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Odd Thoughts: Skinning the Cats
Odd Thoughts: Skinning the Cats
Written by Peck
Link
I’m thinking about starting a segment called “how would Jim O’Brien have lost this game”. Ok, I’m kidding (sort of) but I can’t help it tonight as I want to share with you why I feel that had we not had the coaching change, this game vs. the Bobcats would have gone another way.
I take you to the very last made basket of the ball game. Think about who made it and the circumstance of why it was made. Roy Hibbert misses a layup that falls out and from the right side of the rim, in swoops a soaring Josh McRoberts to tip the ball in giving the Pacers a 104-102 lead. The only other point scored the rest of the game was a free throw (after missing one) by Gerald Wallace.
Go back in time just three weeks ago and ask yourself if all things were the same but the coach was different do you believe that Josh would have been in the game? You might say but maybe Tyler would have been in the game. Then you would have to ask was he the closer on most nights?
I think we all know where I’m going with this. Most of us who are not delusional know that the person playing in that situation would have shared the same first name as our fourth, fifth, eleventh, fifteenth and nineteenth Presidents and has a last name that rhymes with Rosy. This said player would have been firmly planted beyond the three point arc and chasing the offensive rebound would not have been a priority or even a thought.
However that was then this is now and instead of focusing on something that didn’t happen we are going to use this space to rejoice over the plays that did occur.
It’s Odd Thoughts and as with all Odd Thought’s were going everywhere tonight, so strap in, keep both arms inside the cart and hold on to personal belongings cause (cue Heath Ledger) here we go.
I’ll be honest I was yelling for the Pacers to run off of the floor and was begging for the fieldhouse staff to shut the power off just as soon as the game ended. I thought the referee’s were walking over to review the play and I was just as sure as the world that Jackson would have been sent to the line to shoot three free throws with no time remaining. However much to my joy and surprise they walked over picked up their jackets and walked off of the floor.
See Stephen it doesn’t always pay to be a Douche Bag to the referee’s.
Once I got home and saw the replay on NBA TV, which I watched over and over again, I think the referee’s made the right call. However let’s not kid ourselves either had that been Wade, Bryant, James, etc. shooting that shot I think we all know they are going to the line.
Now in all honesty some fans are going to be upset that the Pacers once again let a lead disappear in the fourth quarter and yes there is some justification for concern. But overall I think the more important thing is that this young team (it’s so nice to actually say that and mean it) is learning and has had the poise to pull this out.
I mean this was an important game to the Bobcats, we were on the back end of a back to back where we spent a lot of energy trying to beat one of the best teams in the NBA and the Bobcats have been playing very well lately.
There are reasons we could have folded tent and lost, but we didn’t.
Someone said that Pacers need to learn to play under pressure and I say that is exactly what they are doing. I don’t mean they are playing perfect under pressure, I’m saying that they are learning to play this way and in many cases this is the first time they have been exposed to these late game situations.
Let’s look at some players.
I’m going to just say our starting front line was the player of the game, well honorable mention to Gerald Wallace for missing the free throw, as all three of our starters were just outstanding.
I’m not sure I can say one was more valuable than the other. Danny was efficient and hit important shots, Roy was dominant on the inside and had a defensive presence and Josh was just overall outstanding and had an interior behind the back pass that Mark Jackson would have been proud of, not to mention the game winning basket (although it was not a last second shot but still the game winner none the less).
Both Tyler and Jeff struggled a little tonight but that’s cool, they have been excellent in the previous five games.
Also I thought this was the first good game that A.J. Price has played since Vogel took over as coach.
The two players right now that are having the hardest time adjusting to the new system are Price & Dunleavy and in Price’s case I think it won’t take him to long to adjust but he is going to have to get used to being a distributer again as opposed to just a scorer. It’ll come but it might take awhile to get there.
Ok stat of the night time.
We, the Indiana Pacers, took a total of 11 three point shots tonight. That used to be a half, heck sometimes a quarter, for our club.
The fact that we hit almost 50% of those shots sure helps as well, but I can not tell you how happy I am to no longer have to suffer through watching 3 after 3 after 3 be thrown towards the basket.
