With Season Just Days Away, Pacer's Release Opening Day RosterOctober 28, 2009
With Indiana looking to open their season in Chicago against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls, they will turn to this slightly adjusted line-up to take them through the 2009-2010 season with a .500 or above record. It has been stated that Head Coach, Jim O'Brien, will run a 10 man rotation with Small Forward, Danny Granger as the captain. This is Granger's season to get noticed. It was evident in their 5-2 preseason record that he doesn't have to put up 20+ every night to win but as long as he can get his other teammates scoring and contributing, then Granger can easily get into the Playoffs with high hopes.
So without further ado, here is your line-up for the 2009 Indiana Pacers:
The Starters
#1 Jarret Jack [PG]With the injury given to T.J. Ford, Jarrett Jack's role will be as important as ever to the team. After hearing about possible trades that might send him away for a more established point guard, GM AD, has decided to give Jack a chance and see where and what Jack can do on the floor getting starter minutes. Jack only averaged 2.4 points and 0.7 assist's but that was on the bench behind T.J. Ford was dubbed the starter immediately after AD took over as GM. Now, as a starter, Jack will need to buckle down and help feed the high octane offense of the Pacers.
#25 Brandon Rush [SG]Rush certainly earned his way into the starting line-up. Despite the fact that O'Brien wanted to run a young squad, Rush has shown great maturity. Averaging 8.3 points last season and then 13.1 points in the preseason, O' Brien has decided to start the 2 year kid and hope that Rush can produce even more as the season goes on.
#33 Danny Granger [SF]The heart of this team. Danny Granger had his break-out season last year and this season shows no downside. Granger will need to prove that last year wasn't a fluke and take his team to the playoffs. Granger can score at will- but his most challenging road this year will be whether or not he can get his team involved in on the action. Granger's career high in assist's is 2.1. If he can get that up then the playoffs won't be that hard to come by this year.
#3 Troy Murphy [PF]There was a huge debate over whether or not O' Brien should start the 9 year veteran or the 1st year rookie in Wade Henry. Henry most certainly has the spunk and the ability to start but O' Brien seems to want a veteran guy on the floor with his young squad. Either way the Pacer's can't go wrong. Both player are forces in their own unique way. Murphy has his outside game and Henry has his inside game.
#55 Roy Hibbert [C]Hibbert is the franchise Center for the Pacer's and will look to be Indiana's version of a young Shaquille O'Neal. Hibbert has shown critics what he can do in the post offensively and defensively. Not only can he score in the paint, but he can grab board's and clog up the paint with his size. He led the team in blocks (1.4) and looks to be one of the team's top defender's.
The 6th Man
#17 Mike Dunleavy Jr. [SF]After a roller coaster season last year which put Dunleavy pretty much out of the line-up, he returns fully healthy and ready to go. Despite losing his starting job to Rush, Dunleavy has shown great optimism coming off the bench. Dunleavy is a fan favorite and a crazy sharp shooter show can play the 2 and the 3. However, after acquiring Rashad McCants, Dunleavy will go back to his natural Small Forward where the 6'9" Forward will still get the height advantage and the shot's that made him who he is today.
The Role Players
#31 Wade Henry [PF]With high expectation's coming from this kid after a tremendous preseason, the Pacer's are very much thinking that this kid can be the difference maker off the bench. With a 6'10" stature and a 280 lb body, this kid can get his points in the paint anyway he pleases. He's fast and quick not unlike his counter-part Murphy, the only reason I could think of why he's not starting is his status as a rookie. Many have specualted that by the end of this season, Henry will be starting in place of Murphy.
#44 Channing Frye [C]The off-season acquisition of Frye was a great one for the Pacer's as they were in desperate need of a back-up center for Hibbert. Though Frye is more adept to playing the power forward position, he did show in the preseason that he can play the 5 as he put up career numbers. Being the 2nd best shot blocker behind Hibbert, the combo of Hibbert and Frye can be a tiring one for opposing players.
#9 Rashad McCants [SG]McCant's was brought on board to do one thing only. Provide outside scoring. However, in the preseason, McCants emerged to be so much more than a scoring threat. He led the team in steals with 2 per game making him the best perimeter defender on the team. The signing of Rashad proved to be a great one for the Pacer's who were looking to find a back-up for Rush as Dunleavy went back to Small Forward. Not onyl did they find a back-up scorer but they found a back-up scorer who can lockdown most guards in the league.
#12 Travis Diener [PG]Let's face it. With T.J. Ford and Jarret Jack at the position, you wouldn't expect Diener to get any playing time this season. Luckily for him, Ford is out and his number has been called to be the back-up. Not that that position is improtant but it mean's making a name for yourself. If Diener can have a successful season until Ford comes back, he can very much stack up on value this off-season when his contract expires. Nonetheless, Diener can pass and shoot and his lack of minutes most surely shouldn't be overlooked because this guy can ball.
Overall, the Indiana Pacer's are a deep team on paper. With Rodney Carney and Josh McRoberts on hand. But being a deep team on paper doesn't grant you instant playoff contention, playing and working hard does. GM AD has put together a possibly playoff team in my eye's and the Pacer's are definately not a team to sleep on in the East.
Look out NBA World, the Pacer's are here to play!
lol.
Start already!
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