http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/digest_061023.html
Tinsley’s Play Has Pacers Smiling
By Conrad Brunner | Oct. 23, 2006
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To the public, Jamaal Tinsley usually presents a stoic, almost sullen, personality. His face betrays no emotion, his words are carefully chosen.
To his teammates this year, Tinsley has revealed something new. It's south of the nostrils, north of the chin and smack in between the dimples: a smile so bright it's hard to believe the source and an outgoing, upbeat presence as accompaniment.
"He looks happier, he looks like he's having more fun out there," said Coach Rick Carlisle. "We want the game to be fun. That's part of what we're trying to do here."
Tinsley has created a few smiles of his own with his recent play, racking up 17 assists against three turnovers in the last two preseason games, both victories. The Pacers open their final week of preseason play Tuesday night against Charlotte in Columbia, S.C.
Tinsley
"It's just a different approach," Tinsley said. "In the offseason, I dedicated myself to taking care of my body, hiring a chef, lifting weights and being focused and just more dedicated.
"We've got different guys, a different type of offense and it fits into my hands. And knowing that it's all on us, there's not any more pointing fingers or excuses. Everybody has got to step up and do their job and hold everybody accountable as grown men, as professionals."
With the shift to a faster-paced offense, Tinsley's role has become even more critical because he has his hand on the throttle, and that's been evident in the preseason. In the two games he missed, the Pacers were outscored 35-28 on fast-break points and lost both. In the four games he played, they've outscored their opponents 84-33 and gone 3-1.
"Our season is really going to depend on how well we're able to keep up with Jamaal as a team and how well he runs the show," said Jermaine O'Neal. "He's a prime-time factor. The way he has approached the game this year, the way he's worked out, his mental approach, the leadership he's bringing as a point guard has been phenomenal. He's going to set the pace for us the entire year."
After missing nearly half of the regular-season games the last three seasons with a variety of injuries, Tinsley set two primary individual goals for 2006-07: to appear in at least 80 games and keep his turnovers down.
If he achieves them, his won't be the only chiclets in view.
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FINAL TWO PRESEASON GAMES GAIN IMPORTANCE
Carlisle
Having used six different lineups in the first six preseason games, primarily due to injuries, Carlisle said the final two exhibitions will take on increased importance. Not only are they the final tuneups before the regular season, they just might offer the first chance for the projected starting lineup to open a game together.
"They're always more important because you try to work toward some sort of rotation, although I don't know if we're going to have a real set rotation with this particular team and the style we're playing," Carlisle said. "I just don't know if it translates to that. We're starting to get a little healthier, it appears. Hopefully Marquis and Jermaine can play some and we can kind of make some progress there."
If O'Neal and Daniels return, and Harrington recovers from food poisoning, it will mark the first time this preseason the top seven players (Tinsley, Jackson, Danny Granger, Harrington, O'Neal, Foster and Daniels) were all available.
"These next two are very important because we're trying to get the rotations down, we're trying to get the feel with having everybody out there on the court at the same time," O'Neal said. "Tomorrow night and Thursday night are the last two games to prepare for the regular season. You want to get a feel, especially for myself, I want to get some game-time touches and game-time feeling out there."
The Pacers close out the preseason schedule Thursday at Utah.
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HOMECOMING GAME FOR O'NEAL
O'Neal
After missing the last two games with a sore hamstring, O'Neal will return to action against the Bobcats in his hometown. O'Neal attended Eau Claire High School in Columbia, S.C., and estimated he'll need at least 50 tickets for family and friends.
"My plan is to be out there," O'Neal said Monday. "I practiced today. Ya'll saw me dunk on (assistant coach) Chuck (Person), and it takes a lot of strength to dunk on a 450-pound man."
O'Neal has played in just three preseason games, averaging 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds. With two games remaining before the beginning of the regular season next Wednesday in Charlotte, he knows he needs to get a better feel for how he fits in the new offensive scheme.
"It is important for me to get out there and this pace is what I like," he said. "Everybody thinks I want to get the ball in the low post and come down and be the guy. That's not how we're built. We're built to get up and down, move the ball and get touches. That's how we're going to be the most successful at playing."
