/ laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"
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I had a pretty good post written up covering about everything I saw tonight, but somehow I lost it all. (nothing I hate more than having to re-type what I just posted. ****en ****.
Let me try to re-create it
Let me try to re-create it
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
Yikes .376 from the field and 10-18 from the free throw line - AND WE WON!
The best exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up.Comment
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
It think that is might rhyme with Unclebuck...
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
OK, here is a shorten version.
Just got back from the game and I didn't see game 1.
Offense: I loved the ball movement. No one held the ball, no one tried to do things on their own. I was thinking as I was sitting there at the game tonight. Is the ball movement helping the Pacers shoot well or is the good shooting helping the ball movement - probably combo of both.
I enjoyed seeing the Pacers run a play that the Celts used to run with Pierce and Walker. The power forward has the ball near the top of the key, and the guard or small forward flashes into the post. It is a good play because all the big defenders are drawn out of the lane.
Defense: I loved the effort, I loved how there was a system of play, I loved how the players were all playing together. But what I loved most of all is I actually saw TEAM DEFENSE. I saw weakside help, I saw players looking to help. Sure there were times when the defense over-pursued, but that is better than giving up lay up after layup. And the players were actually in a defensive stance most of the time - reminded me of when Mike Brown ran the defense.
Players:
Need to start with Diener . I don't want to draw too many conclusions, this was afterall a preseason game. But he was extremely impressive. Mal and I were trying to think of when the Pacers ever had a better shooting point guard - and I couldn't think of when the NBA Pacers ever had a better shooting point. Sure he isn't going to shoot this well every game and teams will start playing him closer - but that is OK as that will open up other things.
But his shooting was not the only thing that impressed me. His leadership, his passing, his ability to run the pick and roll were all impressive. he should be a great pick and roll player with his shooting teams will have to get out on him and that will really open things up. His ballhhanding was also very good - very high IQ. Defense wasn't terrible - I need to see more bfore I can say for sure.
Owens Sure he looks like Eddie Gill - but he sure doesn't play like him. I liked Owen's defense and physical toughness and he plays extremely hard.
OK- I'm getting tired of posting. I liked what I saw tonight. I might post more a little laterComment
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
Thanks UB. You have no idea how much this is appreciated when you "don't have eyes".
By the way, Diener was a Larry Bird pick-up, right?The best exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up.Comment
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
I said this in the last game thread, but I see a touch of NY's Nate Robinson in Diener. Not the same skill set but definitely the same kind of heart.
All you have to do is watch Travis dive into the first row of seats going for a loose ball to know that he was a great pickup.
But then one fleeting thought of him going up against a guy like Chauncey Billups and I come hurtling back to earth.“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill
“If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning.” - Catherine AirdComment
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
Diener looked good. Diener looked very, very good. He will be an upgrade over any backup PG we have had in some time.
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
I think Dunleavy's game is perfect for the offensive system - I'm thinking he'll be our second best player - probably not the second most important player - but the second best. Whenever he goes out of the game, the offense just doesn't work as well, the ball movement suffers and the Pacers tend to go more one-on-one.
Let me make a few "wild predictions".
1) Foster will play more minutes and will play a lot more crunch time than Murphy.
2) Ike is going to struggle and he will not be part of the regular rotation when all the other big men are healthy - and no, Harrison doesn't count
3) Diener will be in the 3 point contest during allstar weekend.
4) O'Brien will be in the top 3 or 4 this season for coach of the year voting.
5) Daniels will play very little if any point guiard this season. And by that I mean he'll very, very rarely be on the floor without one of the regular point guard. (the only time it might possibly happen is if the other team has a really big point guard and we need Daniels to defend him.
Oh, I thought Shawne Willams played well in the second half.
Just for fun, I want to go down the pacers lineup.
Starters
Tinsley
Dunleavy
Granger
Murphy
JO.
Foster
Marquis
Diener
Rush
Williams
Ike
See that is 11 players - I don't see Ike being in the regular rotation and I see Williams and Rush getting around 10 minutes perComment
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
I sense this team and franchise are finally out of the woods in several ways. The team is enjoyable to watch and for the first time in years it seems we have a plan that makes some sense. We have a defensive scheme that makes sense for the personnel. We also have added just enough good shooters to make a big difference in terms of perimeter shooting. No, the players may not be as talented as 3 years ago, but the team is enjoyable to watch and I believe they will play much more unselfishly. It's truly a breath of fresh air.Comment
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
I agree with a lot of what you say here UB. Couple things tho, first off I think Murphy has looked pretty good so far. Very aggressive and he is playing very strong. I think Dun and Quis will thrive in this offense. They both just seem to look comfortable and although I didn't get to see him tonight, I think Tins will also benefit greatly from it. I also agree that Ike will not fit in and very likely could be moved. He isn't that impressive and I think there is a possibilty will look to trade him either by the trade deadline or next summer.
Also something that needs to be touched on is our rebounding. 7 boards for JO in 23 minutes. 12 for Murphy in 25 minutes. Shawne with 10 boards in 20 minutes. Granted a large part of this was the poor shooting of us and the Sonics, but I still think its encouraging.
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
I really hope that Ike doesn't fall out of the rotation as many suggest.
I think he has a lot to offer. He is such an intense presence on the boards and I love the way he boxes out. He can hit the open jumper as well, and has a wide array of back-to-the-basket post moves. I'd love to see him get some consistent minutes to prove what he can do. I know he can be a very good player in this league if he works on his passing game particularly. But if Shawne is going to be played at the 4 spot, I think one of our bigs has to go.Comment
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
What happened when JO hit his three? What was the situation like? I find it hard to believe that the shot clock was running out under JOB. Just curious.
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
No, Ike does not appear to fit this style, but he's not a bad player even if he never gets any better. Let him develop some more and we might find the guy can run the floor. We also might be in great need of a post presence at some point if JO goes down to injury or opts out. I say we keep Ike until he asks for too much money or expects too much time on the floor.Comment
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Re: Pacers vs Sonics postgame thread
Tinsley did not play because of a bruised right shoulder suffered in practice Thursday. "He can't raise his arm to shoot," said O'Brien, "and it's kind of hard to play basketball if you can't shoot."
Certainly didn't stop him in the past...Comment
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