Forum Wrong, But Not O’Neal’s Message
http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/web_070108.html
Jan. 8, 2007
You can argue the forum and the timing. Give me a few paragraphs, in fact, and that's just what I'll do.
In essence, however, Jermaine O'Neal's postgame remarks after the loss in Dallas Thursday night pretty well summed up the general feeling of those in Pacers Nation. The team should be better than this. There's no excuse for the series of losses to inferior opponents. We're not really sure what the problem is but we know something's not right and we're not sure how to fix it, which only amplifies the frustration.
It wasn't a veiled trade demand, or a threat that changes must be made, or else. It was a sincere expression of emotion by a player who carries the weight of the franchise on his shoulders. I love a good debate but, having read and re-read O'Neal's quotes in Saturday's Indianapolis Star, I can't find a point to argue.
Apparently, neither can his teammates.
"He's right," said Al Harrington after the Pacers won 100-93 in Oklahoma City Saturday night. "None of us should accept average. That should be the team's thoughts, collectively. We've got to play much better because we're a better team than what we're showing. We have to find a way to be consistent."
The thing is this: there's a sense of unease that O'Neal went public, rather than (or in addition to) dealing with this behind closed doors. You would prefer this grievance be aired within the locker room where such open, honest discussion could, or should, be more productive. The Pacers constantly talk about how much they like each other and how good the chemistry is, but chemistry is revealed by what you do, not what you say. And the inconsistent actions of this team have spoken much louder than their words. Maybe O'Neal has tried talking this out with his teammates. We know he already tried the closed-door route with management and the coaching staff in Boston.
So if going public is his greatest misjudgment, it's one that can be forgiven.
No one on the roster has walked the walk more than O'Neal this season. He has played consistently hard at both ends of the floor. Assists, blocked shots and charges taken are up. Turnovers and bad decisions are down. Because of his commitment to the total game, O'Neal is playing the best basketball of his life.
Regardless of where or how he said it, the truth can't be denied. We all see what O'Neal sees: the door in the East is wide open but the Pacers won't walk through until they stop tripping on their shoelaces. Maybe the overriding message he was trying to send was that this team's tune needs to change. No more lyrics by Bobby McFerrin. It's time to get real.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Harrington appears to be finding much more of a comfort level in his on-court relationship with O'Neal, as both players scored at least 20 points in consecutive games. Harrington was just a bit hotter, though, totaling 51 points (a 25.5 average) and 16 rebounds (8.0) in two games last week while shooting 18-of-26 from the field (.692) and 5-of-8 from the arc (.625).
GAME OF THE WEEK
There were only two choices and neither was exactly a classic. The Pacers probably played a better overall game in Dallas, at least until their fourth-quarter fade led to a 100-91 loss. But they did what was necessary to survive a strong-willed performance from the undermanned Hornets Saturday in Oklahoma City. With Desmond Mason throwing in horse shots from all sorts of odd angles, the Hornets played an inspired game and were tied, 83-all, with 4:24 left. This despite the absence of their three top scorers, Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic and David West. But O'Neal scored twice in a row inside and the Pacers did not relinquish control thereafter in a 100-93 victory.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Orien Greene might've needed an oxygen mask after his 5-minute, 40-second stint against the Hornets. In fully six of his 12 appearances this season, Greene has played less than a minute. He's made cameos of 1, 2, 10, 11, 26 and 54 seconds.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
If you didn't read O'Neal's post-Dallas comments, here's the key quote. "If I can't take this team to another level, I truthfully believe we should go our separate ways at the end of the season," O'Neal said. "I'm saying in general, the bottom line is you play to win. If we don't have a system set to win a championship, if we don't have the crew to win a championship, then what are we doing? I'm getting to the point, I'm in my 11th year, I don't want to play 82 games and then exit to watch somebody else pop the champagne. … I'm tired of that. I want to compete for a championship. If we can't do it, that's a whole (different) story."
http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/web_070108.html
Jan. 8, 2007
You can argue the forum and the timing. Give me a few paragraphs, in fact, and that's just what I'll do.
