Not one of the better articles, but something to read on the Pacers.
2005-06 Indiana Pacers Preview
By Nick Prevenas 9/30/05
2004-05 Record: 44-38 2005-06
Projected Record: 60-22
Key Additions: Sarunas Jasikevicius (Lithuania) Danny Granger (Draft), Erazem Lorbek (Draft)
Key Losses: Reggie Miller (Retired), Dale Davis (Pistons), James Jones (Phoenix)
Projected Starters: Jamaal Tinsley PG 6-3 180 2/28/78 Iowa State '01, Stephen Jackson G/F 6-8 220 4/5/78 Oak Hill Academy '97, Ron Artest F 6-7 250 11/13/79 St. John's '01, Jermaine O'Neal PF 6-11 260 10/13/78 Eau Claire HS '96, Jeff Foster 6-11 240 1/16/77 SW Texas State '99.
Reserves: Jonathan Bender F 7-0 230 1/30/81 Picayune HS '99, Austin Croshere PF 6-10 240 5/1/75 Providence '97, Eddie Gill PG 6-0 185 8/16/78 Weber State '00, Danny Granger SF 6-8 225 4/20/83 New Mexico '05, David Harrison C 7-0 280 8/15/82 Colorado '04, Sarunas Jasikevicius G 6-4 195 3/5/76 Maryland '98, Anthony Johnson PG 6-3 190 10/2/74 Charleston '97, Fred Jones SG 6-4 220 3/11/79 Oregon '02, Scot Pollard C 6-11 265 2/12/75 Kansas '97.
Up through November 18, 2004, the Indiana Pacers were looking like the best team in the Eastern Conference. They were experienced, deep, and skilled. They came into November 19th's battle with their chief rival, the Detroit Pistons, brimming with confidence. We all know what happened next. After the Brawl, the patchwork Pacers still clawed their way to a 6-seed in the playoffs, even though they were without the services of Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson for large chunks of the season, all while Ron Artest was cast into NBA purgatory.
This season, they're back with a vengeance. Artest is back, which immediately gives them one of the league's best players intent on proving he's not more trouble than he's worth. He spent his off-season playing in the summer league, hoping to show his dedication and determination to reestablishing his status as an All Star. O'Neal and Jackson are back and ready to make amends for a lost 2004-05 season. I'll bet anything Jermaine O'Neal has a career season. As for Jackson, he's still a loose cannon, but if he can stay out of trouble, he'll bring his impressive array of skills to the 2-guard spot.
They also made two of the better off-season additions in Sarunas Jasikevicius and Danny Granger. Jasikevicius, fresh off three consecutive Euroleague titles, brings plenty of big-game experience and excitement to a team in need of clutch shooters, now that Reggie Miller has retired. The Jamaal Tinsley/Jasikevicius tandem at point guard is scary.
Granger, one of the most NBA-ready rookies in the 2005 class, inexplicably slid to the Pacers' pick, 18 overall. He won't wow anyone with highlight-reel plays, but he'll work his way into Rick Carlisle's rotation and bring only good things to the floor. He'll also prove to be a solid insurance policy in case Jackson or Artest flip out or if Jonathan Bender continues to spend more time in street clothes than his Pacer uniform.
This team's only weakness is the center spot. Jeff Foster is a great guy to have on your club and he's tough as nails, but he's best as a backup. David Harrison...well...let's just say I don't expect to see many kids begging their parents for a Harrison jersey this holiday season. But with O'Neal doing the bulk of the post scoring, they simply need Foster and Harrison to rebound, defend, and not make any killer mistakes.
