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By Mike Wells
Pacers playing Hibbert off the bench
Foster in starting lineup at center to give team more mobility
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien wants to accomplish more than just win some games during the team's four-game West Coast trip.
O'Brien hopes to settle on a rotation by the time the team returns to Indianapolis on Sunday. The position that could have the most impact is at center.
O'Brien is taking a serious look at making veteran Jeff Foster the permanent starting center over second-year player Roy Hibbert.
"I have to decide whether Jeff should be the guy that starts for us," O'Brien said. "He's so successful in the plus/minus (category) all the time."
O'Brien started Foster against Golden State on Monday for match-up purposes because Hibbert has a difficult time defending athletic big men who play on the perimeter.
Hibbert, who recorded a double-double in points and rebounds in five of the first seven games, went into Monday's game having not reached double figures in points or grabbed more than four rebounds in the past five games.
Hibbert isn't the only big man feeling the pinch in playing time.
Solomon Jones, who was Hibbert's backup at the start of the season, hasn't played more than 16 minutes since the Nov. 11 game against Golden State at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"Like everybody on our team, you have to earn minutes," O'Brien said. "I give guys a starting job to try to pull them out of a downslide. Ultimately you earn your minutes; you earn them by producing and it becomes pretty apparent through statistical analysis whether or not an individual is producing or a combination of individuals are producing."
O'Brien continues to start Brandon Rush over Dahntay Jones at shooting guard despite Jones clearly outplaying him this season because O'Brien hopes it will get Rush back on track and help his confidence.
O'Brien hopes to have settled on a nine- or 10-man rotation by the time the trip ends.
"When you're 6-8, and as a staff you don't feel like you're playing with a flow offensively, you have to look at things," O'Brien said. "We're searching right now. Hopefully we'll come off this trip and decide whether or not we have a solid rotation."
Foster in starting lineup at center to give team more mobility
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien wants to accomplish more than just win some games during the team's four-game West Coast trip.
O'Brien hopes to settle on a rotation by the time the team returns to Indianapolis on Sunday. The position that could have the most impact is at center.
O'Brien is taking a serious look at making veteran Jeff Foster the permanent starting center over second-year player Roy Hibbert.
"I have to decide whether Jeff should be the guy that starts for us," O'Brien said. "He's so successful in the plus/minus (category) all the time."
O'Brien started Foster against Golden State on Monday for match-up purposes because Hibbert has a difficult time defending athletic big men who play on the perimeter.
Hibbert, who recorded a double-double in points and rebounds in five of the first seven games, went into Monday's game having not reached double figures in points or grabbed more than four rebounds in the past five games.
Hibbert isn't the only big man feeling the pinch in playing time.
Solomon Jones, who was Hibbert's backup at the start of the season, hasn't played more than 16 minutes since the Nov. 11 game against Golden State at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"Like everybody on our team, you have to earn minutes," O'Brien said. "I give guys a starting job to try to pull them out of a downslide. Ultimately you earn your minutes; you earn them by producing and it becomes pretty apparent through statistical analysis whether or not an individual is producing or a combination of individuals are producing."
O'Brien continues to start Brandon Rush over Dahntay Jones at shooting guard despite Jones clearly outplaying him this season because O'Brien hopes it will get Rush back on track and help his confidence.
O'Brien hopes to have settled on a nine- or 10-man rotation by the time the trip ends.
"When you're 6-8, and as a staff you don't feel like you're playing with a flow offensively, you have to look at things," O'Brien said. "We're searching right now. Hopefully we'll come off this trip and decide whether or not we have a solid rotation."
We had more success with him coming off the bench and Roy starting.
I hate it that Roy is losing deserved minutes when we really can use his height and body down low.
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