Pacers07-08: Dynasty Cancelled - Live07 deleted

[TheMC5]

GAME: NBA Live 07
DIFFICULTY: Superstar
RULES: Standard
PREMISE: Written as if it were a Pacers blog
NOTE: I only play the 4th quarter of two possession (6 point) games, and therefor game pics will only be available for those games. It takes too long to play, otherwise.


IT'S MILLER TIME: REBUILDING THE FRANCHISE


Following the colossal disappointment of the 06-07 season, the Pacers future was in doubt. With a disgruntled star in Jermaine O'Neal who had no interest in partaking in Indiana's much needed rebuilding process, a change of direction was in order. In the early stages of the off-season, GM Larry Bird did little to improve the team, both in the present and for the future. The additions of Travis Deiner, Stephen Graham, Andre Owens, and Kareem Rush were seen by Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh as little more than lateral moves, at best. These moves, in addition to the disastrous mid-season trade that brought in Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy, and their enormous contracts, along with Bird's inability to acquire anything more than a half season of Peja Stojakovic for Ron Artest in the previous season, lead Walsh to conclude that Bird may not be the right man to steer this ship. In early August, with most of the other teams in the East having improved, Walsh relieved Bird of his managerial duties, replacing him with Pacers legend Reggie Miller, effectively killing speculation that Miller would come out of retirement to play for the Celtics. The following are excerpts from Reggie Miller's press conference.

When asked about the Boston rumors:
"I wanted to play again, no doubt, especially with that group of guys in Boston," said Miller, "but when Donnie called me with the opportunity to rebuild this franchise, put my own stamp on it, well, it was too good to pass up. And in all honesty, I still wasn't sure if my body could hold up through an 82 game season and a playoff run."

On his plans regarding O'Neal:
"Well, Jermaine has made it clear to us that he wants no part of a long rebuilding process, and we've made it known to him that a rebuilding process, probably a long one, is necessary. We're optimistic that a deal will be in place by the start of the season. But, we also realize that Jermaine has probably played his last game as a Pacer, no matter when the deal occurs."

On his first move as GM, signing undrafted Canadian point guard July Jones out of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver:
"He's going to surprise people. He was heavily recruited by American colleges, but decided to remain in Canada for personal reasons. So people don't realize how good he is. He averaged a triple-double in his second season on points, assists, and steals. Steals! 10 a game! Incredible, just incredible. We fully expect him to challenge Tinsley for the starting PG spot."

Note: July Jones is, obviously, a fictional created player.

[TheMC5]

CURRENT ROSTER
C - Nene, PJ Brown
PF - Boris Diaw, Ike Diogu
SF - Danny Granger, Thaddeus Young, Shawne Williams
SG - Leandro Barbosa, Marquis Daniels, Linas Kleiza
PG - July Jones, Jamaal Tinsley, Travis Diener




STATS AND STANDINGS - UPDATED

RECORD: 8-9

SEASON STANDINGS - LEAGUE - EAST - WEST - ATLANTIC - CENTRAL - SOUTHEAST - NORTHWEST - PACIFIC - SOUTHWEST

LEAGUE LEADERS - POINTS - ASSISTS - REBOUNDS - OFF. REBOUNDS - BLOCKS - STEALS - FIELD GOALS - 3 POINTERS - FREE THROWS - MINUTES

INDIANA PACERS - PLAYER STATS

[McDwyane]

Good luck with your dynasty

[TheMC5]

AROUND THE NBA: OFF-SEASON TRANSACTIONS


Sings Guard Derek Anderson
Releases Forward Solomon Jones


Signs Center Chris Webber
Releases Guard Gabe Pruitt


Signs Guard Darrel Armstrong
Releases Forward Jeremeo Davidson


Signs Center Michael Olowokandi
Releases Forward Viktor Khryapa


Signs Guard Earl Boykins
Signs Forward Ruben Patterson
Releases Forward Dwayne Jones


Releases Center DJ Mbenga


Signs Guard Gary Payton
Signs Center Pape Sow
Releases Guard Von Wafer


Signs Center Dikembe Mutumbo


Signs Forward Demetrius Nichols


Signs Guard July Jones
Releases Guard Stephen Graham


Releases Guard Jared Jordan


Signs Forward James Posey
Releases Center Mile Ilic


Signs Forward Reyshawn Terry
Releases Forward Marcus Vinicius


Releases Guard Mardy Collins


Signs Center Dale Davis
Signs Forward Mike Sweetney


Releases Forward Luis Amundson


Signs Forward PJ Brown
Signs Forward Hassan Adams
Releases Guard Erick Piatkowski


Releases Guard Petteri Kopponen


Signs Guard Troy Hudson
Releases Guard Francisco Garcia


Signs Guard Will Blalock
Releases Center Saer Sene


Releases Guard Luke Jackson


Note: This list is exclusive to transactions that occurred following Miller's installation as GM. All previous off-season moves are represented as accurately as possible in the rosters.

[TheMC5]

PACERS RUMOR MILL

With the impending departure of Jermaine O'Neal, we here at Pacersblog.com thought it would be a good idea to examine possible trade destinations/scenarios. The criteria used for determining possible trades were team needs, returning players, salary cap space, and the key to any O'Neal deal, large expiring contracts. With that in mind, here are the teams and scenarios we came up with, in no particular order.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS
O'neal has already stated his desire to play alongside his good friend Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers seem to have the required pieces to get a deal done - the expiring contract of Kwame Brown, and young big man Andrew Bynum. The question is whether the Lakers would be willing to part with both Bynum and Brown, as well as if the Pacers would be willing to take on the other undesired contract required to make the salaries match.