Head coach Rick Carlisle performed a minor miracle getting this squad into the playoffs last season. Discussing why he didn't win Coach of the Year last season for longer than five minutes actually makes me angry, so I'll move on. This is a scary basketball team. They've got two of the league's 20 best players, shooters, hustle guys, role players, a top-notch coach, and two instant-impact newcomers. And they'll be playing this season with a chip on their collective shoulder. Would you want to face this team in a seven game series? Neither do Flip Saunders, Stan Van Gundy, or Gregg Popavich.
nbadraft.net/2005-06pacers001.asp
2005-06 Indiana Pacers Preview
By Nick Prevenas 9/30/05
2004-05 Record: 44-38 2005-06
Projected Record: 60-22
Key Additions: Sarunas Jasikevicius (Lithuania) Danny Granger (Draft), Erazem Lorbek (Draft)
Key Losses: Reggie Miller (Retired), Dale Davis (Pistons), James Jones (Phoenix)
Projected Starters: Jamaal Tinsley PG 6-3 180 2/28/78 Iowa State '01, Stephen Jackson G/F 6-8 220 4/5/78 Oak Hill Academy '97, Ron Artest F 6-7 250 11/13/79 St. John's '01, Jermaine O'Neal PF 6-11 260 10/13/78 Eau Claire HS '96, Jeff Foster 6-11 240 1/16/77 SW Texas State '99.
Reserves: Jonathan Bender F 7-0 230 1/30/81 Picayune HS '99, Austin Croshere PF 6-10 240 5/1/75 Providence '97, Eddie Gill PG 6-0 185 8/16/78 Weber State '00, Danny Granger SF 6-8 225 4/20/83 New Mexico '05, David Harrison C 7-0 280 8/15/82 Colorado '04, Sarunas Jasikevicius G 6-4 195 3/5/76 Maryland '98, Anthony Johnson PG 6-3 190 10/2/74 Charleston '97, Fred Jones SG 6-4 220 3/11/79 Oregon '02, Scot Pollard C 6-11 265 2/12/75 Kansas '97.
Up through November 18, 2004, the Indiana Pacers were looking like the best team in the Eastern Conference. They were experienced, deep, and skilled. They came into November 19th's battle with their chief rival, the Detroit Pistons, brimming with confidence. We all know what happened next. After the Brawl, the patchwork Pacers still clawed their way to a 6-seed in the playoffs, even though they were without the services of Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson for large chunks of the season, all while Ron Artest was cast into NBA purgatory.
This season, they're back with a vengeance. Artest is back, which immediately gives them one of the league's best players intent on proving he's not more trouble than he's worth. He spent his off-season playing in the summer league, hoping to show his dedication and determination to reestablishing his status as an All Star. O'Neal and Jackson are back and ready to make amends for a lost 2004-05 season. I'll bet anything Jermaine O'Neal has a career season. As for Jackson, he's still a loose cannon, but if he can stay out of trouble, he'll bring his impressive array of skills to the 2-guard spot.
They also made two of the better off-season additions in Sarunas Jasikevicius and Danny Granger. Jasikevicius, fresh off three consecutive Euroleague titles, brings plenty of big-game experience and excitement to a team in need of clutch shooters, now that Reggie Miller has retired. The Jamaal Tinsley/Jasikevicius tandem at point guard is scary.
Granger, one of the most NBA-ready rookies in the 2005 class, inexplicably slid to the Pacers' pick, 18 overall. He won't wow anyone with highlight-reel plays, but he'll work his way into Rick Carlisle's rotation and bring only good things to the floor. He'll also prove to be a solid insurance policy in case Jackson or Artest flip out or if Jonathan Bender continues to spend more time in street clothes than his Pacer uniform.
This team's only weakness is the center spot. Jeff Foster is a great guy to have on your club and he's tough as nails, but he's best as a backup. David Harrison...well...let's just say I don't expect to see many kids begging their parents for a Harrison jersey this holiday season. But with O'Neal doing the bulk of the post scoring, they simply need Foster and Harrison to rebound, defend, and not make any killer mistakes.
Head coach Rick Carlisle performed a minor miracle getting this squad into the playoffs last season. Discussing why he didn't win Coach of the Year last season for longer than five minutes actually makes me angry, so I'll move on. This is a scary basketball team. They've got two of the league's 20 best players, shooters, hustle guys, role players, a top-notch coach, and two instant-impact newcomers. And they'll be playing this season with a chip on their collective shoulder. Would you want to face this team in a seven game series? Neither do Flip Saunders, Stan Van Gundy, or Gregg Popavich.
nbadraft.net/2005-06pacers001.asp
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