Re: What are the Pacers strengths?
I will happily admit that my pre-season analysis and predictions were wrong. Thank goodness for the "fire" - none of you can go back and read what I said back then. But I'll own up it to it: When Carlisle was hired I raised my prediction to 40-42. I think its safe to say now that the Pacers will exceed 40 wins.
I've got to make this brief - utilization is really important around here right now. Work > . But here's my re-cap of my off-season analysis of strengths and weaknesses, and where this team proven me wrong.
This was a team that won 13 of its last 36 (36% winning percentage) to finish off last year. Some of these strengths were evident, and others were not. But the weaknesses and concerns were much broader.
Some of you may remember that I was very concerned with chemistry - in particular the chemistry between JO, Ron and Al. JO's leadership and reaching out to Ron, which began over the summer out of the public eye - has been tremendously important in this turnaround. Early in the season, the frontcourt combination of Ron, Al and JO was not an effective unit and its taken some time.
I thought the late-summer coaching change would mean that Carlisle would still be trying to design the right system even after the regular season started, so I predicted a slow start. Instead, we went 14-2 out of the gate when I thought we'd be waaayy under 0.500 through 15 games.
We had only seen one dimension of Tinsley's game under Isiah. I've always liked Jamaal but I thought there was no way Rick would ever like him/ play him. But when Jamaal got a chance he showed his game had much more depth than I previously believed. And Rick showed more flexibility in coaching than most thought was possible.
While Ragner and Peck were b!tc#ing about losing Brad Miller in the trade, I was saying something slightly different. I was okay with Brad walking to Denver or Utah, but I really didn't want to add Pollard to the mix. Thank goodness his stint as the starting center only lasted two games.
I expected at least one or two trades this season once Bird got his hands around the team - with a glut of forwards and some chemistry problems, I thought some guys would be playing with one foot out-the-door. Therefore, I expected some adjustment period early in the season when more new players came in. Obviously this didn't happen.
Point-by-point:
I knew he was great, but he's elevated himself to pretty elite status this season.
I knew the coaching would be better (how could it be worse?) But Rick had only been one place as a head coach and I don't think anybody knew just how good he was at designing a system around his players. It was popular wisdom (although obviously wrong) to believe Rick was going to install the exact same system here as he used in Detroit - because that's what other so-called "great" coaches like Brownie, Riley, Jackson and my man JVG have done. I usually think the role of a coach in the NBA is overstated - its a players game. But Rick has been nearly flawless this year.
JO was very clutch last seaon. Remember, he was second to Chauncey Billups in game-tying or lead-changing shots in the last two minutes. Ron occasionally demonstrated this, but not consistently - especially since he couldn't be counted on to be available at the end (or even beginning) of games.
Of course I knew this. The issue was whether either player could do this effectively in a "team" environment. I know some posters think the jury is still out regarding Al, but nine months ago this was a legit concern regarding Artest, too. Admittedly, a big factor in this concern was the lack-of-a-system from the previous regime, especially at the defensive end. I was curious as to how Artest would react to a defense that was more of a system than Isiah's "each man for himself" idea.
Again, this was obvious. But how this team, which could only be regarded as woefully immature, would respond was an unknown. I expected this to be a rockier adjustment than it really was - and there was still plenty of b!tc#ing from the players in November and December before Tinsley returned to the lineup. On the other hand, Ron was taught his lesson in the first preseason game and he responded to this like a mature man.
I suppose if I watched more semi-pro games involving Iowa State, I might have known this. But I didn't.
He'd never really been hurt before. There were some legitimate questions as to whether he could recover enough at his age to still be a difference maker from time-to-time. And there were legit questions about how many minutes would he be able to handle this season without breaking down - especially since the backup SG position was very unclear over the summer.
My response here is the same as #2 above.
Ditto.
I don't think there's any question about this one. All NBA arenas are quiet during the regular season. I can't wait to be in there for some playoff games that matter this spring.
So yes, some of these things were obvious, but others became more obvious to me as I learned more about our coach and learned some things about some of our younger players like Jamaal.
Jay's post sums it up well. Very eloquent. But I have a question for a lot of the fans here.
First, let me preface my question by saying that my knowledge of the game pales in comparison to posters like Jay, Peck, UB, etc.. So I'm curious, why didn't a lot of you more knowledgable fans see this season coming after Carlisle was hired and before it started?