Second stat of the night. Indiana wins the rebound battle 42-40 thus making it six out of six games that we have won the battle of the boards.
Does anyone think it is a coincidence that we have won 5 of those 6?
Furthermore does anyone miss playing small?
Ok some odd questions about the Bobcats.
Does anyone suspect that the players talk back much to the coaching staff there now? I mean for the love of God Paul Silas is a big bad man in his own right but then his assistant is Charles Oakley. Whew that’s a whole lot of badness on the sidelines, to bad it doesn’t translate into floor play for them.
Is the official sponsor of the Bobcats hostess? I mean I’m a fat man but I’m also an old man who does not play professional basketball. Good Lord Boris Diaw looked like he had two pigs in a gunny sack whenever he ran in the opposite direction and I’m pretty sure that he and Sherron Collins might have shared the same pie (or more likely 7 layer cake) prior to the game. I think I now understand what happened to Sean May.
Ok now an odd thought about some general NBA news. I am now amused to no end that Carmelo Anthony is considering signing an extension with the Nuggets if he is not traded. Seems that now maybe the prospect of losing that kind of money might actually outweigh the bright lights of the Empire City. For the fans of Denver I hope that this is the way it works out. As a former ABA city and fellow small market team I really feel for the fans out there who have had to endure this and they don’t deserve to be sent to NBA purgatory. The fact that it keeps Carmelo out of the East and away from N.Y. does not offend me either.
Not that I’m complaining but man what the heck is up with the Bucks? I know they have had some injuries but both Jennings and Bogut have been playing and they are still losing. You have to wonder how long Skiles will be able to keep his job. I’d love to have Scott here but right now I think the team actually needs a lighter touch and a more up beat positive person to counter the three previous years of tyranny.
I can’t tell you how happy I am to once again be able to do these without having to think about you know who and how he impacted every single aspect of the game for us. From the players on the floor to the plays they were running.
Now we can just focus on the players and how they are performing their jobs.
We didn’t do that much in this one, which I apologize for. We’ll be sure to get more in depth later.
Late edit: Ha, I just figured out a way to cheat the system.
In honor of a good game and a great run of 5 wins in 6 games I give you all the gift of Dancing fruit.
:
Written by Peck
Link
I’m thinking about starting a segment called “how would Jim O’Brien have lost this game”. Ok, I’m kidding (sort of) but I can’t help it tonight as I want to share with you why I feel that had we not had the coaching change, this game vs. the Bobcats would have gone another way.
I take you to the very last made basket of the ball game. Think about who made it and the circumstance of why it was made. Roy Hibbert misses a layup that falls out and from the right side of the rim, in swoops a soaring Josh McRoberts to tip the ball in giving the Pacers a 104-102 lead. The only other point scored the rest of the game was a free throw (after missing one) by Gerald Wallace.
Go back in time just three weeks ago and ask yourself if all things were the same but the coach was different do you believe that Josh would have been in the game? You might say but maybe Tyler would have been in the game. Then you would have to ask was he the closer on most nights?
I think we all know where I’m going with this. Most of us who are not delusional know that the person playing in that situation would have shared the same first name as our fourth, fifth, eleventh, fifteenth and nineteenth Presidents and has a last name that rhymes with Rosy. This said player would have been firmly planted beyond the three point arc and chasing the offensive rebound would not have been a priority or even a thought.
However that was then this is now and instead of focusing on something that didn’t happen we are going to use this space to rejoice over the plays that did occur.
It’s Odd Thoughts and as with all Odd Thought’s were going everywhere tonight, so strap in, keep both arms inside the cart and hold on to personal belongings cause (cue Heath Ledger) here we go.
I’ll be honest I was yelling for the Pacers to run off of the floor and was begging for the fieldhouse staff to shut the power off just as soon as the game ended. I thought the referee’s were walking over to review the play and I was just as sure as the world that Jackson would have been sent to the line to shoot three free throws with no time remaining. However much to my joy and surprise they walked over picked up their jackets and walked off of the floor.
See Stephen it doesn’t always pay to be a Douche Bag to the referee’s.
Once I got home and saw the replay on NBA TV, which I watched over and over again, I think the referee’s made the right call. However let’s not kid ourselves either had that been Wade, Bryant, James, etc. shooting that shot I think we all know they are going to the line.