NEW JERSEY NETS
Jermaine has also expressed interest in New Jersey as a trade destination, but the issue here is contracts and quality return. GM Reggie Miller has already made it known that he is reluctant to take on Richard Jefferson, as he does not want to have such a large chunk of salary tied up in a non-dominant wing player who has likely reached his potential. Without Jefferson in a deal, it's hard to see how New Jersey gives up enough salary to make a deal work.

MIAMI HEAT
Jason Williams 8 million dollar deal expires after this year, and he could be packaged with Udonis Haslem and Dorrell Wright to make the deal work.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
McHale still has Theo Ratliff's expiring contract, as well as Juwan Howard who wants to be moved. Jermaine would instantly fill the hole in the middle for the T'Wolves, but he may make it hard for McHale to resign his young core.

PHOENIX SUNS
Phoenix is an interesting idea. With PJ Brown having signed an 8 million dollar one year contract with Chicago and promptly shipped to Phoenix for the trade exception acquired in the Kurt Thomas deal, the door may open for O'Neal to end up in the valley of the Sun. Phoenix has the talent and the salaries needed, the only downside is that their 1st round pick is guaranteed to be below 25 if the acquire O'Neal.

SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
Seattle now has Kurt Thomas, so a deal with them could be made. Seems far fetched and unlikely, though.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Washington is another long shot. Antawn Jamison's 16 million deal is up at the end of the year, and though a deal would be very easy, it likely wouldn't net much long term for Indiana, who wouldn't resign Jamison.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Philly is the only team with substantial cap room. Indiana would only have to take back half of O'Neal's salary to make a deal work. If Thaddeus Young and a 1st rounder could be gotten as well, this could be the best deal available.

[Its_asdf]

If you can pry Odom and a big (Brown or Bynum) from Los Angeles, then please do it. I'd love to see the Goods revitalize his career.

[TheMC5]

Good luck with your dynasty

Thanks, converse.

And Its_asdf, you may be disappointed to learn that...


IT'S OFFICIAL - O'NEAL TO PHOENIX






Jermaine O'Neal has been traded, along with Jeff Foster and David Harrison, to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Leandro Barbosa, PJ Brown, and Boris Diaw.

With the start of the season approaching and the Pacers growing ever more anxious to deal O'Neal, rumors were spreading like wildfire, chief among them being O'Neal and others to Lala Land for Bynum, Fisher, and Odom, and O'Neal and others to Phoenix for Brown and Marion. Apparently, the Pacers were close to pulling the trigger on the LA deal, when Phoenix finally gave up their insistence that Barbosa not be included in any deal. Eventually the current deal was hammered out, being made official 2 days prior to the start of the season. Reggie Miller, when asked to comment on the deal, said,

"We got three quality players from Phoenix, 2 of them have their best days ahead of them. Obviously, this leaves us a little thin at center, but we are by no means done dealing. We still have some contracts we'd like to move and some areas we need to shore up, but it won't happen all at once. I'm realistic about this team. I'll be ecstatic if we get the 8th seed, or play .500 ball, let me put it that way.

As for Phoenix, (they) got a good deal here. I wouldn't be surprised to see them win it all this year with the talent they've got. And I wish Jermaine all the best and much success in Phoenix. We came close here in Indy, but it was time to move on."

This trade leaves Indiana looking like instant contenders to get the #1 pick in next year's draft. Let's see what else Miller's got up his sleeve. It better be good.

[Clutch]

man, there went all your Bigs! you're lineup got real small real fast; i take it the trades aren't done yet?

anyway, nice pick up of Barbosa and Diaw and good to see Reggie back in biz (even if he's not on the court)

[kbryant24]

im digging this dynasty.. its so realistic.. keep it up

[TheMC5]

Thanks kbryant24.

BoomDizzle#5, no I am not done dealing. But with the O'Neal trade the rosters are looking set for the start of the season, so I thought I'd do a pre-season Power Rankings. So here we go.


PRE-SEASON POWER RANKINGS

1. PHOENIX SUNS
The addition of Jermaine O'Neal makes this team the odds-on favorite to win the championship. A starting 5 of O'Neal, Stoudemire, Marion, Bell, and Nash is unrivaled, and has no weaknesses. The team's lone area of concern is depth, with Grant Hill and Jeff Foster being the only reliable backups any injury to the starting 5 could be costly. But the same can be said many teams.

2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
They're still a force to be reckoned with, one Phoenix will have to overcome if they are to win this season. The addition of Ime Udoka only adds to this team's already impressive depth, defensive tenacity, and basketball intelligence. They could finally repeat as champions.

3. BOSTON CELTICS
Signing Chris Webber was the coup de gras in what has been a tremendously successful offseaon for the C's. There will be much pressure on this team win now, or very soon, but they definitely have the talent to make it out of the East.

4. DALLAS MAVERICKS
Eddie Jones was the only significant addition to this team, and he should help them out as a defensive 2 guard who can knock down open 3's. The road to the finals will be tougher this year that ever for the Mavs, so I don't foresee much playoff success, bu they should still be a force in the regular season.

5. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
What looked like a quiet, unproductive offseason for the Cavs turned out to be quite bountiful. The team acquired steady, if unspectacular, veterans in Earl Boykins and Ruben Patterson. Boykins will help relieve the pressure on sophomore guard Daniel Gibson, and Patterson will provide a solid defensive back up to Lebron. In all, the team that made it to the finals last year looks considerably better and deeper this year.

