Posts tagged ‘Indiana Pacers’

On Pacers.com, Jim O’Brien gave each player summer homework assignments to improve their game.  I’m going to see if his assignments are good or bad and where they need improved.

“Danny Granger. I want Danny to be our go-to guy and he needs to work on his one-on-one abilities for that to happen. He’s an excellent spot-up shooter off of one or two dribbles but to be the go-to guy he’s going to have to work on his first step, penetrating the lane and hitting big shots while he’s closely defended. “

My Assignments: I could not agree more that Granger needs to work on his one-on-one moves and his first step.  He hit the head on the nail on what Danny needs to improve technique wise.  He needs to improve his ballhandling and his ability to drive and create off the dribble will fall in place.  O’Brien did not mention the intangibles Granger needs to be a perennial all-star: passion and clutch.  He needs to show more passion on the floor when he’s out there.  I’ve harped on him for this before, but it’s true.  All stars have that passion behind their game and show it on the floor. He also needs to take over when this team needs a basket.  That Michael Jordan/Reggie Miller esque ability to hit a big basket at the right time.

“Mike Dunleavy. Michael was asked to carry a tremendous load this year and he may have worn down physically a little as the year went on. The NBA season is a marathon. I’m asking Mike to take the whole concept of conditioning to a different level by training harder and longer than he ever has. In his past years in the NBA he hasn’t been called on to be a go-to guy and we need him on the court because he makes our movement on offense very, very effective. After he does, he’ll be just as fresh toward the end of the season as he is on opening night.“

My Assignments: Conditioning for this entire team would be a good assignment because of all the big leads this team blew by a lack of concentration and lack of energy down the stretch.  One thing Dunleavy must focus on in particular is his lateral quickness.  Though he flourished offensively this past season under Jim O’Brien, his defense was no where to be found.  Boston is proving that Defense wins Championships and this Pacers team did not play any last season.  I realize he is never going to be a lock down defender because of his lack of athleticism and quickness, but an improvement from him is a must.

“Travis Diener. After having surgery on his foot, Travis’ goal this offseason is to recover and recondition himself so he can effectively explode up the court on fast breaks next season. And he’s one of the smaller guys in the NBA and plays with a tremendous amount of energy but you’re always worried about him having a collision with somebody a lot bigger than he is, so anything we can do to protect his body by working on flexibility and strength is great. And he didn’t shoot the ball with consistency. He is not used to getting as many shots as we’re giving him and he has to be able to get them off quickly. It was great scoring in college, but he didn’t have to play against the athleticism of the NBA. So I think he’ll do things that are natural to him, which is work on his ability to shoot off of movement and to shoot with speed.“

My Assignments: O’Brien is right.  He MUST improve his shot.  His lack of a consistent jumper is the reason the team went out and got Lil Flip Murray.  If he does not improve this, expcect Andre Owens to be resigned and getting backup minutes.  The Pacers are looking to draft a point guard.  They already have Jamaal Tinsley who is going to be ahrd to deal with all of his baggage.  If Diener wants to see the court, he has to get a consistent 3-point shot.  Also, a little more work on quickness and speed will help him keep up with quicker and faster point guards at the defensive end.

“Stephen Graham. He should continue to do what he always does, work as hard as anybody on planet Earth. When his number’s called next year, I want him to be ready to go and that means he needs to be ready mentally to play a big role. He is a man with a lot of pride, knows that he has a great opportunity here at the Pacers, and will play in the summer league along with Shawne Williams. We just feel that Stephen has to be a guy that will compete for minutes next year.“

My Assignments: He is one of my and other fans favorites because he plays like we want the whole team to play: with head, heart and hustle.  That is what I want to see out their on the floor and he gives it to me.  With that being said, he has a lot to work on offensively.  He is styled similarly to Danny Granger.  He has a better handle than Danny and needs to use that to get to the bucket.  He needs to be more aggressive on the offensive end when he gets the ball.  Overall though, he fills his role on this team very well.  Hopefully, he will be able to break into the rotation more next year.

“Marquis Daniels. Marquis will work a lot on his stand-still open 3-point shots. He really had a good finish to the year from the standpoint of recognizing that when he has his feet set, he can be a good 3-point shooter. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a great 3-point shooter, but we want him to be a consistent 34 percent, 35 percent 3-point shooter. So I’m sure he’ll work a great deal on shooting. The rest of the game is instinctive to Marquis, but he needs to get up thousands of shots during the summer.“

My Assignments: O’Brien is smart here with his word choice “instinctive.”  That is how Marquis plays. Instinctive.  He is a slasher and when he sees an opening he reacts and tries to attack.  He does need to acquire a solid 3-point shot, but he has never had one so I don’t know how likely that is.  Marquis has the ability to be a solid defender, but does not give a consistent effort.  He must work on his mental game and work on his mental toughness and focus.  A lot of times he just seems to be going through the motions.  A sports psychological coach would be good for him.