In essence, however, Jermaine O'Neal's postgame remarks after the loss in Dallas Thursday night pretty well summed up the general feeling of those in Pacers Nation. The team should be better than this. There's no excuse for the series of losses to inferior opponents. We're not really sure what the problem is but we know something's not right and we're not sure how to fix it, which only amplifies the frustration.
It wasn't a veiled trade demand, or a threat that changes must be made, or else. It was a sincere expression of emotion by a player who carries the weight of the franchise on his shoulders. I love a good debate but, having read and re-read O'Neal's quotes in Saturday's Indianapolis Star, I can't find a point to argue.
Apparently, neither can his teammates.
"He's right," said Al Harrington after the Pacers won 100-93 in Oklahoma City Saturday night. "None of us should accept average. That should be the team's thoughts, collectively. We've got to play much better because we're a better team than what we're showing. We have to find a way to be consistent."
The thing is this: there's a sense of unease that O'Neal went public, rather than (or in addition to) dealing with this behind closed doors. You would prefer this grievance be aired within the locker room where such open, honest discussion could, or should, be more productive. The Pacers constantly talk about how much they like each other and how good the chemistry is, but chemistry is revealed by what you do, not what you say. And the inconsistent actions of this team have spoken much louder than their words. Maybe O'Neal has tried talking this out with his teammates. We know he already tried the closed-door route with management and the coaching staff in Boston.
So if going public is his greatest misjudgment, it's one that can be forgiven.
No one on the roster has walked the walk more than O'Neal this season. He has played consistently hard at both ends of the floor. Assists, blocked shots and charges taken are up. Turnovers and bad decisions are down. Because of his commitment to the total game, O'Neal is playing the best basketball of his life.
Regardless of where or how he said it, the truth can't be denied. We all see what O'Neal sees: the door in the East is wide open but the Pacers won't walk through until they stop tripping on their shoelaces. Maybe the overriding message he was trying to send was that this team's tune needs to change. No more lyrics by Bobby McFerrin. It's time to get real.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Harrington appears to be finding much more of a comfort level in his on-court relationship with O'Neal, as both players scored at least 20 points in consecutive games. Harrington was just a bit hotter, though, totaling 51 points (a 25.5 average) and 16 rebounds (8.0) in two games last week while shooting 18-of-26 from the field (.692) and 5-of-8 from the arc (.625).
GAME OF THE WEEK
There were only two choices and neither was exactly a classic. The Pacers probably played a better overall game in Dallas, at least until their fourth-quarter fade led to a 100-91 loss. But they did what was necessary to survive a strong-willed performance from the undermanned Hornets Saturday in Oklahoma City. With Desmond Mason throwing in horse shots from all sorts of odd angles, the Hornets played an inspired game and were tied, 83-all, with 4:24 left. This despite the absence of their three top scorers, Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic and David West. But O'Neal scored twice in a row inside and the Pacers did not relinquish control thereafter in a 100-93 victory.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Orien Greene might've needed an oxygen mask after his 5-minute, 40-second stint against the Hornets. In fully six of his 12 appearances this season, Greene has played less than a minute. He's made cameos of 1, 2, 10, 11, 26 and 54 seconds.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
If you didn't read O'Neal's post-Dallas comments, here's the key quote. "If I can't take this team to another level, I truthfully believe we should go our separate ways at the end of the season," O'Neal said. "I'm saying in general, the bottom line is you play to win. If we don't have a system set to win a championship, if we don't have the crew to win a championship, then what are we doing? I'm getting to the point, I'm in my 11th year, I don't want to play 82 games and then exit to watch somebody else pop the champagne. … I'm tired of that. I want to compete for a championship. If we can't do it, that's a whole (different) story."
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