http://www.nba.com/features/coachs_pacers_040123.html
NEW YORK, Jan. 23 -- Coach Brian Hill sees something special in the Indiana Pacers.
"I think they're the best team in the East right now," Hill said. "With all due respect to the New Jersey Nets, the champions of the Eastern Conference the last two seasons -- they still have to be beaten -- but in looking at it from the outside, I like Indiana.
"Talent-wise, I think the New Orleans Hornets are the most talented team, Nos. 1-12. But I think if it's a three-team race, it's going to come down to Indiana, Detroit and New Jersey, as the standings are now, I think those three will challenge."
Hill also had kind words for the resurgent Reggie Miller.
"I think Reggie Miller is a pro's pro," Hill said. "You know he's so intelligent. He sets a great example for all of the younger players, the way he practices, the way he prepares and his work ethic on both ends of the floor.
"He's not the focal point of the offense that he once was during the mid-90s, but he may not be able to have big games 82 nights, but he's there when they need him. And with guys like Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest and Al Harrington, he's going to get open shots."
Getting perimeter players like Miller open looks is the key to Indiana's offense, as Coach Hill explains below.
Hill has 15 seasons of NBA experience, seven as a head coach with Orlando and Vancouver. He led the 1995-96 Magic team to their best record in franchise history (60-22, .732), and to the NBA Finals in 1995.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO THE PACERS' OFFENSE?
“The Pacers are one of the best execution offenses in the NBA. Their primary offense is posting up Jermaine O'Neal and they do a great job of passing and cutting. Everytime they pass the ball to O'Neal in the post, the passer cuts always cuts hard to the basket for a possible return pass. Along with this, the other perimeter players maintain great spacing on the weak side of the floor behind the three-point line. So if the defense collapses on O'Neal at all, he knows where everybody is going to be positioned and had the opportunity to pass out to the perimeter players for an open shot.
And if the defense stays concerned with the perimeter players, it gives O'Neal the opportunity to go one-on-one. Also, if their perimeter players don't have an open shot, they're one of the best "draw and kick" teams. If they don't a have an open shot, they immediately drive the ball into your defense and put pressure on the defense, forcing another defender to help. And they do a great job of kicking the ball to a teammate for an open shot."
WHAT IS THE KEY TO THE PACERS' DEFENSE?
"I think their defense starts with the fact that they have two outstanding individuals in Ron Artest and O'Neal. You have a defender in Artest who can shut down perimeter scorers, and in O'Neal, you have the low post defender who can shut down opposing centers or power forwards. Along with this, they have a defensive mindset as a team. They recognize help situations. They're very good at closing out on perimeter players, rotating and helping each other and they do a great job of contesting shots. Teams shoot at a much lower percentage when shots are contested."
HOW HAS JAMAAL TINSLEY GROWN THIS SEASON?
"I don't think there's any question, that physically, Jamaal Tinsley is a gifted player, but he's probably not as disciplined a point guard as Rick would like. I think that's why they went out and signed Kenny Anderson in the offseason, who knows how to distribute the basketball and find the right people at the right time and knows how to run an offense. Fortunately for Jamaal, and you have to give him credit, he's sat watched and learned in practices and game what Rick wanted. Then when he got the opportunity when Anderson was injured, he made the most of it by playing well. With the coaching change and the different style of play, it's taken Tinsley a while to get adjusted."
WHAT HAS COACH RICK CARLISLE BROUGHT TO THE PACERS?
“It starts with discipline at both ends of the floor. Offensively, they're much more patient, they do a better job of locating and taking advantages of mismatches during the course of the game. They do an exceptional job of reading the defense, when the defense is forced to help or rotate. They work very hard on making the right pass to the right player and they take very high percentage shots."
Photo credits: Artest, Tinsley and Carlisle: Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images; O'Neal: Chris Corvatta/Getty Images/NBAE
--Rob Peterson, NBA.com
NEW YORK, Jan. 23 -- Coach Brian Hill sees something special in the Indiana Pacers.
"I think they're the best team in the East right now," Hill said. "With all due respect to the New Jersey Nets, the champions of the Eastern Conference the last two seasons -- they still have to be beaten -- but in looking at it from the outside, I like Indiana.
"Talent-wise, I think the New Orleans Hornets are the most talented team, Nos. 1-12. But I think if it's a three-team race, it's going to come down to Indiana, Detroit and New Jersey, as the standings are now, I think those three will challenge."
Hill also had kind words for the resurgent Reggie Miller.
"I think Reggie Miller is a pro's pro," Hill said. "You know he's so intelligent. He sets a great example for all of the younger players, the way he practices, the way he prepares and his work ethic on both ends of the floor.
"He's not the focal point of the offense that he once was during the mid-90s, but he may not be able to have big games 82 nights, but he's there when they need him. And with guys like Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest and Al Harrington, he's going to get open shots."
Getting perimeter players like Miller open looks is the key to Indiana's offense, as Coach Hill explains below.
Hill has 15 seasons of NBA experience, seven as a head coach with Orlando and Vancouver. He led the 1995-96 Magic team to their best record in franchise history (60-22, .732), and to the NBA Finals in 1995.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO THE PACERS' OFFENSE?
“The Pacers are one of the best execution offenses in the NBA. Their primary offense is posting up Jermaine O'Neal and they do a great job of passing and cutting. Everytime they pass the ball to O'Neal in the post, the passer cuts always cuts hard to the basket for a possible return pass. Along with this, the other perimeter players maintain great spacing on the weak side of the floor behind the three-point line. So if the defense collapses on O'Neal at all, he knows where everybody is going to be positioned and had the opportunity to pass out to the perimeter players for an open shot.
And if the defense stays concerned with the perimeter players, it gives O'Neal the opportunity to go one-on-one. Also, if their perimeter players don't have an open shot, they're one of the best "draw and kick" teams. If they don't a have an open shot, they immediately drive the ball into your defense and put pressure on the defense, forcing another defender to help. And they do a great job of kicking the ball to a teammate for an open shot."
WHAT IS THE KEY TO THE PACERS' DEFENSE?
"I think their defense starts with the fact that they have two outstanding individuals in Ron Artest and O'Neal. You have a defender in Artest who can shut down perimeter scorers, and in O'Neal, you have the low post defender who can shut down opposing centers or power forwards. Along with this, they have a defensive mindset as a team. They recognize help situations. They're very good at closing out on perimeter players, rotating and helping each other and they do a great job of contesting shots. Teams shoot at a much lower percentage when shots are contested."
HOW HAS JAMAAL TINSLEY GROWN THIS SEASON?
"I don't think there's any question, that physically, Jamaal Tinsley is a gifted player, but he's probably not as disciplined a point guard as Rick would like. I think that's why they went out and signed Kenny Anderson in the offseason, who knows how to distribute the basketball and find the right people at the right time and knows how to run an offense. Fortunately for Jamaal, and you have to give him credit, he's sat watched and learned in practices and game what Rick wanted. Then when he got the opportunity when Anderson was injured, he made the most of it by playing well. With the coaching change and the different style of play, it's taken Tinsley a while to get adjusted."
WHAT HAS COACH RICK CARLISLE BROUGHT TO THE PACERS?
“It starts with discipline at both ends of the floor. Offensively, they're much more patient, they do a better job of locating and taking advantages of mismatches during the course of the game. They do an exceptional job of reading the defense, when the defense is forced to help or rotate. They work very hard on making the right pass to the right player and they take very high percentage shots."
Photo credits: Artest, Tinsley and Carlisle: Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images; O'Neal: Chris Corvatta/Getty Images/NBAE
--Rob Peterson, NBA.com
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