http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/bird_moves_060725.html
BIRD LIKES ENERGY LEVEL OF ROSTER
By Conrad Brunner
July 25, 2006
Of all the lessons learned in the past two years, the most obvious and important was this: building the best team isn't just about amassing the most talent. It requires a combination of talent, depth, chemistry, leadership and intangible elements for the players to coalesce into a contending team.
The focus of the Pacers' offseason plan, at least in the public eye, has been an obvious shift towards more versatile and athletic players in order to play a more aggressive style at both ends of the floor. What has flown beneath the radar has been a consistent effort to acquire players that bring one particular quantity that makes it all work: energy.
Bird
"That's a big part of it," said President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. "All of these guys play hard all the time. That's what we're looking forward to: having guys on the court that are going all-out every minute they're out there."
Though 38, Darrell Armstrong certainly fits the profile. A player of legendary passion, in games, on the practice floor and in the locker room, Armstrong was acquired from Dallas along with young forwards Rawle Marshall and Josh Powell Monday in a trade that sent Anthony Johnson to the Mavericks. Though clearly a reserve player at this stage of his career, Bird believes Armstrong will strengthen the areas of leadership, chemistry and intangibles.
"He's one of the nicest people in this league and a guy that plays with all heart," Bird said. "He's 6-1 and he probably weighs 135 or 140 pounds but he's got a lot of heart and he's always played well."
Tinsley
The trade of Johnson also clarifies the depth chart at point guard. The talented but oft-injured Jamaal Tinsley (who missed 112 regular-season games the past three seasons) is at the top, with Sarunas Jasikevicius, Armstrong, Greene, Marquis Daniels and James White all in line to play supporting roles.
"We're never finished and we're always looking to get better," Bird said. "But we feel Marquis Daniels has proven he can play the point. Orien Greene's a young guy with a lot of potential, plus we have Sarunas and James White.
"I've always seen Jamaal as our starting point guard because when healthy he's the best we have. He's shown he can be a guy who can lead this team on the court. But the fact is he's played less than 1,400 minutes the last three seasons and that's an issue."
The departure of Fred Jones, who is expected to sign a three-year, $11 million contract with Toronto on Wednesday, was not a blow to the team-building plan because of the depth already evident at shooting guard, particularly in the presence of Daniels, a three-position player in Dallas.
"We feel Marquis is a better fit with the way we're going with our team," Bird said. "He's got just about every skill. The only thing he isn't known for is shooting the 3-point shot but he does everything else well."
Harrington
And, as Bird has stressed repeatedly, he and franchise CEO & President Donnie Walsh have more than two full months before training camp opens to continue to tweak the roster. Widespread media reports suggest the Pacers are on the verge of acquiring Al Harrington in a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta.
"You never know until a deal's done," Bird said. "We do have interest in Al but we'll have to see how things go."
Even if nothing else comes along, Bird is confident with the roster to this point. In addition to being able to play at a quicker pace, he sees the potential for better chemistry as well as a higher overall energy level.
"In the long run," he said, "we're going to be a better team."
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No way does DA weight 135 or 140? That can't be true.
BIRD LIKES ENERGY LEVEL OF ROSTER
By Conrad Brunner
July 25, 2006
Of all the lessons learned in the past two years, the most obvious and important was this: building the best team isn't just about amassing the most talent. It requires a combination of talent, depth, chemistry, leadership and intangible elements for the players to coalesce into a contending team.
The focus of the Pacers' offseason plan, at least in the public eye, has been an obvious shift towards more versatile and athletic players in order to play a more aggressive style at both ends of the floor. What has flown beneath the radar has been a consistent effort to acquire players that bring one particular quantity that makes it all work: energy.
Bird
"That's a big part of it," said President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. "All of these guys play hard all the time. That's what we're looking forward to: having guys on the court that are going all-out every minute they're out there."
Though 38, Darrell Armstrong certainly fits the profile. A player of legendary passion, in games, on the practice floor and in the locker room, Armstrong was acquired from Dallas along with young forwards Rawle Marshall and Josh Powell Monday in a trade that sent Anthony Johnson to the Mavericks. Though clearly a reserve player at this stage of his career, Bird believes Armstrong will strengthen the areas of leadership, chemistry and intangibles.
"He's one of the nicest people in this league and a guy that plays with all heart," Bird said. "He's 6-1 and he probably weighs 135 or 140 pounds but he's got a lot of heart and he's always played well."
Tinsley
The trade of Johnson also clarifies the depth chart at point guard. The talented but oft-injured Jamaal Tinsley (who missed 112 regular-season games the past three seasons) is at the top, with Sarunas Jasikevicius, Armstrong, Greene, Marquis Daniels and James White all in line to play supporting roles.
"We're never finished and we're always looking to get better," Bird said. "But we feel Marquis Daniels has proven he can play the point. Orien Greene's a young guy with a lot of potential, plus we have Sarunas and James White.
"I've always seen Jamaal as our starting point guard because when healthy he's the best we have. He's shown he can be a guy who can lead this team on the court. But the fact is he's played less than 1,400 minutes the last three seasons and that's an issue."
The departure of Fred Jones, who is expected to sign a three-year, $11 million contract with Toronto on Wednesday, was not a blow to the team-building plan because of the depth already evident at shooting guard, particularly in the presence of Daniels, a three-position player in Dallas.
"We feel Marquis is a better fit with the way we're going with our team," Bird said. "He's got just about every skill. The only thing he isn't known for is shooting the 3-point shot but he does everything else well."
Harrington
And, as Bird has stressed repeatedly, he and franchise CEO & President Donnie Walsh have more than two full months before training camp opens to continue to tweak the roster. Widespread media reports suggest the Pacers are on the verge of acquiring Al Harrington in a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta.
"You never know until a deal's done," Bird said. "We do have interest in Al but we'll have to see how things go."
Even if nothing else comes along, Bird is confident with the roster to this point. In addition to being able to play at a quicker pace, he sees the potential for better chemistry as well as a higher overall energy level.
"In the long run," he said, "we're going to be a better team."
----------------------------------------------------------------
No way does DA weight 135 or 140? That can't be true.
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