Pacers Season Preview
The Pacers enter the 2007-2008 season hoping to avoid their second straight season of missing the NBA playoffs. Last season they missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons and have fired their coach and acquired a few key players to help off the bench.
Indiana Pacers
Last Years Record: 35-47 (9th in East)
Key Losses: Darrell Armstrong
Key Additions: Head Coach Jim O’Brien, Kareem Rush, Travis Diener
1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?
The biggest move of the offseason didn’t involve any players. It had to do with the man who would be in charge of the players: the head coach. The Pacers fired Rick Carlisle and hired Jim O’Brien. Carlisle called every play from the bench and wanted to slow things down on offense. O’Brien comes in from Philadelphia and Boston preaching an up-tempo offense, three-point shooting and tough defense.
The Pacers shored up the guard position. They released the 39-year old Armstrong and signed Kareem Rush and Travis Diener. Rush, a first round pick in 2002, couldn’t stick in the NBA with the Lakers and Bobcats. Rush went to Lithuania where he was the MVP of the All-Star Game. He averaged 19 PPG in the summer league for the Pacers and O’Brien expects to use him this season. “He’s not a good shooter, he’s a great shooter,” said O’Brien.
Diener will also compete for playing time in the backcourt. He averaged 3.8 PPG in Orlando for two seasons and now comes to Indy to back up Jamaal Tinsley. Diener can run the second team and can shoot like Rush.
2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?
Depth. O’Brien announced his starting lineup as Tinsley, Mike Dunleavy, Danny Granger, Jermaine O’Neal and Troy Murphy. That’s a solid lineup with both size, shooting and athleticism. The Pacers have three solid backups at the guard position in Rush, Diener and Marquis Daniels. Daniels missed much of last season and the Pacer struggled terribly after he went down. Daniels brings great defense and can get to the basket. All three can spell Tinsley and Dunleavy without problems.
Down low the Pacers also have solid depth. O’Neal is a major health risk and the Pacers have solid guys that can come off the bench. Jeff Foster had 13 rebounds (9 offensive) in only 20 minutes in the preseason opener. Ike Diogu had a great career at Arizona State but has never gotten the chance to show his stuff in either Golden State or Indiana. David Harrison has very good potential if he can stay healthy.
3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?
Injuries are going to play a major factor this season. Jermaine O’Neal (missed preseason opener) has played 164 games out of 246 possible regular season games the past three seasons. Daniels only played 45 last season. Tinsley is a risk- before playing 72 last season, he played 40 and 42 the previous two seasons. Harrison played the first half but missed the second half with a sprained ankle and the Pacers are waiting for a diagnosis.
If the Pacers can put together a relatively healthy season, they can be successful.
4. What are the goal’s for this team?
It’s to obviously get back to the playoffs. After missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, the Pacers are trying to avoid another season of falling short in the East. The Pacers have been a model and successful franchise in the past with former players like Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, Rik Smits, etc.
But now the off-court issues have dominated the news more than the play on it. Tinsley and Daniels were involved in a bar fight. The team is still trying to recover from the Brawl at the Palace and Jermaine O’Neal has voiced his displeasure and asked for a trade countless number of times.
The Pacers need a season free of off-court issues so they can put their entire focus on the game of basketball.
5. What will be different from last season to this one?
The style of play will be much different.
Carlisle controlled the entire and play-calling; Tinsley was forced to look over at the sidelines every time down the court.
But, O’Brien is changing the style of play. He wants the Pacers to get the ball over the mid-court line in 3 seconds and he also wants the team to take 50 shots from three-point range if they have 50 good looks. Also look for a new look on defense. Daniels offers solid defensive play and the O’Brien has been working the team hard to get their stamina and durability up so they can play the game both ways and for the whole game.
Predicted Record: 43-39 (7th-8th in East)
***** Stay tuned for another Pacers Season Preview with more questions and topics.
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20 Responses to “Pacers Season Preview”
October 14th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Hate to break it to ya Pete, but I see the Pacers finishing dead last and dealing O’Neal by the trade deadline (likely just after New Years). I think this team CAN be competitive, and if there’s any coach to get the most out of them, it’s O’Brien. However, the starting backcourt will prove fatal to winning, and the health of the team is already in jeopardy. I think they’ll struggle to hit 30 wins.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I can see what you’re sayin Jon, but I respectfully disagree. I think the injuries will be fine, O’Neal and everyone will be ready for opening night. I would be surprised if they struggled to reach 30 wins. Time will tell though.
October 15th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
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October 15th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Hey Pete, you’ve got an awesome blog going here and are a welcome addition to MVN, but I’m going to have to tell you this much: I think the Pacers are going to be the worst team in the league this season. It’s not a knock on the organization, the city of Indianapolis, or the state of Indiana, so let me explain my reasoning.
