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A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

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  • #16
    Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

    I think JO is still a great player, but after tonight. Maybe a trade would be best, b/c it sure seemed that they never wanted to feed JO the ball unless it was a last resort.

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    • #17
      Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

      Legler said that.
      I'm in these bands
      The Humans
      Dr. Goldfoot
      The Bar Brawlers
      ME

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      • #18
        Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

        This I might buy into, or a combination of J.O. not being 100%, and not being happy. To say he's not the player he was just doesn't sound rational when he was just that player all of last season, and this preseason. J.O. still took more shots then any other Pacer tonight. If he is playing this way because of the offense I hope he can adjust to taking advantage of what all the outside shooting opens up for him inside. If his offense has dropped off because he's unhappy due to not being traded then he isn't helping his trade value any.


        Originally posted by Evan_The_Dude View Post
        Just 7 months ago Jermaine was having the best season of his career -- on a bad knee. Going into the pre-season, Jermaine said his knee was feeling 100% better and he was in the best condition that he's been in in several seasons. How do you go from that to what we're seeing now? Simple, he's not happy.

        He wanted to be traded. I don't care what he told the media, he wanted to be traded. In fact I bet he was certain that he would be traded and when it didn't happen, he had to force himself to like it here again. Well once you're mentally gone, you can't force yourself to want to be somewhere because in one way or another it's going to show that you don't want to be there.
        We built this team around a post presence. We brought in shooters fully expecting Jermaine to be our lead guy and our #1 offensive threat. That's not the case anymore. Our leading scorer is Danny Granger. As good as Danny has been, I don't see that he's ready to carry the load like he is and lead us to being a winning team without some real help. We at the very least need Ike right now. Losing him seems like it's hurting us more than anything else because of the way this team is built.
        If we continue to rely on this version of Jermaine to be the centerpiece of our offense, we're seriously in trouble. This team needs a low post threat or 2 [Ike] to make everything else work. If we're not going to have that, then we need to alter the makeup of this team to make the team work the way it's supposed to. This is a hard thing to do during a season, but I think it badly needs to be done.
        Why do teams tank? Ask a Spurs fan.

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        • #19
          Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

          As much as I've loved JO as a Pacer over the last several years, I think I am finally ready to see him go. He's still a force, takes charges alot, some assists and blocks, but his shot isn't consistant. He's a double double kinda guy, but he isn't the player to goto when you're down 10 with 2 to go and expect him to save the game. He could be a duncanesque type of player but, but Duncan is more savvy than JO is, and he has playmakers around him. JO used to be 'explosive' and I don't see that much from him these days. He didn't want to rebuild with the Pacers, and let's face it, we're kinda rebuilding, or at least retooling.

          If we trade him can we trade Tinsley too? (but then who do we get to run the point??) ugh
          :thepacers
          No Linking to your own site if it sells something.

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          • #20
            Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

            Originally posted by IndyFan032589 View Post
            it sure seemed that they never wanted to feed JO the ball unless it was a last resort.
            I know the feeling.
            "Look, it's up to me to put a team around ... Lance right now." —Kevin Pritchard press conference

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            • #21
              Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

              Did we have to demand both Odom and Bynum? I know in that package, they were unwilling to part ways with Bynum but were they as unwilling in a deal just centered around Bynum? If not, then damn that we didn't pull that off before the start of the season because LA probably doesn't care for JO as much, and the most they'd be willing to dish out is something centered around VladRad and Kwame...

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              • #22
                Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                Originally posted by Pacerized View Post
                If his offense has dropped off because he's unhappy due to not being traded then he isn't helping his trade value any.
                I don't think he's intentionally going out there trying to get traded. If you're not happy somewhere it's a mental block to overcome. He might want to be that 20-10 guy right now, but mentally he probably just can't bring himself to be motivated enough to get it done. It's one thing to tell yourself to get over it, it's another thing to actually get over it. I strongly believe this is what he's going through. We all thought the same thing about Jamaal under Rick Carlisle though he never said it. But guess what, as soon as Rick was gone we all heard how unhappy Jamaal was under him.

                Since J'OB isn't going anywhere anytime soon and Kobe Bryant won't be coming here, we should probably do what we can with Jermaine to land us a piece or some pieces that actually work. Also we shouldn't feel obligated to trade him to a contender. He has the option of opting out, so wherever he goes he doesn't have to stay anyway. Sure we should at least try to put him on a good team, but most of the good teams don't really need him.

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                • #23
                  Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                  I'm sick of using the "injury excuse" any more for players like JONeal, Marquis and ( a little less frequently now ) with Tinsley when it comes to how this team performs. It's really bad when our whole team's success pretty much hinges on whether any of these players are injured or not.

                  I know that injuries to teams is a common thing...it's unavoidable. But when we have as many injuries as we have had in the last 3 seasons....and most notably to key players....then it just gets tiring. As many have pointed out...this team is simply built bad. I agree with this....but not as much how well they play...but more that we have assembled talented players that are simply too injury prone to be considered dependable.

                  If JONeal is healthy, then we can ....if Marquis is playing, then .....if Tinsley is playing in control and healthy, then . There are too many "ifs" for this team to properly succeed. I am frustrated and probably need to calm down a little.....but right now, I would much rather trade JONeal and Tinsley for $.75 on the dollar and get back decent players that at least fits our needs but can play 75+ games at 100% then go through another season hoping that JONeal can get healthy and can therefore contribute. I really think that if we can eliminate any worries associated with "if JONeal / Tinsley / Marquis is going to be healthy", then we can focus on fixing the other problems this team has. We simply have too many variables for this team to succeed.