I did. And you know Carlisle did—you know he had to feel like a kid in a candy store coming here. All of the strengths Jay listed—although I would never have been able to articulate them as well as he did—were very apparent to me before anyone on this team even put on a game jersey.
I know the spectre of last season's collapse loomed heavily here (and still does), and then we lost Brad, but I felt once Carlisle took over, everything that was unique and great about this team was going to be exploited and maximized in a way Isiah never could.
Also, I never saw the loss of Brad as being a huge factor in the success or failure of this team. I just didn't. Going into this season, I just felt there was something special here.
Look at the 10 points Jay listed again and ask yourself if these things weren't readily apparent to you before the start of the season. I think you'll find that they were.
First, let me preface my question by saying that my knowledge of the game pales in comparison to posters like Jay, Peck, UB, etc.. So I'm curious, why didn't a lot of you more knowledgable fans see this season coming after Carlisle was hired and before it started?
I did. And you know Carlisle did—you know he had to feel like a kid in a candy store coming here. All of the strengths Jay listed—although I would never have been able to articulate them as well as he did—were very apparent to me before anyone on this team even put on a game jersey.
I know the spectre of last season's collapse loomed heavily here (and still does), and then we lost Brad, but I felt once Carlisle took over, everything that was unique and great about this team was going to be exploited and maximized in a way Isiah never could.
Also, I never saw the loss of Brad as being a huge factor in the success or failure of this team. I just didn't. Going into this season, I just felt there was something special here.
Look at the 10 points Jay listed again and ask yourself if these things weren't readily apparent to you before the start of the season. I think you'll find that they were.
I've got to make this brief - utilization is really important around here right now. Work > . But here's my re-cap of my off-season analysis of strengths and weaknesses, and where this team proven me wrong.
This was a team that won 13 of its last 36 (36% winning percentage) to finish off last year. Some of these strengths were evident, and others were not. But the weaknesses and concerns were much broader.
Some of you may remember that I was very concerned with chemistry - in particular the chemistry between JO, Ron and Al. JO's leadership and reaching out to Ron, which began over the summer out of the public eye - has been tremendously important in this turnaround. Early in the season, the frontcourt combination of Ron, Al and JO was not an effective unit and its taken some time.
I thought the late-summer coaching change would mean that Carlisle would still be trying to design the right system even after the regular season started, so I predicted a slow start. Instead, we went 14-2 out of the gate when I thought we'd be waaayy under 0.500 through 15 games.
We had only seen one dimension of Tinsley's game under Isiah. I've always liked Jamaal but I thought there was no way Rick would ever like him/ play him. But when Jamaal got a chance he showed his game had much more depth than I previously believed. And Rick showed more flexibility in coaching than most thought was possible.
While Ragner and Peck were b!tc#ing about losing Brad Miller in the trade, I was saying something slightly different. I was okay with Brad walking to Denver or Utah, but I really didn't want to add Pollard to the mix. Thank goodness his stint as the starting center only lasted two games.
I expected at least one or two trades this season once Bird got his hands around the team - with a glut of forwards and some chemistry problems, I thought some guys would be playing with one foot out-the-door. Therefore, I expected some adjustment period early in the season when more new players came in. Obviously this didn't happen.
Point-by-point:
(1) Jermaine O'Neal's consistent post dominance at both ends of the court.
(2) A coaching staff that has installed a system to maximize the strenghts of our roster. Our weaknesses, and we have plenty, are only occasionally exploited in ways that cause us to lose games.
(3) JO and Ron continue to evolve as two of the best young clutch-time performers. Both players can create opportunities at both ends of the court.
(4) Ron Arest and Al Harrington never quit at the forward position. Both players are equally effective at offense and defense.
(5) Larry Bird and Rick Carlisle bring a no-nonsense, disciplined approach to team basketball.
(6) Jamaal Tinsely's maturity and court vision have improved to complement his outstanding court game, instead of distract from it.
(7) In a pinch, Reggie can still deliver.
(8) Our role players (Foster, Fred, Croshere) understand what they need to do to help the team. Because of our system (see #2 above) our key players put them in situations to perform their roles instead of situations to expose thier weaknesses.
(9) Our defensive intensity has helped us assemble the best road record in the league. We're as competitive on the road as we are at home.
(10) Our fans are very hungry for some playoff success after a long drought. Conseco Fieldhouse will provide a significant home court advantage once this team proves it can get past the first round.
So yes, some of these things were obvious, but others became more obvious to me as I learned more about our coach and learned some things about some of our younger players like Jamaal.
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