http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...S0404/51007007
Mike Wells: Pacers Q&A
Answers Posted May 30, 2006
Question: What's the word on the Pacers’ second round pick from last year, will he be on the roster this season? If so, is he any good? – James, Indianapolis.
Answer: Team president Larry Bird said during his season-ending press conference that Erazem Lorbek will spend another year playing in Europe. Lorbek averaged nearly 10 points and 4.3 rebounds a game while playing for Climamio Bologna (Italy) in the EuroLeague. The Pacers hold Lorbek’s rights for two years.
Question: I know this is a known fact, but the Pacers dearly miss Reggie. Not only for his leadership, but for his passion for the game. – John, Kokomo, Ind.
Answer: Tinsley thinks passion for the game is "doing it his way". Jackson and O'Neal think that passion is confronting opposing players on the court and beating your chest after a basket. It's a shame that they all blew a chance to learn from one of the most professional and passionate guys in the game.
Not having Miller around was something that wasn’t talked about a lot last season. Many have said Miller wasn’t a vocal leader, but he led by example. He had a routine when it came to practice, he always arrived at the arena early and he knew how to cover up his weaknesses on the court. He did things the right way. You didn’t see a lot of that last season. Players were in roles they weren’t accustomed to because of a number of injuries. That was only part of the problem. Only a handful of players would get to the arena early for games and there weren’t a lot who stuck around after practice for extra work. It showed in the Pacers’ performance on the court.
Question: At what position will the Pacers be drafting? Is this a deep year for the NBA draft? – Jameson, New Castle, Ind.
Answer: If you look at the roster, it seems like the Pacers don’t need much help (assuming Fred Jones and Peja Stojakovic both re-sign). They have three point guards (that’s a problem in itself), two shooting guards (Jones and Stephen Jackson), two small forwards (Stojakovic and Danny Granger), two power forwards (Jermaine O’Neal and Austin Croshere) and two centers (Jeff Foster and David Harrison). Too bad that roster likely won’t get the Pacers mentioned in the same breath as Detroit, Miami, Dallas and Phoenix. Larry Bird said they need more quickness in the backcourt. They are hoping Jamaal Tinsley will be the answer for that problem if he’s healthy. Doesn’t that sound familiar?
They need another big body to bang down low next to O’Neal. Of course there’s a good chance this won’t be the same roster when the Pacers report to training camp in early October. There are no LeBron James or Dwyane Wades in the draft, but there are some solid players available. It’s a toss up on who will be the top pick. A lot of the talk has surrounded Tyrus Thomas from LSU, LaMarcus Alridge from Texas and Andrea Bargnani from Italy.
The player I like is Brandon Roy out of the University of Washington. He probably won’t be the No. 1 overall pick, but he’s a complete player. Maurice Ager from Michigan State and Mardy Collins from Temple are two players that have shown up on mock draft boards as possible picks for the Pacers.
Question: What do you think of the Spurs trying to reacquire Stephen Jackson? Its obvious they need to get a little younger, more athletic and add some shooting to their perimeter, and he helped them win a championship once so he's proven he can fit in with that team. I think the Pacers should try as hard as they can to rid themselves of Jack. – Matthew, New York City.
Answer: Jackson would be playing for a coach that wouldn’t put up with his antics if he went back to San Antonio. Gregg Popovich didn’t put up with Jackson’s temper tantrums when he played for the Spurs. Jackson helped the Spurs win a title by averaging 11.8 points in 2002-03. Jackson can help a team, but he has to play for a coach that will get on him for taking bad shots, complaining at the officials, strolling back on defense and griping when he’s taken out the game. Jackson’s name will be mentioned in trade rumors this summer, but I’m not sure the Spurs will be one of the teams involved in the discussions.
Question: It seems there is tension in the Pacers organization regarding coach Rick Carlisle (e.g. Bob Kravitz's recent column saying give him a contract extension or pink slip). If it turns out Carlisle isn't the coach next year, who do you see as good and likely candidates? Do you think Larry Bird might pull a Pat Riley on us and become the coach again? In general, what qualities and attributes do you think would make for the best Pacers coach given the current situation (i.e. player chemistry issues, etc.)? - Andy, Indianapolis.
Answer: If, and that’s a BIG IF, for some reason the Pacers and Carlisle decide to part ways this summer, the organization needs to bring in somebody that will discipline players if they get out of line. Nobody has doubted Carlisle’s coaching ability. He knows the game so well that one player said early in the season that he trusts himself more than the players in reference to his micromanaging of the offense. It’s how he relates to players that has people concerned. Many people got frustrated with how he wouldn’t discipline players when they got out of line. Carlisle would take his frustration out on younger players like Danny Granger and David Harrison. Larry Bird, who from what I’ve been told wouldn’t put up with those immature antics when he was coach, has said he has no interest in returning to the sidelines. When it’s all said and done, though, I see Carlisle returning as coach next season because I would be surprised if the Pacers would want to pay his salary along with the new coach’s next season.