This all started when Artest wanted out. I remember, going into the 05-06 season, thinking that the Pacers would be a threat to win 60 games. They were kicking butt to start things off, and they even killed my Cavs on Thanksgiving night ‘05. But then, trading Artest for Peja is what did them in. Peja is nowhere near as important to a team as Artest is, although the off-court demeanors of the two are like night and day. Artest was toughness: Peja was finesse.
Then, you guys lost Peja altogether in free agency. True, he didn’t deserve the insane money that the Hornets threw at him (not even close to that much, actually). So it was pretty much the same as losing Artest for nothing.
But what really did you guys in was the trade with Golden State. Jackson/Harrington are twice the combo that Dunleavy/Murphy are. That was just an overwhelming difference in talent. Plus, Dunleavy/Murphy are signed to monster deals through 2011 that pay them a combined $80 million. With those two guys eating up that much of your payroll and playing integral parts for your team on the floor, you are stuck in neutral. The talent around you in the East is much, much better. You’ve gotta deal with LeBron, the surging Bulls, and the steady Pistons in your own division. Milwaukee even has more talent - their problem is staying healthy.
I’m sorry for the pessimism, but I thought I should share my opinions because I think that Jim O’Brien would be a runaway for coach of the year if the Pacers go 43-39. It would be one of the most remarkable coaching jobs in recent history because it would mean that he got the most out of Dunleavy, Murphy, and Diogu all while keeping Jermaine O’Neal happy. But in the Central, that’s going to be next to impossible. Unless the Cavs, Bulls, or Pistons suffer a catostrophic injury…
October 15th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Thanks Amar. I think there are a lot of difference of opinions on this Pacer team. Some feel that they are going to stink and some think they can surprise. I was a big Artest fan. Losing him was a huge loss and I wasn’t a fan of Peja. You’re right, we lost Ron for nothing. Everything was going great until the Brawl in Detroit (we could have won the title that year) and then Reggie going and now O’Neal complaining every season.
The Pacers are going to have to overeacheive to reach the playoffs. If Tinsley and O’Neal can stay healthy and Dunleavy and Murphy can prove what they’re worth and Granger can turn into a star, a lot to ask yes, but then the Pacers could be competitive.
This team confuses me; I think they can make a run at the playoffs but then I realize what they did last year.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
P.S. Great job with the Cavs; really enjoyed the power rankings (even though the Pacers are last). Hoepfully we can take a few from you this season?
October 16th, 2007 at 12:57 am
I really liked the culture that was embedded in Indiana. Ever since you guys made a name for yourselves in the 90’s after those awesome showdowns with the Knicks, the Pacers established a winning culture and a philosophy that helped make them one of the premier organizations in the NBA, if not all of pro sports. Mike Brown has come over from your staff and has helped instill that defensive culture in Cleveland. Look around the league, and there are quite few members of coaching staffs and front offices that have their roots with the Pacers.
As for taking a few from us this year…not a chance! You guys used to beat the crap out of us every year back when we sucked…we gotta turn the tables on you now, man!
October 16th, 2007 at 9:14 am
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October 16th, 2007 at 9:20 am
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October 16th, 2007 at 9:21 am
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October 16th, 2007 at 9:50 am
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October 16th, 2007 at 10:43 am
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October 16th, 2007 at 11:34 am
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October 16th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I think they can make the playoffs if this happens: Jermaine Oneal stays healthy and returns to 04 form (he could absolutely THRIVE on both ends of the floor in Jim Obriens system as the 4/5, the inside force and anchor. He could put up 22p/11r/3a/3b and win defensive player of the year), also Jamaal Tinsley stays healthy, and I believe Danny Granger will be a major Most Improved Player candidate and be the true #2 option, great in obriens system….. but possibly the most important thing is a 2guard breaking into the rotation and taking Dunleavy’s spot as the starting shooting guard. Dunleavy is good for the bench, but not good for the starting 2. So if Marquis Daniels or Kareem Rush cracks that spot and thrives (either one could), then I could see the Pacers making the playoffs at the 8seed.;;;;;;;;;;
Im not a pacer fan, Im from Carolina and have been a diehard nba fan for over 20 years. I am a jermaine oneal fan though. So yeah I could see the Pacers being the worst team in the league based on talent and health, but with Jim Obrien as coach I see him getting the best out of this team, and I especially see Jermaine Oneal as a FORCE this year and Danny Granger really breaking out. If that happens and Kareem Rush or Marquis Daniels plays a solid 2, and Tinsley stays healthy plays good pointguard they will make the playoffs.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
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October 16th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
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October 16th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
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October 18th, 2007 at 7:56 am
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October 18th, 2007 at 11:02 am
So many “experts” and fans think the Pacers will be last or dead last… they are beyond crazy. But then again, this type of opinion spreads until it’s a consensus. (eg. omg the Suns don’t play D!!!… hint… they do)
October 18th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I agree NoMoreHate… I would be very shocked if the Pacers finished last or dead last. I think they have the talent, a good new coach to start fresh and if they can stay healthy they can surprise those “experts.”
November 1st, 2007 at 12:06 am
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