6. HOUSTON ROCKETS
Losing Mutumbo will hurt, but adding Luis Scola, Mike James, Steve Francis, and a rejuvenated Bonzi Wells will be huge for this team. The offense will no longer stall when T-Mac isn't on his game, and Yao should get more touches. Houston will be very dangerous.

7. CHICAGO BULLS
Ben Wallace started to come on late last year, so a full year of experience under Scott Skiles could be huge for his game. Adding Joakim Noah and Joe Smith help solidify the 4, where Tyrus Thomas is slated to start. They might not be a Finals team, but they getting closer.

8. DETROIT PISTONS
On paper Mutumbo appears to be a downgrade from the departed Chris Webber, but I disagree. I think Mutumbo will help Detroit get back into their defense-first, killer-instinct mind set. He won't play huge minutes, but Deke's presence in the locker room and on the bench will be great for this team.

9. DENVER NUGGETS
Gary Payton will help stabilize the shaky PG position currently dominated by chuckers Iverson and Atkins. His veteran presence in the locker room will be big for this club, and if he can get Iverson and Anthony playing true team ball, this squad could finally reach its potential.

10. UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz made little noise this offseason, but small matter. They have a steady and improving core, and will be a solid team again this year.

11. NEW JERSEY NETS
Jamal Magloire and James Posey are huge pickups for a club that relied so heavily on its top 3 in the past. The Nets all of a sudden have depth and defensive toughness, a combo which could lead the their return to the Finals.

12. TORONTO RAPTORS
The Kapono signing was solid, but the team didn't do enough to improve right now to give themselves much of a chance to win it all this year. But that's OK. That's not the goal. The goal in championships in 3-5 years. And they're on the right path.

13. MIAMI HEAT
Signing Smush Parker and Penny Hardaway reeks of desperation. They could potentially put it all together for one last post season run, but that looks doubtful. The losses of Posey, Kapono, and Payton will hurt this team.

14. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
If they stay healthy, they'll be a good team. Peterson is an upgrade over Desmond Mason, and should play well with Chris Paul. 50 wins is not out of the question for a healthy Hornets team.

15. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Another team whose success rides on health, specifically the health of Baron Davis. If he misses extended time, this team misses the playoffs. Unless, of course, Monta Ellis makes another miraculous leap in his game and becomes capable of leading a team and dictating an offense in addition to being a great individual scorer.

16. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Elton Brand didn't injure his Achilles tendon. Shaun Livingston can still walk. Seriously. Brevin Knight was a depth and character signing, honest. I promise, Tim Thomas will not be the starting power forward for this team. It's all true.

17. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Isn't basketball in LA great? Kobe is happy, for real. He is going to play hard for this team. Kwame Brown learned how to catch a basketball. This is also all true.

18. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
J-Rich and Wallace is a scary athletic wing combination. Sean May showed flashes before getting injured, and you really have to think that Adam Morrison isn't that bad. Like, Matt Carrol isn't seriously better than him. He'll bounce back in his second year, and the Cats could sniff .500.

19. NEW YORK KNICKS
Isiah Thomas is crazy. I'm not sure what else to say.

20. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
They are not a playoff team yet, as many are suggesting, but they'll win their share of games this year, and be primed for a playoff run next season.

21. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
They'll still score a ton, but get scored on more. If this team learns to defend, they might finally win a playoff series.

22. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
With the Yi Jianlian fiasco behind them, the Bucks have a bright future. They have 3 solid young bigs, a good young point guard, and one of the league's top shooters. They still lack some depth and experience, but they could squeak into the playoffs.

23. SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings are moving backward. Troy Hudson was a superfluous signing, and the team has chemistry. Reggie Theus has his work cut out for him in trying to give this team some kind of identity, because right now they have no idea who they are.

24. ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic's problem is simple: defense. Dwight Howard can't defend everyone at once. Now, they did get the perimeter shooters required to free up space for Dwight down low, but I'm not sure how many wins that translates to.

25. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
This year is a write off for Portland. All they want to do is get Greg Oden playing time and experience. Still, Nate McMillan is a competitive coach who should be able to get 30 wins from these guys.

26. ATLANTA HAWKS
Drafting a point guard was a good idea, but this team still doesn't look very strong. They'll be one of the whipping boys in an improved Eastern conference.

27. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
This team has a ton of youth and depth, the latter alone pretty excluding the T'Wolves from being the absolute worst team in the league, but they're very close.

28. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
They're getting better, but losing Joe Smith leaves them without an inside scorer, which will really hurt this team.

29. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
Though Seattle will probably have the worst record in the league, they get bumped up one spot because, like Portland, this season is just for developing their star rookie.

30. INDIANA PACERS
The Jermaine O'Neal trade left this team without an identity. They have too many wing players, not enough bigs, and 2 starting point guards - one they haven't been able to trade and one they don't want to. Though Reggie Miller has made it clear he is not done dealing, things currently look pretty bleak for the Pacers.

[Oli]

great presentation i reckon you could make a run for the playoffs if T.Murphy can find some form. Good Luck.

[McDwyane]

Woah,what a trade there.Both of the teams benefit from it.

[TheMC5]

Thanks, Oli. Playoffs might be optimistic, but I'm sure hoping.


WEEK 1 RECAP

Welcome to the weekly recap. This is where we review all Pacers games, as well as other notable games and individual performances. Enjoy.

