Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

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  • Peck
    Administrator
    • Jan 2004
    • 19955

    Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...



    It has been four years now, and finally, finally all the remnants of The Brawl have been swept into the dustbin.

    Ron Artest is gone. Stephen Jackson is gone. David Harrison is gone. Jermaine O'Neal is gone. And Jamaal Tinsley is virtually gone.


    There is only one player left from that November night in 2004 -- Jeff Foster -- and he was a relative non-participant in The Brawl.

    Everybody else? History.

    Can I get a hallelujah?

    "One of the things we talked about this past summer was getting beyond The Brawl, getting it out of here," Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird said Sunday after the team's well-attended Fan Jam. "We wanted to start fresh with guys who want to play here and guys who will do the necessary things in the community."

    Conseco Fieldhouse finally has been swept clean, and while the new version of the Pacers doesn't figure to be a whole lot better than recent incarnations of the team -- I'm saying they will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year -- they surely will be more watchable, more competitive and more likable.

    The increase in Q ratings won't earn them many victories, but the team Bird and general manager David Morway have cobbled together will begin the rebuilding process that should have begun two years earlier.

    This is, by conservative estimate, a .500 team in the best of circumstances. If their top players stay relatively healthy, if coach Jim O'Brien can coax another career season from Mike Dunleavy and sustain the progress of Danny Granger, this team could fight for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

    But while making the playoffs might be important to the owners, the front office and the players, the postseason isn't imperative when you look at the bigger picture. This team is a star or two from being a true contender, and the only real way to get those kinds of players is through the draft lottery.

    The best move Bird made was moving O'Neal's onerous contract, which would have handicapped the Pacers for two more years at more than $44 million. Now they're not only below the luxury tax threshold -- a very important number for owners who've lost money on the Pacers recently -- but figure to have some salary cap flexibility next summer.

    Rasho Nesterovic is in the final season of an $8.4 million deal. Marquis Daniels has one year left at $6.8 million. Both Jarrett Jack and Granger will be restricted free agents, although it's likely the Pacers will sign Granger to a long-term deal.

    "We'll be in a position to make some changes that fill certain needs," Bird said.

    The biggest improvement will come in the backcourt, which has gone from an area of weakness to a strength in one summer. T.J. Ford was born for O'Brien's system. And Jack is as solid a backup as there is in the league.

    The Pacers also figure to have a lot of flexibility at the swing positions. Dunleavy is coming off the best year of his career. Daniels, an intriguing talent whose health has betrayed him so far in Indianapolis, can be a nice player if he stays in one piece. Brandon Rush has shown glimpses of excellence, although it can never be forgotten that he's a rookie.

    Then there's Granger, who has the freedom now to be a leader and has the contractual incentive to grow into an All-Star. This is his "show me" season, a chance to establish himself as the future centerpiece of this franchise.

    It's in the frontcourt that there are questions.

    Nesterovic is a solid big man with a nice shooting touch, but he's not going to strike fear in opponents on defense. Troy Murphy has myriad offensive skills, but again, he's limited defensively. Foster? We know his game; he will hustle and get rebounds, but he won't score in the post.

    The real intrigue will be watching the development of Roy Hibbert, who, like Rush, has shown good signs in the preseason. It often takes big men longer to develop than it does smaller players, but if the young guy can contribute on defense without fouling out in 10 minutes, the Pacers will have a gem.

    Give Bird and Morway credit: They've done the necessary dirty work to make the Pacers palatable again. They've made the hard decisions that former CEO Donnie Walsh had neither the stomach nor the desire to make. They've mopped the floors and scrubbed the walls and even did some latrine duty along the way, which isn't the kind of thing you might expect Larry Legend to be doing at this point in his life.

    All of the Brawlers are gone, or, in the case of Tinsley, almost gone.

    Even Shawne Williams, the perpetually misguided bust of a first-round draft choice, was dealt for the equivalent of a fish sandwich.

    Bird has two years left on his contract, and I asked him if two years was enough to complete the rebuilding of this franchise.

    He didn't wince.

    "I'm not worried about that," he said. "Whether I'm here or not, whoever comes in is going to have a great start. I didn't worry about (the contract) my last year of coaching and I'm not worried now."

    Four years after The Brawl, that terrible night outside Detroit is finally in the rear-view mirror.

    Finally, the Pacers, the New Pacers, can move on.

    ************************************************** *******

    He alludes to it later in the article but I want to say it for him. I think it is appropriate to include Donnie Walsh in that list of people who are out the door in all of this as well.

    I am not going to get into a Donnie debate here as we have covered this a million times. But I think the entire team needed a makeover and frankly it wasn't going to happen with Walsh at the helm.

    As to the rest of the article, meh. It's Bob what can you say. He is just doing his job by trying to be the straw that stirs the drink.

    Of course I happen to agree with him on this one though.


    Basketball isn't played with computers, spreadsheets, and simulations. ChicagoJ 4/21/13
  • duke dynamite
    #IndyForever
    • Dec 2006
    • 13380

    #2
    Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

    His article reminds us who know, the obvious. I guess it is good for the people who have lived under a rock for a few years, or have put themselves under a rock to embrace this "news".

    Mr. Kravitz, you never fail to amaze me. And not in the good way.

    Comment

    • MillerTime
      FREE LANCE
      • May 2008
      • 7626

      #3
      Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

      excellent read !
      "So, which one of you guys is going to come in second?" - Larry Bird before the 3 point contest. He won.


      Comment

      • Vince Neil
        It's my opinion, relax!
        • Jul 2007
        • 143

        #4
        Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

        Excellent article.

