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Mike Wells: Pacers Q&A
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Answers Posted June 8, 2006
Question: Although I can't stand the Pistons, I am curious to hear if you think the Pacer's would try to acquire Ben Wallace as he is a free-agent now. I know a lot of people would not like this, but he would solve the problem of a solid big man. (Matt from Indianapolis)
Answer: Signing Wallace is wishful thinking on your part, Matt. Wallace would definitely be the answer to playing alongside Jermaine O’Neal in the frontcourt. Too bad that’s not going to happen. The Pacers don’t have the money to even come close to signing Wallace. Reports out of Detroit say the Pistons could offer Wallace a maximum contract that would start at about $17 million a season. That probably is unlikely since Wallace will be 32 when the season starts, but he could still get around $12 million a season, according to reports.
Question: Now that you have observed the Years of Zeke, and the Terrible Two's of Rick, don't you agree that Coach C. still is the right coach for the Pacers? His record speaks for itself. He knows the game. The players attitudes are more of the issue than Rick's coming down on them, as you pointed out in your response relating to Uncle Reggie’s early to practice and leadership on the court reflections. I think Rick could have done more harm by strong arming the players with all of the injuries and Ronnie The Terrible actions. Donnie and Larry share more blame for the past two seasons than Coach C., let's see if they back Rick up in the off-season and take a scalpel to the bad-organs of the team. (Jim from New Albany, Ind.)
Answer: Like I mentioned last week, Carlisle can coach the game of basketball. There’s no question about that. It’s his handling of players that has people concerned. There aren’t many coaches (at least on playoff teams) that would put up with some of the immature antics the way Carlisle did last season. There’s little doubt that there will be player changes this summer. It’s just a matter of which players are traded.
Question: There are people in Indiana who don’t like Stephen Jackson. Do you think if the Pacers keep Jackson next year the fans can tee him off enough to want to get out of Indiana and demand to be traded like Artest did? (Ted from Greencastle, Ind.)
Answer: Pacers fans teed off on Jackson a lot last season. I don’t think I’ve ever been in an arena where the home crowd booed one of its own as much as the Conseco fans went after Jackson. Jackson became Public Enemy No. 1 when he got into it with Jermaine O’Neal against Atlanta the day after Thanksgiving. I admit Jackson deserved some of those boos by the way he acted on the court, but I think part of the problem had to do with him starting at shooting guard, a position held by Reggie Miller, the player all Pacers fans love, for the previous 18 seasons. That’s not an easy task for any player. It’s going to be interesting to see if Jackson will come back with a different attitude next season. Actually what’s going to be more interesting is seeing if Jackson comes back as a Pacer.
Question: Why do we need a player like Tinsley? It's unbelievable to me a guy can sit on the bench as often as he has (with a sore foot or sinus infection)for the last two years and still think he is valuable to any team. So why aren't we dropping him, retire him, trade him, get someone, anyone. (Steve from Kokomo, Ind.)
Answer: The Pacers feel Tinsley is one of the top point guards in the league when he’s healthy. It’s just too bad he hasn’t been healthy the past few seasons to show what type of player he can be on a consistent basis. Tinsley’s only played in 134 of 246 regular season games the past three seasons. The Pacers may look to trade him, but it may not be easy to do because they have to find a team that’s willing to acquire a player that continues to battle injuries and is signed through the 2010-11 season.
Question: Why do you think it's been so difficult for Rick Carlisle to discipline his players? (David from Melbourne, Australia)
Answer: That’s a question only Carlisle can answer. And trust me, I’ve asked him about it numerous times. You would think that a coach who micromanages when it comes to “X’s” and “O’s” would also do the same thing when it comes to disciplining players. Here’s a quote from Kevin McHale I came across in the Minneapolis Star Tribune last weekend on who he thinks is the best coach in the league. “(San Antonio's Gregg) Popovich has been the best coach in our league over a long period of time,” McHale said. “A guy who is hard on the players but yet, they respect him and they play for him. He can be as demanding as he wants but he doesn't alienate them. He has a weird thing going that not a lot of people can get. If you try to be their friend all the time, that doesn't work, and if you beat them into the ground all the time, that doesn't work.”
Question: With the Pacers desperately in need of roster adjustment, team chemistry, and a boost in fan moral wouldn't it make sense to go after Al Harrington this off-season. Not only was he a perennial fan favorite but he has really developed into quite to the force. Just thinking about a starting line-up of Sarunas, Granger, Al, Jermaine, and Foster gives me chills.(John from Tallahassee, Fla.)
Answer: Like with Ben Wallace in another question I answered, the Pacers don’t have the money to make a run at Harrington. Harrington is one of the top free agents on the market this summer. On a different note, I don’t see Sarunas being the starting point guard next season. If all three point guards – Jasikevicius, Jamaal Tinsley and Anthony Johnson – are brought back, it’s going to be a battle between Tinsley and Johnson on who starts, with the loser being the backup. I don’t think all three will be back with the Pacers next season, though.