OCT. 31: NBA OPENING NIGHT

PHOENIX 129 - LA LAKERS 79
CHICAGO 95 - MIAMI 92
The Suns announce their dominance from the season's opening tip, crushing the Lakers on the road. Despite 31 points and 9 assists from Kobe Bryant, the Lakers were simply outclassed. Jermaine O'Neal managed 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, and 1 steal in his first game as a Sun. In the other game, a rematch of last year's first round sweep, Chicago emerged with the victory. Ben Gordon hit the clinching 3 with 11.3 seconds to go. The Heat had a chance to tie, but Dwyane Wade missed a deep 3 at the buzzer.


NOV. 1: PACERS SEASON KICKS OFF IN CHARLOTTE


INDIANA 98 - CHARLOTTE 96
This game was close from start to finish, and the Pacers narrowly escaped with the win when Primoz Brezec's last second baseline jumper rimmed out Indiana got scoring from all over with 5 players in double figures, led rookie July Jones' 19 in his NBA debut. Jones played a solid all around game, helping Indiana to the win with a couple of big dunks down the stretch.
Player of the Game: July Jones (19 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal)

WASHINGTON 102 - CLEVELAND 105
PHOENIX 105 - LA CLIPPERS 85
LA LAKERS 96 - GOLDEN STATE 106
PORTLAND 106 - SEATTLE 101
In Washington's defeat to the Cavs, Gilbert Arenas flirted with a triple-double, posting 34 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds. Phoenix manhandled LA's other team, with O'Neal posting 24 points, 14 boards, and 4 assists. The Lakers lost again, but Kobe Bryant once again put on a superb performance, pouring in 45 points to go along with 8 assists. The night's other notable game was the matchup and debut of this years top 2 draft picks, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. Dunrant won the individual matchup, posting 19 points, 11 boards, and 2 steals, to Oden's 10 points and 8 rebounds, but the Blazers emerged with the victory, due in large part to Oden's defensive presence.


BIG TRADE NEWS

NOV. 2: MILLER STRIKES AGAIN






Reggie Miller wasted no time fulfilling his promise that he wasn't done dealing. This time he acquired Nuggets' big man Nene and swingman Linas Kleiza, in exchange for Mike Dunleavy, Andre Owens, and Kareem Rush. Though the move does little to ease salary concerns, it certainly bolsters Indiana's front line. The move came as quite a shock to most NBA analysts, who did not expect the Nuggets to deal Nene.

"I was surprised too, believe me," said Miller. "I'd been trying ever since I got this job to land Nene, but Denver was unwilling to part with him. That is until they saw the rejuvenated and healthy Kenyon Martin. As soon as I heard that Martin has beat out Nene for the starting job in Denver, I knew he could be had. From Denver's side, I think they wanted to shore up their shooting guard position. I guess they weren't happy with J.R. Smith's inconsistency, and we're the benefactors of that."

SAN ANTONIO 108 - DALLAS 115
DENVER 105 - LA CLIPPERS 87
Two games to review. First, Dallas defeated the reigning champion Spurs, lead by a spectacular 33 point effort from Josh Howard. Second, it didn't take long to see Dunleavy in action with his new team. He suited up that night and helped Denver to the blow out victory with 8 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Kenyon Martin scored 18 points and grabbed 15 boards.


NOV. 3: NENE'S INDIANA DEBUT


NEW ORLEANS 115 - INDIANA 111
Indiana fans only had to wait one day to see the teams new starting center when Nene and Pacers hosted Chris Paul and the Hornets. Nene played well, scoring 18 points and blocking 2 shots, but had to sit most of the 4th quarter after picking up his 5th foul with 10 minutes left in the game. He returned with 2 minutes left to play, but the Pacers couldn't hold their one point lead. July Jones followed up his impressive debut with an efficient 10 points on 4-6 shooting, with 6 assists and 1 steal, while on the defensive end forcing Chris Paul to shoot 35%.
Player of the Game: Peja Stojakovic (34 points, 13-19 field goals, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks)

CLEVELAND 69 - SAN ANTONIO 94
In a rematch of last year's finals, the Spurs again dominated the Cavs, holding them to under 20 points in 3 quarters, and to just 10 points in the 4th. Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili combined for 73 points.


NOV. 4: JONES SHINES IN WIN OVER KNICKS

GAME PHOTOS NOT AVAILABLE

INDIANA 110 - NEW YORK 101
July Jones put on his best performance of the young season, teaming with Leandro Barbosa to torch the Knicks back court for a combined 53 points. Barbosa lead the team in assits with 7, followed closely by Jones' 6. The game was never close, with Indiana leading by 10 after 1, and increasing that to a 16 lead heading into the 4th. New York got double-doubles from Randolph and Marbury, but the rest of the team struggled to contribute.
Player of the Game: July Jones (24 points, 10-19 field goals, 3-5 3 pointers, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals)

BOSTON 117 - WASHINGTON 90
Kevin Garnett had the game of the year so far, posting 33 points on 13-22 fields goals, 5-6 free throws, and get this, 2-2 three pointers. In addition to his impeccable offensive game, he grabbed 13 rebounds, 6 offensive, handed out 9 assists, racked up 5 steals, and blocked a shot. Needless to say, Boston dominated.


And that's the weekly recap for this week. Pacers are off to a decent 2-1 start, July Jones is making Jamaal Tinsley look more and more expendable, and Miller swung a deal for Nene. Pretty good start to the year for the Pacers.

PACER OF THE WEEK: July Jones
Rookie standout Jones lead the team in assists for the week, with a 5.3 per game average, to go along with 17.7 points per game on 54.7% shooting, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. The one downside was his 4-10 free throw shooting for the week, but with such a small sample size, you'd have to think that was an abberation.