        Comment

        • RamBo_Lamar
          Member
          • Aug 2006
          • 2591

          #5
          Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

          And Jamaal Tinsley is virtually gone.
          So by saying this, is this how he intends to get out of walking to Kokomo?


          Training camp has broken, and Tinsley is still on the roster.

          START WALKING KRAVITZ

          Comment

          • Ramitt
            Member
            • Jun 2008
            • 263

            #6
            Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

            Originally posted by Peck
            Even Shawne Williams, the perpetually misguided bust of a first-round draft choice, was dealt for the equivalent of a fish sandwich.
            i thought we at least got a value meal for him.

            Comment

            • Shade
              Administrator
              • Jan 2004
              • 51892

              #7
              Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

              Was that actually a somewhat even-handed article by ?

              I guess he was loooooooooong overdue.

              Comment

              • Unclebuck
                Administrator
                • Jan 2004
                • 36200

                #8
                Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

                Bob doesn't have to walk to Kokomo - Tinsley is not on the roster as far as I'm concerned.

                Comment

                • RamBo_Lamar
                  Member
                  • Aug 2006
                  • 2591

                  #9
                  Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

                  Originally posted by Unclebuck
                  Bob doesn't have to walk to Kokomo - Tinsley is not on the roster as far as I'm concerned.

                  Sorry to say UB, but I must disagree.

                  While he is no longer an active member of the team, technically he is still
                  on the roster taking that 15th spot that could be occupied by a potential
                  contributor.

                  Check out the current Indiana Pacers roster and learn more about your favorite players with access to bios, photos and stats on NBA.com



                  I recommend getting some Dr. Scholls insoles for your walking shoes before
                  getting started Mr. Kravitz.
                  Last edited by RamBo_Lamar; 10-29-2008, 11:07 AM.

                  Comment

                  • Since86
                    Member
                    • Dec 2004
                    • 27818

                    #10
                    Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

                    I just skimmed the article, like I always do, so couple that with me usually being wrong, but isn't this the opposite direction he had about two weeks ago?
                    Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right.” ― Ricky Gervais.

                    Comment

                    • BPump33
                      Member
                      • Feb 2008
                      • 1885

                      #11
                      Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

                      I was listening to Kravitz's show on the way home yesterday and he volunteered to walk 10% of the way and was hoping to somehow incorporate charity into the mix.
                      Passion. Pride. Patience. Pacers

                      Comment

                      • ABADays
                        Boom Baby'er
                        • Jan 2004
                        • 6246

                        #12
                        Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

                        Soooo Kravitz writes a column on opening day. Seems logical to me. The obvious he states seems no more offensive than those who watch post game highlights or press onferences. I mean, you saw the game why do you need to see or hear the obvious afterward? Or even moreso, why do you need to listen to the announcers tell you what you are seeing with your own eyes?

                        I don't have feelings one way or the other about Bob but there are too many guys who take what he writes wayyyyyyyy too seriously. It's an OPINION and we all have those.
                        The best exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up.

                        Comment

                        • grace
                          woman without a team
                          • Jan 2004
                          • 7050

                          #13
                          Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

                          Originally posted by Unclebuck
                          Bob doesn't have to walk to Kokomo - Tinsley is not on the roster as far as I'm concerned.
                          He still gets paid doesn't he? That means he's still a member of the team and better start walking and not come back!

                          Comment

                          • Unclebuck
                            Administrator
                            • Jan 2004
                            • 36200

                            #14
                            Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

                            I decided to consult our good friend Wikipedia to help decide this question as to whether Tinsley is truly "on the roster"



                            A roster can be a list of people and the times when they are required to work.

                            A roster may also mean a list of people who participate in an event. Although rosters can be associated with non-competitive events, they are most commonly associated with athletics.

                            __________________________________________________ ___________________________

                            Ok, clearly Tinsley is not required to show up to work, nor is he a person who participates in an event. So I think it is crystal clear - JT is not on the roster. (No where on Wkipedia does it say a roster is a list of names on Pacers.com)

                            Comment

                            • Since86
                              Member
                              • Dec 2004
                              • 27818

                              #15
                              Re: Obviously the season is beginning so Bob will share his views with us...

                              Originally posted by Unclebuck
                              I decided to consult our good friend Wikipedia to help decide this question as to whether Tinsley is truly "on the roster"



                              A roster can be a list of people and the times when they are required to work.

                              A roster may also mean a list of people who participate in an event. Although rosters can be associated with non-competitive events, they are most commonly associated with athletics.

                              __________________________________________________ ___________________________

                              Ok, clearly Tinsley is not required to show up to work, nor is he a person who participates in an event. So I think it is crystal clear - JT is not on the roster. (No where on Wkipedia does it say a roster is a list of names on Pacers.com)
                              He counts towards the cap doesn't he? As far as the league's concern, he is a Pacers player.

                              EDIT: Don't you know wiki isn't a credible source?

                              Dictionary.com defines a roster as:
                              1. a list of persons or groups, as of military personnel or units with their turns or periods of duty.
                              2. any list, roll, or register: a roster of famous scientists; a roster of coming events

                              The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years!


                              Tinsley is on the list of Pacer players, so he is on the roster.

                              EDIT #2: Hell, he's even on the Pacers website on the roster.
                              Check out the current Indiana Pacers roster and learn more about your favorite players with access to bios, photos and stats on NBA.com
                              Last edited by Since86; 10-29-2008, 03:42 PM.
                              Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right.” ― Ricky Gervais.

                              Comment

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