GRANGER, HARRINGTON, O'NEAL UP FRONT
Carlisle To Open With Smaller Lineup
By Conrad Brunner | Oct. 31, 2006
Rick Carlisle hasn't been able to see as much as he'd like, but he has seen enough to decide to open the season with the smaller frontcourt combination of Danny Granger, Al Harrington and Jermaine O'Neal.
Those three are expected to start along with guards Jamaal Tinsley and Stephen Jackson when the Pacers face the Bobcats Wednesday night in Charlotte.
"We're probably going to start the way we started the last couple of games and go from there," Carlisle said. "And then there are infinite possibilities.
We've got to find out what works best. I like a lot of the things I have seen but it's been hard to get a real solid evaluation because of the injury situations and people coming back into it and stuff. But this is how we're going to go tomorrow and go from there."
The Pacers lost all three of the preseason games in which Granger, Harrington and O'Neal started, including the last two. O'Neal was in and out of the lineup with minor injuries and averaged 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. Harrington led the team scoring (17.0), adding 5.0 rebounds and 15 steals. Granger averaged 10.0 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Though the lineup means O'Neal will generally be defending the biggest opponent, he's ready to assume the additional defensive responsibilities, not to mention dial down his role in the offense if necessary.
"I'm prepared to deal with the bigger guys, prepared to deal with the tougher work," he said. "Al is 6-9, 250 and he can definitely help but I've got to really concentrate a lot on rebounding and blocking shots.
Offensively, I'm not as concerned about that because we have guys – Granger, (Stephen) Jackson, Harrington, (Jamaal) Tinsley, Marquis (Daniels), Sarunas (Jasikevicius) – who can go out and make plays.
I don't want to get into a situation where we're catching and holding. I have no problem with having less points this year and winning. At this point of my career and in this game it's general, it's all about winning. You have to be willing to take a couple steps back to reach the ultimate goal."
The key for the smaller group will be playing solid defense and holding its own on the boards in order to fuel the up-tempo offense.
"It's good so far," Harrington said. "The biggest thing we have to work on is rebounding, being smaller. I got five and (O'Neal) got around six or seven in limited minutes.
Hopefully we can add onto that and get at least 10 and 8 each night."Though Jeff Foster becomes the odd man out, the veteran has no qualms about relegation to the second unit.
"Except for that year we went to the Eastern Conference Finals (2003-04) it's been kind of hit or miss for the last couple of years anyway, just kind of depending on who's healthy and who's not," he said.
"I still expect to hopefully get a chance to play at least 20 minutes and when I'm in there I'll do what I do, try to up the tempo of the guys on offense and try to help as much as I can on defense."
FAST BREAKS: RELATIVELY SHORT INJURY LIST
For the first time in recent memory, the Pacers will open the season without a major injury issue.
Though Orien Greene will begin the season on the inactive list because of a broken finger on his left hand, he's expected to return soon. Last season, the projected starting lineup never took the floor. This year, it will do so on opening night.
First-round pick Shawne Williams may be headed for some time in the D-League. With just one year of college experience, Williams stands to benefit from the playing time offered by the Pacers' affiliate in Albuquerque, N.M., coached by Michael Cooper.
"I don't know all the specifics or when or any of that, but it's a possibility," Carlisle said. "We've got a lot of players in his positions and if there's not going to be an opportunity for him to get some minutes, the D-League might be a great opportunity for him."
O'Neal plans to take the team out to dinner tonight at an undisclosed location after they arrive in Charlotte. "I'm going to take them to get a nice steak or whatever they want," he said. "I want to make sure they get a nice dinner, get some rest and get ready for tomorrow night's game."
Pacers.com
Carlisle To Open With Smaller Lineup
By Conrad Brunner | Oct. 31, 2006
Rick Carlisle hasn't been able to see as much as he'd like, but he has seen enough to decide to open the season with the smaller frontcourt combination of Danny Granger, Al Harrington and Jermaine O'Neal.
Those three are expected to start along with guards Jamaal Tinsley and Stephen Jackson when the Pacers face the Bobcats Wednesday night in Charlotte.
"We're probably going to start the way we started the last couple of games and go from there," Carlisle said. "And then there are infinite possibilities.
We've got to find out what works best. I like a lot of the things I have seen but it's been hard to get a real solid evaluation because of the injury situations and people coming back into it and stuff. But this is how we're going to go tomorrow and go from there."
The Pacers lost all three of the preseason games in which Granger, Harrington and O'Neal started, including the last two. O'Neal was in and out of the lineup with minor injuries and averaged 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. Harrington led the team scoring (17.0), adding 5.0 rebounds and 15 steals. Granger averaged 10.0 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Though the lineup means O'Neal will generally be defending the biggest opponent, he's ready to assume the additional defensive responsibilities, not to mention dial down his role in the offense if necessary.
"I'm prepared to deal with the bigger guys, prepared to deal with the tougher work," he said. "Al is 6-9, 250 and he can definitely help but I've got to really concentrate a lot on rebounding and blocking shots.
Offensively, I'm not as concerned about that because we have guys – Granger, (Stephen) Jackson, Harrington, (Jamaal) Tinsley, Marquis (Daniels), Sarunas (Jasikevicius) – who can go out and make plays.
I don't want to get into a situation where we're catching and holding. I have no problem with having less points this year and winning. At this point of my career and in this game it's general, it's all about winning. You have to be willing to take a couple steps back to reach the ultimate goal."
The key for the smaller group will be playing solid defense and holding its own on the boards in order to fuel the up-tempo offense.
"It's good so far," Harrington said. "The biggest thing we have to work on is rebounding, being smaller. I got five and (O'Neal) got around six or seven in limited minutes.
Hopefully we can add onto that and get at least 10 and 8 each night."Though Jeff Foster becomes the odd man out, the veteran has no qualms about relegation to the second unit.
"Except for that year we went to the Eastern Conference Finals (2003-04) it's been kind of hit or miss for the last couple of years anyway, just kind of depending on who's healthy and who's not," he said.
"I still expect to hopefully get a chance to play at least 20 minutes and when I'm in there I'll do what I do, try to up the tempo of the guys on offense and try to help as much as I can on defense."
FAST BREAKS: RELATIVELY SHORT INJURY LIST
For the first time in recent memory, the Pacers will open the season without a major injury issue.
Though Orien Greene will begin the season on the inactive list because of a broken finger on his left hand, he's expected to return soon. Last season, the projected starting lineup never took the floor. This year, it will do so on opening night.
First-round pick Shawne Williams may be headed for some time in the D-League. With just one year of college experience, Williams stands to benefit from the playing time offered by the Pacers' affiliate in Albuquerque, N.M., coached by Michael Cooper.
"I don't know all the specifics or when or any of that, but it's a possibility," Carlisle said. "We've got a lot of players in his positions and if there's not going to be an opportunity for him to get some minutes, the D-League might be a great opportunity for him."
O'Neal plans to take the team out to dinner tonight at an undisclosed location after they arrive in Charlotte. "I'm going to take them to get a nice steak or whatever they want," he said. "I want to make sure they get a nice dinner, get some rest and get ready for tomorrow night's game."
Pacers.com
Comment