PIC OF THE WEEK
July Jones blows by Raymond Felton for the Slam



Note: Click on light blue game scores for boxscores

[Its_asdf]

Great job getting rid of Dunleavy's pasty ass and replacing him with one of my favs, Nene.

I hope Boris Diaw can step it up a notch. I was really hoping for him to be the one carrying the load offensively.

[kbryant24]

very nice trades

im worried about the team chemisty though (so many trades in such little time)

[TheMC5]

very nice trades

im worried about the team chemisty though (so many trades in such little time)

It's only been 2 trades, and the goal was to rebuild. However, I'm planning on playing out the next couple months with my current lineup to see how things shape up, and then evaluating my next move. Rest assured, this is not the lineup I will finish the season with.

[TheMC5]

WEEK 2 RECAP

NOV. 5: KOBE CONTINUES STELLAR PLAY, LAKERS FINALLY WIN

LA LAKERS 103 - SEATTLE 102
MIAMI 95 - PHILADELPHIA 109
HOUSTON 127 - NEW ORLEANS 80
No Pacers game to report on, but Sunday night saw 3 big performances from 3 big time players. The Lake Show finally won its first game of the season, edging Durant and the Sonics in a nail-biting 103-102 victory. Kobe finished with 30+ points for the 3rd time in 4 games, tallying 35, and playing tenacious defense on rookie Durant. Derek Fisher also chipped in an impressive 33 points for LA. In Philly, AI2 put on a show, pouring in 34 points on 13-20 shooting for the home fans in a decisive win over the Heat. Meanwhile, New Orleans had no answer for Tracy McGrady, who picked apart the defense to the tune of 38 points and 8 assists. It was Houston's first win of the season, and they looked a lot more comfortable in Rick Adelman's offense than in previous games. Yao Ming also had 27 points and 9 assists for the visiting Rockets.


NOV. 6: MAVS-WARRIORS REMATCH

SAN ANTONIO 105 - NEW YORK 92
GOLDEN STATE 81 - DALLAS 109
MINNESOTA 108 - SACRAMENTO 93
The game of the night was the rematch of last year's historic playoff upset. Nowitzki vs. Baron. Nellie vs. Avery. Anticipation. Speculation. Suspense. And the game wasn't even close. Wasn't even close to being close. The Mavs instilled cause for fear should the Warriors face them again in the post-season. Dirk scored a season high 31, and the Mavs easily dispatched the rival Warriors. San Antonio kept on rolling with a win over New York. Eddy Curry did all he could keep the Knicks in the game, scoring 30 points and securing 12 rebounds, but it was a futile attempt. Minnesota continued their surprising winning streak, going 4-0 on the young season, on the strength of 32 points from Ricky Davis.


NOV. 7: PACERS FALL SHORT AGAINST PHILLY


PHILADELPHIA 87 - INDIANA 81
This game was a defensive showcase the likes of which would make San Antonio or Detroit envious. Both teams combined to shoot 34.7%, and managed only a paltry 29 total 3rd quarter points. Nene's 3rd game as a Pacer was not one to be remembered. Though he did grab 15 rebounds, he struggled on offense, going 2-7 from the field and scoring 8 points. July Jones, however, continued to impress, posting 21 points on 9-17 shooting, 10 of which came in the 4th when Jones came out on fire, knocking down 4-5 shots and hitting both his free throws. The big difference maker in the game was the Pacers inability to knock down open 3's, going only 1-16 from behind the arc. The Sixers took advantage of all the misses in the final quarter, scoring 11 fast break points to take control of the game.
Player of the Game: Andre Miller (17 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block)

SEATTLE 83 - MIAMI 112
A double take was required upon seeing the stats for this game. I thought it 2000 again. Shaq Daddy, the Big Diesel himself went off for 38 points on 19-25 from the floor, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals, and 2 assists. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new line of the year, courtesy Shaquille O'Neal.


MILLER MAKES ANOTHER DEAL

NOV. 8: PACERS GET YOUNG(ER)






Reggie Miller continued his drastic shakeup of the Pacers rosters, acquiring forward Thaddeus Young from Philadelphia in exchange for Troy Murphy. Murphy reputation was somewhat tarnished by his stay in Indiana, but 76ers GM Billy King obviously feels Murphy can regain his form from his days as a Warrior. For Indiana, this trade essentially completes the Stephen Jackson-Al Harrington deal, essentially acquiring Nene, Diogu, and Young for the 2 former Pacers. Not a bad return. Miller is, predictably, happy with the deal.

"My two main goals for this year were to free up cap room, and get younger players on our roster. Well, I think I hit the nail on the head. I found a taker for Troy Murphy's contract, and here we are. Speaking of Murph, I'd like wish him all the best Philadelphia. He knew he wasn't in our long term plans, and when I spoke to him about the deal he seemed genuinely excited about going to a team with big hole at the 4, and the possibility to play with Igoudala.

I like where the team is right now. We have depth and youth at almost every position. Obviously, we're going to have to make some more personnel decisions down the road, but for now I'd like to see how this team develops, (and) take some time to evaluate what we have. I don't anticipate making another deal until at least the new year, more realistically around the all-star game."