Now in all honesty some fans are going to be upset that the Pacers once again let a lead disappear in the fourth quarter and yes there is some justification for concern. But overall I think the more important thing is that this young team (it’s so nice to actually say that and mean it) is learning and has had the poise to pull this out.
I mean this was an important game to the Bobcats, we were on the back end of a back to back where we spent a lot of energy trying to beat one of the best teams in the NBA and the Bobcats have been playing very well lately.
There are reasons we could have folded tent and lost, but we didn’t.
Someone said that Pacers need to learn to play under pressure and I say that is exactly what they are doing. I don’t mean they are playing perfect under pressure, I’m saying that they are learning to play this way and in many cases this is the first time they have been exposed to these late game situations.
Let’s look at some players.
I’m going to just say our starting front line was the player of the game, well honorable mention to Gerald Wallace for missing the free throw, as all three of our starters were just outstanding.
I’m not sure I can say one was more valuable than the other. Danny was efficient and hit important shots, Roy was dominant on the inside and had a defensive presence and Josh was just overall outstanding and had an interior behind the back pass that Mark Jackson would have been proud of, not to mention the game winning basket (although it was not a last second shot but still the game winner none the less).
Both Tyler and Jeff struggled a little tonight but that’s cool, they have been excellent in the previous five games.
Also I thought this was the first good game that A.J. Price has played since Vogel took over as coach.
The two players right now that are having the hardest time adjusting to the new system are Price & Dunleavy and in Price’s case I think it won’t take him to long to adjust but he is going to have to get used to being a distributer again as opposed to just a scorer. It’ll come but it might take awhile to get there.
Ok stat of the night time.
We, the Indiana Pacers, took a total of 11 three point shots tonight. That used to be a half, heck sometimes a quarter, for our club.
The fact that we hit almost 50% of those shots sure helps as well, but I can not tell you how happy I am to no longer have to suffer through watching 3 after 3 after 3 be thrown towards the basket.
Second stat of the night. Indiana wins the rebound battle 42-40 thus making it six out of six games that we have won the battle of the boards.
Does anyone think it is a coincidence that we have won 5 of those 6?
Furthermore does anyone miss playing small?
Ok some odd questions about the Bobcats.
Does anyone suspect that the players talk back much to the coaching staff there now? I mean for the love of God Paul Silas is a big bad man in his own right but then his assistant is Charles Oakley. Whew that’s a whole lot of badness on the sidelines, to bad it doesn’t translate into floor play for them.
Is the official sponsor of the Bobcats hostess? I mean I’m a fat man but I’m also an old man who does not play professional basketball. Good Lord Boris Diaw looked like he had two pigs in a gunny sack whenever he ran in the opposite direction and I’m pretty sure that he and Sherron Collins might have shared the same pie (or more likely 7 layer cake) prior to the game. I think I now understand what happened to Sean May.
Ok now an odd thought about some general NBA news. I am now amused to no end that Carmelo Anthony is considering signing an extension with the Nuggets if he is not traded. Seems that now maybe the prospect of losing that kind of money might actually outweigh the bright lights of the Empire City. For the fans of Denver I hope that this is the way it works out. As a former ABA city and fellow small market team I really feel for the fans out there who have had to endure this and they don’t deserve to be sent to NBA purgatory. The fact that it keeps Carmelo out of the East and away from N.Y. does not offend me either.
Not that I’m complaining but man what the heck is up with the Bucks? I know they have had some injuries but both Jennings and Bogut have been playing and they are still losing. You have to wonder how long Skiles will be able to keep his job. I’d love to have Scott here but right now I think the team actually needs a lighter touch and a more up beat positive person to counter the three previous years of tyranny.
I can’t tell you how happy I am to once again be able to do these without having to think about you know who and how he impacted every single aspect of the game for us. From the players on the floor to the plays they were running.
Now we can just focus on the players and how they are performing their jobs.
We didn’t do that much in this one, which I apologize for. We’ll be sure to get more in depth later.
Late edit: Ha, I just figured out a way to cheat the system.
In honor of a good game and a great run of 5 wins in 6 games I give you all the gift of Dancing fruit.
:
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