Mike Wells: Pacers Q&A
Ask the expert
Answers Posted June 8, 2006
Question: Although I can't stand the Pistons, I am curious to hear if you think the Pacer's would try to acquire Ben Wallace as he is a free-agent now. I know a lot of people would not like this, but he would solve the problem of a solid big man. (Matt from Indianapolis)
Answer: Signing Wallace is wishful thinking on your part, Matt. Wallace would definitely be the answer to playing alongside Jermaine O’Neal in the frontcourt. Too bad that’s not going to happen. The Pacers don’t have the money to even come close to signing Wallace. Reports out of Detroit say the Pistons could offer Wallace a maximum contract that would start at about $17 million a season. That probably is unlikely since Wallace will be 32 when the season starts, but he could still get around $12 million a season, according to reports.
Question: Now that you have observed the Years of Zeke, and the Terrible Two's of Rick, don't you agree that Coach C. still is the right coach for the Pacers? His record speaks for itself. He knows the game. The players attitudes are more of the issue than Rick's coming down on them, as you pointed out in your response relating to Uncle Reggie’s early to practice and leadership on the court reflections. I think Rick could have done more harm by strong arming the players with all of the injuries and Ronnie The Terrible actions. Donnie and Larry share more blame for the past two seasons than Coach C., let's see if they back Rick up in the off-season and take a scalpel to the bad-organs of the team. (Jim from New Albany, Ind.)
Answer: Like I mentioned last week, Carlisle can coach the game of basketball. There’s no question about that. It’s his handling of players that has people concerned. There aren’t many coaches (at least on playoff teams) that would put up with some of the immature antics the way Carlisle did last season. There’s little doubt that there will be player changes this summer. It’s just a matter of which players are traded.
Question: There are people in Indiana who don’t like Stephen Jackson. Do you think if the Pacers keep Jackson next year the fans can tee him off enough to want to get out of Indiana and demand to be traded like Artest did? (Ted from Greencastle, Ind.)
Answer: Pacers fans teed off on Jackson a lot last season. I don’t think I’ve ever been in an arena where the home crowd booed one of its own as much as the Conseco fans went after Jackson. Jackson became Public Enemy No. 1 when he got into it with Jermaine O’Neal against Atlanta the day after Thanksgiving. I admit Jackson deserved some of those boos by the way he acted on the court, but I think part of the problem had to do with him starting at shooting guard, a position held by Reggie Miller, the player all Pacers fans love, for the previous 18 seasons. That’s not an easy task for any player. It’s going to be interesting to see if Jackson will come back with a different attitude next season. Actually what’s going to be more interesting is seeing if Jackson comes back as a Pacer.
Question: Why do we need a player like Tinsley? It's unbelievable to me a guy can sit on the bench as often as he has (with a sore foot or sinus infection)for the last two years and still think he is valuable to any team. So why aren't we dropping him, retire him, trade him, get someone, anyone. (Steve from Kokomo, Ind.)
Answer: The Pacers feel Tinsley is one of the top point guards in the league when he’s healthy. It’s just too bad he hasn’t been healthy the past few seasons to show what type of player he can be on a consistent basis. Tinsley’s only played in 134 of 246 regular season games the past three seasons. The Pacers may look to trade him, but it may not be easy to do because they have to find a team that’s willing to acquire a player that continues to battle injuries and is signed through the 2010-11 season.
Question: Why do you think it's been so difficult for Rick Carlisle to discipline his players? (David from Melbourne, Australia)
Answer: That’s a question only Carlisle can answer. And trust me, I’ve asked him about it numerous times. You would think that a coach who micromanages when it comes to “X’s” and “O’s” would also do the same thing when it comes to disciplining players. Here’s a quote from Kevin McHale I came across in the Minneapolis Star Tribune last weekend on who he thinks is the best coach in the league. “(San Antonio's Gregg) Popovich has been the best coach in our league over a long period of time,” McHale said. “A guy who is hard on the players but yet, they respect him and they play for him. He can be as demanding as he wants but he doesn't alienate them. He has a weird thing going that not a lot of people can get. If you try to be their friend all the time, that doesn't work, and if you beat them into the ground all the time, that doesn't work.”
Question: With the Pacers desperately in need of roster adjustment, team chemistry, and a boost in fan moral wouldn't it make sense to go after Al Harrington this off-season. Not only was he a perennial fan favorite but he has really developed into quite to the force. Just thinking about a starting line-up of Sarunas, Granger, Al, Jermaine, and Foster gives me chills.(John from Tallahassee, Fla.)
Answer: Like with Ben Wallace in another question I answered, the Pacers don’t have the money to make a run at Harrington. Harrington is one of the top free agents on the market this summer. On a different note, I don’t see Sarunas being the starting point guard next season. If all three point guards – Jasikevicius, Jamaal Tinsley and Anthony Johnson – are brought back, it’s going to be a battle between Tinsley and Johnson on who starts, with the loser being the backup. I don’t think all three will be back with the Pacers next season, though.
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