INDIANA 119 - WASHINGTON 118
The Pacers had little time to integrate newcomer Thaddeus Young, who was acquired following last night's Indy-Philly match up. Having no time between games to practice with a new player, and with current players having to adjust to new roles, it looked as if the Pacers were about to drop below .500, and possibly remain there all season. Washington has a potent offensive lineup that would likely cause problems for Indiana's defense. But the Pacers did not collapse. Instead, they came out aggressive and ready to fight fire with fire, torching the Wiz for 40 1st quarter points. Washington stormed back in the 2nd to take a 7 point lead into half time. Nene took over in the 3rd, scoring 13 of his team-high 31 in the frame, but the Pacers still trailed by 5 heading into the final quarter. That's when Jamaal Tinsley stepped up. With the Pacers down by 7 with under 3 minutes to play, Tinsley hit back-to-back 3's to pull the Pacers within 1, only part of his perfect 10-10 field goal shooting in the game. The lead went back and forth until, with 41 seconds left, July Jones hit a deep 2 with Arenas draped all over and the shot clock expiring to put the Pacers up by 3. Washington came right back with a put back slam by Caron Butler, but Indiana again had an answer, with Jones finding a wide open Nene streaking to the basket for an easy deuce. The Wiz again responded, but the Pacers hit their free throws, and Agent Zero missed a baseline 3 at the buzzer to tie the game, and the Pacers emerged victorious.
Player of the Game: Nene (31 points, 14-19 field goals, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks)

PHILADELPHIA 92 - TORONTO 100
LA LAKERS 120 - PORTLAND 79
PHOENIX 93 - SAN ANTONIO 111
Troy Murphy also suited up for his new team, scoring 7 points and 8 rebounds in a loss to Toronto. Kobe Bryant continues to make a strong early case for MVP, leading the Lakers over Portland and rookie sensation Greg Oden 120-79, with 45 points and 9 assists. San Antonio showed why they are still the team to beat, putting down powerhouse Phoenix 111-93. Tony Parker scored 41 for the Spurs, and the Suns were paced by Steve Nash's 24 points and 14 assists.


NOV. 9: PHOENIX BOUNCES BACK

NEW ORLEANS 97 - GOLDEN STATE 99
DALLAS 94 - PHOENIX 98
Two close games tonight. The Warriors rode Baron Davis hard in their victory over the Hornets. Baron finished the game with 39 points and 7 assists, and scored the game clinching basket with 11 seconds to go. Rookie Brandon Wright made his first start of the season, filling in at center for the injured Andris Biedrins, making 6'9" the tallest height of any player on Golden State's active roster. In the other game, Phoenix rebounded from their disheartening loss to San Antonio by coming away with the big W in big D. Jermaine O'Neal had a game-high 5 blocks, and seems to be on a mission in the early going to lay claim to the Defensive Player of the Year trophy.


NOV. 10: TOTAL TEAM EFFORT LEADS PACERS OVER MAGIC


ORLANDO 110 - INDIANA 116
It was a tale of 2 halves in this game for the Pacers. In the 1st half, Indiana seemed intimidated and hesitant to drive to the hole offense, and on defense looked lackadaisical and disinterested. At half-time Jim O'Brien ripped into his team, imploring Nene to not allow Dwight Howard to establish position down low, and challenging Granger to get in Rashard Lewis' face and play him tenaciously and with purpose. It certainly seemed to work, as the Pacers dropped 63 second-half points, sparked by Boris Diaw's inspired play, to win the game by 6.
Player of the Game: Boris Diaw (20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks)

UTAH 94 - BOSTON 119
NEW ORLEANS 121 - PORTLAND 80
DETROIT 112 - LA LAKERS 97
MILWAUKEE 100 - WASHINGTON 111
In other games, the Celtics machine continues to pick up steam, with the Big 3 combining for 85 points in a win over the Jazz. New Orleans blew out Portland, and in the process saw a career game by Devin Brown. He scored 30 points on 12-15 shooting, 2-2 from beyond the arc, and 4-4 from the line. Detroit put the skids on LA's 2 game winning streak, but Kobe Bryant poured an NBA season high 52 points. The Wizards-Bucks game saw another great performance by an unheralded player. DeShawn Stevenson scored 32 points on a near0indentical to Brown 12-15 shooting, 3-3 from downtown, and 5-7 from the stripe.


NOV. 11: BULLS TOPPLE VISITING PACERS


INDIANA 102 - CHICAGO 110
July Jones showed he still has a thing or two to learn about defending in the NBA. After strong defensive showings in his previous games, Kirk Hinrich schooled him for 41 points, getting any shot he wanted, whenever he wanted. It could have just been fatigue from playing 6 games in 9 days, but he looked to be at a loss about how to stop Hinrich. He held his own on offense, however, scoring 22 points, but the experienced Bulls simply outclassed the young Pacers.
Player of the Game: Kirk Hinrich (41 points, 18-33 field goals, 7 assists)

BOSTON 101 - CLEVELAND 103
NEW YORK 94 - SAN ANTONIO 120
In a possible Eastern Conference finals preview, the Cavs beat the Celtics in a very close game. Earl Boykins showed his value to Cleveland, scoring 17 in the win, while LeBron James contributed in every way, finishing with 22 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. The Spurs are looking more and more like odds-on favorites to repeat with another commanding victory over New York. Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan combined for an astonishing 96 points! The hapless Knicks stood no chance in this one.


With week 2 in the books, the Pacers are looking stronger than anyone could have thought. Although they've had a fairly easy schedule to this point, things are certainly on the up and up for Reggie and the Pacers.

PACER OF THE WEEK: Nene
Nene posted big numbers in his first full week as a Pacer, averaging 16 points over 4 games, as well as 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.75 steals, and 1 block over the same span. He also shot 69.4% (25-36) from the field and 92.3% (12-13) from the free throw line.