Mike Wells: Pacers Q&A
Answers Posted May 30, 2006
Question: What's the word on the Pacers’ second round pick from last year, will he be on the roster this season? If so, is he any good? – James, Indianapolis.
Answer: Team president Larry Bird said during his season-ending press conference that Erazem Lorbek will spend another year playing in Europe. Lorbek averaged nearly 10 points and 4.3 rebounds a game while playing for Climamio Bologna (Italy) in the EuroLeague. The Pacers hold Lorbek’s rights for two years.
Question: I know this is a known fact, but the Pacers dearly miss Reggie. Not only for his leadership, but for his passion for the game. – John, Kokomo, Ind.
Answer: Tinsley thinks passion for the game is "doing it his way". Jackson and O'Neal think that passion is confronting opposing players on the court and beating your chest after a basket. It's a shame that they all blew a chance to learn from one of the most professional and passionate guys in the game.
Not having Miller around was something that wasn’t talked about a lot last season. Many have said Miller wasn’t a vocal leader, but he led by example. He had a routine when it came to practice, he always arrived at the arena early and he knew how to cover up his weaknesses on the court. He did things the right way. You didn’t see a lot of that last season. Players were in roles they weren’t accustomed to because of a number of injuries. That was only part of the problem. Only a handful of players would get to the arena early for games and there weren’t a lot who stuck around after practice for extra work. It showed in the Pacers’ performance on the court.
Question: At what position will the Pacers be drafting? Is this a deep year for the NBA draft? – Jameson, New Castle, Ind.
Answer: If you look at the roster, it seems like the Pacers don’t need much help (assuming Fred Jones and Peja Stojakovic both re-sign). They have three point guards (that’s a problem in itself), two shooting guards (Jones and Stephen Jackson), two small forwards (Stojakovic and Danny Granger), two power forwards (Jermaine O’Neal and Austin Croshere) and two centers (Jeff Foster and David Harrison). Too bad that roster likely won’t get the Pacers mentioned in the same breath as Detroit, Miami, Dallas and Phoenix. Larry Bird said they need more quickness in the backcourt. They are hoping Jamaal Tinsley will be the answer for that problem if he’s healthy. Doesn’t that sound familiar?
They need another big body to bang down low next to O’Neal. Of course there’s a good chance this won’t be the same roster when the Pacers report to training camp in early October. There are no LeBron James or Dwyane Wades in the draft, but there are some solid players available. It’s a toss up on who will be the top pick. A lot of the talk has surrounded Tyrus Thomas from LSU, LaMarcus Alridge from Texas and Andrea Bargnani from Italy.
The player I like is Brandon Roy out of the University of Washington. He probably won’t be the No. 1 overall pick, but he’s a complete player. Maurice Ager from Michigan State and Mardy Collins from Temple are two players that have shown up on mock draft boards as possible picks for the Pacers.
Question: What do you think of the Spurs trying to reacquire Stephen Jackson? Its obvious they need to get a little younger, more athletic and add some shooting to their perimeter, and he helped them win a championship once so he's proven he can fit in with that team. I think the Pacers should try as hard as they can to rid themselves of Jack. – Matthew, New York City.
Answer: Jackson would be playing for a coach that wouldn’t put up with his antics if he went back to San Antonio. Gregg Popovich didn’t put up with Jackson’s temper tantrums when he played for the Spurs. Jackson helped the Spurs win a title by averaging 11.8 points in 2002-03. Jackson can help a team, but he has to play for a coach that will get on him for taking bad shots, complaining at the officials, strolling back on defense and griping when he’s taken out the game. Jackson’s name will be mentioned in trade rumors this summer, but I’m not sure the Spurs will be one of the teams involved in the discussions.
Question: It seems there is tension in the Pacers organization regarding coach Rick Carlisle (e.g. Bob Kravitz's recent column saying give him a contract extension or pink slip). If it turns out Carlisle isn't the coach next year, who do you see as good and likely candidates? Do you think Larry Bird might pull a Pat Riley on us and become the coach again? In general, what qualities and attributes do you think would make for the best Pacers coach given the current situation (i.e. player chemistry issues, etc.)? - Andy, Indianapolis.
Answer: If, and that’s a BIG IF, for some reason the Pacers and Carlisle decide to part ways this summer, the organization needs to bring in somebody that will discipline players if they get out of line. Nobody has doubted Carlisle’s coaching ability. He knows the game so well that one player said early in the season that he trusts himself more than the players in reference to his micromanaging of the offense. It’s how he relates to players that has people concerned. Many people got frustrated with how he wouldn’t discipline players when they got out of line. Carlisle would take his frustration out on younger players like Danny Granger and David Harrison. Larry Bird, who from what I’ve been told wouldn’t put up with those immature antics when he was coach, has said he has no interest in returning to the sidelines. When it’s all said and done, though, I see Carlisle returning as coach next season because I would be surprised if the Pacers would want to pay his salary along with the new coach’s next season.
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