Marquis Daniels, who has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury, could make his preseason debut against the Bobcats. But the status of Al Harrington is uncertain; he missed practice due to food poisoning. Daniels, Tinsley and Stephen Jackson were excused from practice to attend to personal business and were expected to join the team in South Carolina this evening.
Orien Greene (broken finger) and John Edwards (groin) are not expected to play.
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ROOKIES ENJOY THEIR MOMENT
White
Williams
Carlisle finally found the play for Shawne Williams. Of course, he had to call a timeout and draw it up first.
"He called a timeout because he wanted to get me over the hump," Williams said. "He said, 'Shawn-ee,' – he calls me Shawn-ee – 'I'm going draw this play up, we're going to set the screen, pop to the top and just everybody clear out.'
"He called that play like six times in a row and said, 'do what you do best: score.' I was like, 'yes, sir. I ain't going to let you down on this one because I don't know the plays and I bet you I can score the ball.' And I scored like five or six times in a row. I feel like that was great for me because I've been having it kind of hard, learning two positions, trying to get acquainted with this NBA game."
Williams had his best preseason game with 11 points and six rebounds in Saturday's 98-91 victory over Minnesota in Moline, Ill. He and fellow rookie James White, who totaled 10 points, combined for 14 in the fina 5:02 as the Pacers pulled away. Neither had reached double figures in the first five games, but both did against the Wolves.
"It's still a struggle, still learning every single day," said White. "You just hope you can get better and better. We've been working at the same things and it came out a little bit in the last game."
It's not like Williams has given up on trying to learn the 50-plus offensive sets. In fact, he, White, Orien Greene, Josh Powell and Maceo Baston spent 90 minutes before Monday's practice running through the plays.
He wants Carlisle to know he's trying.
"If he quits talking to me, something's wrong," Williams said. "I want him to keep talking to me."
Even if he does call him Shawn-ee.
-------------------
Quote; It's not like Williams has given up on trying to learn the 50-plus offensive sets. In fact, he, White, Orien Greene, Josh Powell and Maceo Baston spent 90 minutes before Monday's practice running through the plays.
No Marshall? I wonder if that has any significance?
Tinsley’s Play Has Pacers Smiling
By Conrad Brunner | Oct. 23, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the public, Jamaal Tinsley usually presents a stoic, almost sullen, personality. His face betrays no emotion, his words are carefully chosen.
To his teammates this year, Tinsley has revealed something new. It's south of the nostrils, north of the chin and smack in between the dimples: a smile so bright it's hard to believe the source and an outgoing, upbeat presence as accompaniment.
"He looks happier, he looks like he's having more fun out there," said Coach Rick Carlisle. "We want the game to be fun. That's part of what we're trying to do here."
Tinsley has created a few smiles of his own with his recent play, racking up 17 assists against three turnovers in the last two preseason games, both victories. The Pacers open their final week of preseason play Tuesday night against Charlotte in Columbia, S.C.
Tinsley
"It's just a different approach," Tinsley said. "In the offseason, I dedicated myself to taking care of my body, hiring a chef, lifting weights and being focused and just more dedicated.
"We've got different guys, a different type of offense and it fits into my hands. And knowing that it's all on us, there's not any more pointing fingers or excuses. Everybody has got to step up and do their job and hold everybody accountable as grown men, as professionals."
With the shift to a faster-paced offense, Tinsley's role has become even more critical because he has his hand on the throttle, and that's been evident in the preseason. In the two games he missed, the Pacers were outscored 35-28 on fast-break points and lost both. In the four games he played, they've outscored their opponents 84-33 and gone 3-1.
"Our season is really going to depend on how well we're able to keep up with Jamaal as a team and how well he runs the show," said Jermaine O'Neal. "He's a prime-time factor. The way he has approached the game this year, the way he's worked out, his mental approach, the leadership he's bringing as a point guard has been phenomenal. He's going to set the pace for us the entire year."
After missing nearly half of the regular-season games the last three seasons with a variety of injuries, Tinsley set two primary individual goals for 2006-07: to appear in at least 80 games and keep his turnovers down.