PIC OF THE WEEK
July Jones Beats the Shot Clock Late in the 4th

[McDwyane]

July Jones' dunk in the first pic is nasty.In the second,it's also nice

[Its_asdf]

You raped Philly's cap space with that move. Young is a nice prospect and would make an interesting tandem with Granger on the wings especially since they're both around 6'8 with long arms.

[kbryant24]

july jones is really pulling through for you.. whats his overall rating?

[TheMC5]

Converse, thanks man. Jones is going to be a beast in a couple of years.

Its asdf, I sure did, but I still felt it was reasonably realistic trade, insofar as the computer can basically disregard the cap when re-signing it's own players, and the Sixers had a glaring need at PF, and were a little overstocked at SF with Korver, Young, and Carney. I figured they could give up one of them to fill a glaring team need, especially someone who should be able to play off Dalembert well and fit into Philly's system. Murphy's still a pretty good player, and the Sixers definitely didn't get stiffed in this deal.

kbryant24, Jones sure is pulling through for me. He's a 75 overall, started the season at 74, and some key ratings are:
75 FG (up from 74)
69 3PT
75 FT (up from 74)
79 QUICK
79 SPEED
75 PASS (up from 74)
79 DRIBBLE
74 O. AWARE
74 D. AWARE
74 STEAL
65 STAMINA (up from 64)
69 CLUTCH

Also, for the record, he's 6'3", 205 lbs. I'll have player stats and info up at end of month 1.

Up next, the initial installment of the bi-weekly coach's report, "Jim O'Brien's On-Court Observations", as well as some added pics for available Pacers games.

[jonthefon]

Woah, daily recaps?

This thing looks great. Keep going!

[TheMC5]

JIM O'BRIEN'S ON-COURT OBSERVATIONS - A LOOK TOWARD THE YEAR AHEAD

Welcome everyone to the inaugural 'Observations'. This space will be filled on a bi-weekly basis by new Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, as he talks about anything he pleases, as long as it's Pacers related. So without further ado, I give you Coach O'Brien.



Hello, everybody. I'm Jim O'Brien, coach of the Pacers, and my first series of observations will be concerning the first two weeks of the season, and my projections for the season ahead. I'd like to start by breaking down our team's strengths and weaknesses, as well as what roles are projected for each player, and how they have performed in those roles to date.

OFFENSE
Plain and simple, scoring looks like it could be our Achilles heel this season. We certainly have an abundance of players who can score, what we lack is a go-to guy, somebody we can give the ball with 5 seconds left and say "Go!". Until we get that, we'll be looking to run at every opportunity, catching the defense before it's set. We've a few guys who can get the ball up the court quickly, as well as pretty good rebounders and outlet passers, so I think running is our top priority. To that end, I fully expect Leandro Barbosa to lead this team in scoring. For this team to succeed, he needs to shoulder the offensive load, to some extent. We obviously don't expect him to become Kobe Bryant, but we'll need easy baskets, and he'll be option #1 in that area.

As for our half-court offense, we'll be running a lot of it through Boris Diaw at the high elbow. His play making ability should enable him to find the open shooter or slasher to the bucket, but he needs to develop a consistent offensive repatoire, or teams may start sagging off him, daring him to shoot. He needs to be able to punish teams for doing that. Also expect to see a fair number of pick and rolls for July Jones and Barbosa on the wings, as they both have the ability to get to basket quickly and finish. We also have a few plays in mind to open up space for Nene down low, but I won't get into the specifics of those.

DEFENSE
Our perimeter defense is quite good. Jones has been nothing short of a revelation on defense, barring that game vs. Chicago, possessing both the speed to stop quicker point guards, and the size and strength to effecitvely cover most 2 guards. We give up little on point guard defense if Jones covers the opposing SG, because Tinsley is a more than adequate defender as well, not to mention Marquis Daniels and Danny Granger. Our inside defense is what needs work. I've already seen Nene make strides in that area during the short time he's been here, but it still needs to be shored up. PJ Brown is a good defender, but he struggles sometimes against bigger 5's, and he plays primarily the 5 for us, as well as rarely playing 20 minutes a night.

To cover for our inside deficiencies, we'll be running a lot doubles in the post, relying on our team quickness to rotate and recover. This is one area that will certainly take a while to develop fully, as it requires everyone being on the same page at the same time through efficient and effective on-court communication. That's hard to teach. Guys usually need to learn that for themselves. That's not to say we don't remind them at every opportunity.

PLAYER REVIEW
Without getting too critical of specific players, I wanted to review the team's performance to date. I think consistency has been lacking throughout our lineup, though guys have done a good stepping up when needed. As a coach, however, you need to know what you're getting from your players. To that end, Nene and July Jones have been my most valuable players. Nene is our only true 5, and he's been steady and good. He has posted 3 double-doubles in 6 games as a Pacer, and has done everything asked of him. Jones has been the defensive stalwart for this team. His defensive intelligence allows for all the doubles and zones we throw at people. It's like he covers 2 or 3 guys at once with his constant on the ball pressure. On the flip side, I'd love to see him hit the open man more often on his forays into the paint, although in all fairness, his assist totals would be higher if his teammates knocked down shots more consistently.

Barbosa has been probably our most inconsistent player. His shooting has been way off, though he has been getting to the line and producing points. Some of that is hopefully just due to an adjustment period, coming from a place like Phoenix where he was just a small cog in a big machine, to being possibly the most integral piece of our offense. Whatever the case, he needs to find his stroke soon.

The rest of the roster has done pretty much what I expected. Everyone's working hard, but no one is really exceeding expectations, nor seriously disappointing. I mean, we do have a winning record currently, so we've been getting the job done.

