.
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