                  Okay....my rant is done....I have to calm down a little.
                  Last edited by CableKC; 11-14-2007, 03:10 AM.
                  Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

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                  • #24
                    Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                    There's another thread asking if we thought JO might be dogging it. Initially, I thought no. But I think JO views his situation much like KG's situation was in Minny. I think to see KG as happy as he is in Boston was tough for JO. He didn't look like he really cared to be out there last night IMHO. I don't think he's washed up, but I think it's hard to do something for a place when your heart isn't there.

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                    • #25
                      Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                      Multiple good points going on here. I can't say I've come to a definitive assessment of the situation myself. Still in the new coach, new system, recovery from injury window for maybe 5-8 more games.

                      However, I can certainly say that what I'm seeing from JO and Tins has me leaning in the direction of "is it even worth it to consider holding out/having this conversation?" as far as our franchise is concerned?

                      We've been going on with these guys for years and we haven't really seen more than one year of outstanding play from both (2004) that coincided with any success for the team. How long will Walsh/Bird can Walsh/Bird hold out?

                      Currently, they seem to be regressing as the season progresses and the team with them. Neither as of now is displaying the attitude/toughness to transition to this brand of ball and lead others in doing so. Should we be surprised? Honestly, they look like they're suffering out there when they should still be in a honeymoon period w/ JOB.

                      From my POV, they could still technically show me something in the near future, but unless that happens (and maybe even if it does), TPTB will have to admit that these guys have run their course here whatever the reasons for that may be. Did we wait too long to pull the trigger on a JO deal?
                      I'd rather die standing up than live on my knees.

                      -Emiliano Zapata

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                      • #26
                        Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                        Goes back to what I thought last summer - the Pacers won't trade JO until the season has truly been lost and his trade value is as low as it's ever been.

                        Good thing Bird and Walsh aren't in the stock market. Lately they seem to have mastered the "Buy high, sell low" principle.

                        I still think you might manage a .500 record this season but you're a team that has big salary cap problems and few tradable assets while being well below league average in talent. IMO this summer was the time to blow it up and start over by trading the one guy you might get some real value for.

                        Based on what's going on, you may not even get value for him now.

                        Someone mentioned injuries - the reason JO's getting hurt is his body can't handle a lot of pounding in the post - and the last 5 years he's been pounded on in the post. Unfortunately his game and what his body can handle don't match. That's why what's happening is the wear-and-tear you get from a 34-year-old, not one major injury that kills some part of your body.

                        Best thing for JO would be if he could take some kind of one-year sabbatical from the game and let his body really heal - he might coax another couple of good years out that way. But pro sports doesn't work that way.
                        The poster formerly known as Rimfire

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                        • #27
                          Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                          Most on here have probably seen more of the initial games than
                          I. So, I haven't seen J.O. for extended mins at this point.
                          But if he's still hurting physically, what's he doing on the court ?
                          Sit his *** out until he's totally healthy !

                          As far as I'm concerned, THE goal for this franchise right now with
                          respect to J.O. is to maximize his ability to show enough this year
                          to allow them to maximize his eventual trade value.

                          The Pacers are not going to compete for an NBA title again w/ J.O.
                          So, despite Bird's fixation w/ making the playoffs, this year doesn't
                          really matter in the long run. What matters is transitioning optimally
                          to the next phase of franchise history and preparing/trying to assemble
                          the pieces to potentially compete for a title down the road.

                          Just my take.

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                            Is it time to bring out the tank already????? I thought maybe waiting till mid-season
                            would be a reasonable time frame.
                            {o,o}
                            |)__)
                            -"-"-

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                              It's definitely not time to bring out the tank. Like I said before, if we can get something just something that can work for us now in exchange for Jermaine and possibly another player, we should pull that trigger now. That way we still have plenty of time to gel and work out the kinks, and possibly make a winning run after the All-Star break. If we keep losing Jermaine is going to become more and more unhappy, and by the All-Star break we'll only have a couple of weeks to find a deal for him.

                              I'd rather start the work now and try to find something and at the worst have some months to spare, instead of waiting and standing pat like we always do and deciding to rush something with 2 weeks to spare. Do it now and we can probably still make this a good season.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: A realistic discussion about Jermaine O'Neal

                                On a side note, it will be interesting to see how long the "high school to NBA" players can stretch out their careers. Does starting the 82 game grind at a younger age mean that the career nosedive hits at 30?

                                1995: Garnett

                                1996: Kobe, JO

                                1997: McGrady

                                1998: Harrington, Rashard Lewis

                                1999: Bender :P

                                2000: Darius Miles, Deshawn Stevenson

                                2001: Brown, Chandler, Curry, Diop

                                2002: Stoudamire

                                Taking a look at the list of the early college-skippers, you could argue that JO, McGrady, Bender, Miles, Brown & Stoudamire have all had injury-hit careers to date. Clearly the sample size is too small at this stage to conclude anything. A study on the impact of the NBA physicality on immature bodies & minds would be interesting reading though.

                                BTW, I am certainly not advocating that these guys should have gone to college. Just saying that maybe we can't expect the likes of JO to have much success past age 30.

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