“Jeff Foster. I don’t tell Jeff to do anything. Jeff loves to be in the weight room and is always ready when the season starts. I think Jeff was pleased with his new role as a passer and there’s not a lot you can do about practicing passing. But he also knows that our staff has a lot of confidence in his ability to knock down a stand-still open shot and so I think that he’ll want to prove, not only to us but to the rest of the league, that he’s a very effective shooter.“

My Assignments: He needs to work on his back to the basket moves in the post.  He has added a 10-15 foot jumper to his game over the last few seasons, so the next step is post moves.  If Jermaine is still with the team, he won’t need them all the time but a change of pace and weak side scorer on the block would be good.  Just add a little mini-jump hook or an effective drop step and he will be an even better starting center in this league.  He is already one of the best role players in the NBA.

“Jermaine O’Neal. Jermaine just needs to rehab. He has a number of exercises that he has been given to rehab and strengthen his legs and his knee in particular. We’re confident that he can get back to full speed, but it’s just going to come down to his diligence and continuing the rehab process that he spent the last half of the season working on.“

My Assignments: He gave us the most basic and obvious answers on this one.  Yes Jermaine needs to rehab.  But he has to enter next season in the best shape of his career because of that injury.  He must not show any signs of ineffectiveness next year or the doubters will all come out. His physical condition must be at its peak in order to make sure there is no rust on his game when he returns.  Plus his better condition will help him keep up in the Pacers up-tempo offense.  Besides that, what more can you ask from a perrenial all-star coming off an injury?

“Troy Murphy. Murph needs to work on learning to take charges. I think it’s an important element in his game. He really moves well, has a great basketball IQ, and we would like him to become a guy that can help us protect the basket better than we have as a team. If he can learn to take charges, that would be a step in the right direction. He’s a great shooter and has a great deal of pride in his body, so I have no question that he’ll follow the conditioning program.“

My Assignments: One thing stands out to me in this statement: “He really moves well.”  When have you ever seen Troy really move well?  Please let me know because I haven’t ever seen it.  If anything taking charges is the furthest from my mind when I think of trying to improve Troy’s game.  There might be hidden meaning in this statement meaning he needs to work on his lateral quickness (noticing a trend?), which is true.  More lateral quickness will help him be able to move  his feet fast enough to be in position to take a charge.  That is the biggest thing Troy needs to work on so he is not vulnerable to the face up big man that a lot of guys are turning into.  Also, a low-post move or two wouldn’t hurt.

“Ike Diogu. He needs to play as much basketball as he can. The more he’s on the court, five on five, the better off he is. Ike is a well-conditioned athlete, he’s strong, he takes pride in his conditioning, he always stays at the top level from a physical conditioning standpoint. He needs to be in a full-court setting as much as possible, playing five on five, and guys prefer to do that, anyway.“

My Assignments: I’m not as confident in his conditioning as O’Brien seems to be, but he must just continue to improve.  I’m not trying to be vague but Ike has shown a lot of signs of being a good post player but he is still a project.  He has to improve is confidence as an offensive player.  He has the moves but does not seem to feel right taking his shots.  He has to improve his ability to pass out of the post, something playing a lot of 5-on-5 will help him with.  Also, he needs to be quicker to help from the weak side on defense.  He doesn’t always come off of his man quick enough to prevent an easy layup.

“Shawne Williams. Shawne should just be going into his senior year in college next season, so he needs to spend as much time as possible here in Indianapolis working with our coaching staff. Every phase of the game is important to him, every fundamental of the game – ball-handling, shooting and moving without the ball in particular. He also needs to strengthen his body, make sure his body is ready to play at a higher level than it has in the past so he might be able to play one of the big spots when called on. His summer program is as important as anybody on the team. He needs to continue to grow as a player.“

My Assignments: O’Brien again impresse me here with his honesty.  Shawne needs to improve in every aspect of his game just like Ike.  He also showed a lot of promise at times.  It is kind of weird that the Pacers have two players with very VERY similar games in Shawne and Danny.  Both are long, athletic, rely on a jumper and lack high level ball handling.  I actually give Shawne the edge with his ability to handle.  I’m not sure it’s actually better than Danny’s, but he at least shows it off more.  The things I think Shawne should focus on are a mid range jumper, a more consistent 3-point shot, and assertiveness getting to the basket. 

With all of this being said, their are a couple names left off O’Brien’s list of “students”: Jamaal Tinsley and David Harrison.  Both probably to the pleasure of Pacer fans.  O’Brien has already stressed that Jamaal is not a player he can rely on because of all of his injuries.  And of course David is another player that cannot always be counted on. 