If he achieves them, his won't be the only chiclets in view.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL TWO PRESEASON GAMES GAIN IMPORTANCE
Carlisle
Having used six different lineups in the first six preseason games, primarily due to injuries, Carlisle said the final two exhibitions will take on increased importance. Not only are they the final tuneups before the regular season, they just might offer the first chance for the projected starting lineup to open a game together.
"They're always more important because you try to work toward some sort of rotation, although I don't know if we're going to have a real set rotation with this particular team and the style we're playing," Carlisle said. "I just don't know if it translates to that. We're starting to get a little healthier, it appears. Hopefully Marquis and Jermaine can play some and we can kind of make some progress there."
If O'Neal and Daniels return, and Harrington recovers from food poisoning, it will mark the first time this preseason the top seven players (Tinsley, Jackson, Danny Granger, Harrington, O'Neal, Foster and Daniels) were all available.
"These next two are very important because we're trying to get the rotations down, we're trying to get the feel with having everybody out there on the court at the same time," O'Neal said. "Tomorrow night and Thursday night are the last two games to prepare for the regular season. You want to get a feel, especially for myself, I want to get some game-time touches and game-time feeling out there."
The Pacers close out the preseason schedule Thursday at Utah.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOMECOMING GAME FOR O'NEAL
O'Neal
After missing the last two games with a sore hamstring, O'Neal will return to action against the Bobcats in his hometown. O'Neal attended Eau Claire High School in Columbia, S.C., and estimated he'll need at least 50 tickets for family and friends.
"My plan is to be out there," O'Neal said Monday. "I practiced today. Ya'll saw me dunk on (assistant coach) Chuck (Person), and it takes a lot of strength to dunk on a 450-pound man."
O'Neal has played in just three preseason games, averaging 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds. With two games remaining before the beginning of the regular season next Wednesday in Charlotte, he knows he needs to get a better feel for how he fits in the new offensive scheme.
"It is important for me to get out there and this pace is what I like," he said. "Everybody thinks I want to get the ball in the low post and come down and be the guy. That's not how we're built. We're built to get up and down, move the ball and get touches. That's how we're going to be the most successful at playing."
Marquis Daniels, who has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury, could make his preseason debut against the Bobcats. But the status of Al Harrington is uncertain; he missed practice due to food poisoning. Daniels, Tinsley and Stephen Jackson were excused from practice to attend to personal business and were expected to join the team in South Carolina this evening.
Orien Greene (broken finger) and John Edwards (groin) are not expected to play.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROOKIES ENJOY THEIR MOMENT
White
Williams
Carlisle finally found the play for Shawne Williams. Of course, he had to call a timeout and draw it up first.
"He called a timeout because he wanted to get me over the hump," Williams said. "He said, 'Shawn-ee,' – he calls me Shawn-ee – 'I'm going draw this play up, we're going to set the screen, pop to the top and just everybody clear out.'
"He called that play like six times in a row and said, 'do what you do best: score.' I was like, 'yes, sir. I ain't going to let you down on this one because I don't know the plays and I bet you I can score the ball.' And I scored like five or six times in a row. I feel like that was great for me because I've been having it kind of hard, learning two positions, trying to get acquainted with this NBA game."
Williams had his best preseason game with 11 points and six rebounds in Saturday's 98-91 victory over Minnesota in Moline, Ill. He and fellow rookie James White, who totaled 10 points, combined for 14 in the fina 5:02 as the Pacers pulled away. Neither had reached double figures in the first five games, but both did against the Wolves.
"It's still a struggle, still learning every single day," said White. "You just hope you can get better and better. We've been working at the same things and it came out a little bit in the last game."
It's not like Williams has given up on trying to learn the 50-plus offensive sets. In fact, he, White, Orien Greene, Josh Powell and Maceo Baston spent 90 minutes before Monday's practice running through the plays.
He wants Carlisle to know he's trying.
"If he quits talking to me, something's wrong," Williams said. "I want him to keep talking to me."
Even if he does call him Shawn-ee.
-------------------
Quote; It's not like Williams has given up on trying to learn the 50-plus offensive sets. In fact, he, White, Orien Greene, Josh Powell and Maceo Baston spent 90 minutes before Monday's practice running through the plays.
No Marshall? I wonder if that has any significance?
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