As for what is to come in the rest of the season for the Pacers, that obviously depends on many factors. I can say with certainty that we'll be trying to get July Jones as much playing time as possible, keep working on our defense, and run like there's no tomorrow. If we can put everything together, I think we certainly have a realistic shot at the playoffs, but it will take a total team effort and some sacrifices and swift development of certain players.

Next time: A thorough look at the plays we run for our bigs, and what we expect of them in an offensive set, as well as a short q&a.

Thanks for reading,
Jim



Edit: I realized upon submitting this column to the good people at Pacersblog.com that I foolishly forgot to include the segment detailing player's projected roles on the team. So I'll list them off now.

Barbosa, Leandro - SG/PG
Leandro is basically offensive option #1. His mid-range game needs a bit of work, but he can get to the hole at will, and is 1-man fast break. Defensively, he is sometimes forced to cover the faster points, such as Tony Parker, Allen Iverson, or TJ Ford, but we usually try to keep him on the weaker of the opposing guards.

Brown, PJ - C/PF
Though a natural 4, PJ sees the majority of his playing time as a backup to Nene. His stellar post-defense allows for him to play the 5, since we don't ask him to do much on offense other than set screens and rebound. His value far exceeds his defense, though. One of the few veteran voices in a locker room full of youth, PJ acts as a mentor to our young players, and his contribution is well recognized and greatly appreciated.

Daniels, Marquis - SG/SF
Marquis is an interesting player, but his inconsistent jump shot contnually thwarts his attempts for more playing time. He is used mostly to defend taller 2 guards who pose a match up problem on defense for July Jones, as well as limited ball handling in some offensive sets.

Diaw, Boris - PF/SF
Boris is the key to our half-court offense. With an array of guards and wing players who can shoot, but limited inside scoring, good spacing and maximization of shooters are keys to a potent offense. Having a prolific passer and play maker stationed in the high post allows for all three perimeter to be in shooting position, while also freeing up space down low for Nene. Like Barbosa, Diaw must continue to develop a consistent offense to reach his full potential.

Diener, Travis - PG
He's our third string point guard. He's a solid young kid, but his game still needs some work, especially on the defensive end, if he's to see any playing time barring injuries. Right now his role is to stay in shape and be ready.

Diogu, Ike - PF
Ike is our banger. He does the dirty work, always looking for offensive rebounds, taking charges, or bullying his way down low. He's still young and developing, but he is already a useful player on both ends. He is also a good compliment to Diaw at the PF position, as Diaw is more of a finesse player, while Diogu is very physical, and as such is often asked to guard the bigger, stronger 4's when match ups prevent Nene or PJ from doing so.

Granger, Danny - SF
We like to use Danny to post-up smaller wing players on offense, but his main duties are to get open and play D. He's often used as decoy in our offense to draw attention away from what's really happening, and he seems to flourish in that role - not putting up many points, but playing very efficiently. He's also one of the more vocal leaders on the team, challenging his teammates to step up and sacrifice when things are looking grim.

Jones, July - PG/SG
The rookie has been everything Reggie promised he would be - hard working, respectful, talented, personable, and very promising. His biggest asset to our team is currently his defense. He's routinely asked to guard the opposing team's top scorer, while controlling our team's offense. So far he's done an enviable job, beating out Tinsley for starting duties in camp, earning Pacers Player of the Week in his first week in the league, and even hit some clutch shots. He's going to play until he drops, and even then he might still play.

Kleiza, Linas - SG/SF
I'm still trying to figure out how best to utilize Linas. His outside touch is nice, but I'm not he could keep up with our swarming defensive tactics. I'll find him some playing time somewhere, and we'll see what develops from there. He's sort of an X-factor at this point.

Nene - C/PF
Our only true center, Nene is asked to shoulder the bulk of the load in the paint. He needs to score, rebound, block shots, and intimidate, and so far he's done it all. He needs to work on limiting his fouls, as he's had to sit out most of the 4th in 2 games already. When he does that, he'll truly be a force.

Tinsley, Jamaal - PG/SG
Tinsley's been relegated to back up duties, although he still sees well over 20 minutes a night. His 3 point shot is still more accurate than Jones', so he is often on the court in late game situations. The limited playing time has increased his efficiency greatly, and he is still a big part of our team.

Williams, Shawne - SF/SG
Unfortunately, Shawne is buried behind 8 players at the shooting guard and small forward spots, so barring injuries or some very noticeable jump in his abilities, he doesn't figure into the rotation.

Young, Thaddeus - SF/PF
Thad's another player I haven't really gotten a good look at in game yet. He's played some for us, and played fairly well most of the time. He's certainly in the rotation every game, especially due to our lack of bigs, but this season is all about development for this Young fella. His 3 point range from the 4 spot is something I'd like to utilize more, but like most rookies, he needs to improve his defense before he starts logging 20+ minutes on a regular basis.

[TheMC5]

Woah, daily recaps?

This thing looks great. Keep going!

Thank you, jonthefon. There's no way I could do comprehensive daily recaps, but for big games I like doing it. Gives the reader some perspective on the rest of league, something most dynasty stories lack, I find.

[McDwyane]

75 FG (up from 74)
69 3PT
75 FT (up from 74)
79 QUICK
79 SPEED
75 PASS (up from 74)
79 DRIBBLE
74 O. AWARE
74 D. AWARE
74 STEAL
65 STAMINA (up from 64)
69 CLUTCH

Nice numbers.I hope he will be monstrous in a span of few time