In the Next Episode:  

-A Reality Check for All Pacers Fans and Calling Out Colin Cowherd

Since Larry Bird is looking to mix things up this summer, here are some options for him to consider

TJ Ford-PG-Toronto-The newest hot comodity.  Would be a perfect fit for the Pacers’ offense but he is often injured, just like JT.  Still a possibility depending on what Toronto wants

 Milwaukee’s #8 pick, Michael Redd, Mo Williams-The Bucks have said this pick is tradable and have also not said that Michael Redd and Mo Williams are secure.  All three are options for the Pacers

New Jersey 10, 21, 40 picks, Richard Jefferson-Though they have said they aren’t shopping the picks they have used language like “for now” and “at this time” which indicates that they are actually.  Richard Jefferson being available is no secret.

Golden State-Patrick O’Bryant, #14, Brandan Wright, Monta Ellis-Patrick O’Bryant is a free agent possibility for the Pacers.  Also, the Warriors have been said to have a package of #14 and Brandan Wright available as well.  Of course, the most intriguing is Monta Ellis who finally exploded this past season.  He is another free agent possibility.

Knicks-They have had a known interest in acquiring JO, and with Donnie there, you never know.

In the Next Episode:

The possibility of one of these trades/acquisitions actually happening.

Just to clarify things.  This is my mock draft if I were drafting for them. This is not necessarily what the teams are thinking.  When we get closer to the draft.  I will come out with my Big Board and a mock draft of what I think the teams will do.  This is more of what I think the teams should do.

1. Chicago- Biggest Needs: Inside Scoring, Consistent play from the perimeter

Derrick Rose-PG-Memphis-Even though Chicago has a need for a low post scorer like Beasley, it is too difficult to pass up a hometown kid that will also draw in the crowds.  The Bulls are supposedly very impressed with Rose.

2. Miami- Biggest Needs: A #2 or #3 scoring option depending on if they keep Shawn Marion.

Michael Beasley-PF-Kansas State-Miami wants Derrick Rose to team with Dwyane Wade in the backcourt to form what could be one of the best in future years along with Daequan Cook coming off the bench, but I think Rose will be taken off the board.  Beasley is not a bad player to settle for though.  He’s a player who can work in tandem with Shawn Marion if the Heat choose to resign him.  If not, then he can be the scoring counterpart to Udonis Haslem.

3. Minnesota- Biggest Needs: Star alongside Al Jefferson, Wing Players

OJ Mayo-PG/SG-USC-This was one of the most difficult teams to gauge because here’s where the philosophy debate comes in to play.  Do you draft a player for need with less of an upside or do you draft on best available talent no matter what the need? I think the #3 pick is too high to draft purely on need especially when the difference is between Mayo and Brook Lopez.  Mayo is a major upgrade over a similar sized McCants in the backfield and could provide the outside punch for Al Jefferson.

4. Seattle- Biggest Needs: Point Guard, Inside Scoring

Jerryd Bayless-PG/SG-Arizona-The whole at point guard is too big to pass up.  Bayless is more of a combo guard now but has the tools to be a great point in the future.  He must be willing to become the #2 and create shots for his teammates because Durants needs a lot to be effective.

5. Memphis- Biggest Needs: PF, C

Anthony Randolph-SF/PF-LSU-This pick is a perfect match.  Memphis likes to get up and down the floor and needs some better inside play especially on the defensive end.  Memphis is young and developing their talent with two potential stars already in Conley and Gay.  This means it will be ok if Randolph takes a few years to develop into a solid player at both ends of the court.

6. New York- Biggest Needs: Payroll cut, but that isn’t happening. A Star/Playmaker, PG

Eric Gordon-SG-Indiana-This does not necessarily fit a position need for the Knicks but they need to take the best available talent.  Gordon will actually fit really well with Mike D’Antoni’s offensive scheme.  He has the ability to play an up tempo game, shoot the ball and get to the bucket, all of which D’Antoni will need from his guards.  He might be able to step in to play point alongside Jamal Crawford.  This gives the Knicks some excitement with their fans at MSG.

7. LA Clippers- Biggest Needs: PG, 3 Point shooting

DJ Augustine-PG-Texas-I have not seen one mock draft have Augustine landing with the Clippers, but once I look more and more at the roster and how he will fit, I think it works.  First of all he fills a position need and a desparate need of better three point shooters.  The one thing that is a hitch in this pick is Augustine’s ability to run the half-court offense.  He is more of an up tempo player.  If Brand returns, the Clippers will most likely play at a slower pace.  At first, I thought this would get in the way and then I realized Augustine would have Corey Magette and Cutino Mobley as running mates on the fastbreak as well as PF Al Thronton off the bench who started to progress at the end of last year. Augustine could help this team take advantage of more fast breaks

8. Milwaukee- Biggest Needs: SF, PG

Danilo Gallinari-SF-Italy-This was a tough selection. It was between Gallinari and Westbrook.  Gallinari of course fills a hole at Small Forward for the Bucks be he does not ad athleticism which is an underrated aspect in the NBA.  An aspect the Bucks need.  Gallinari is a point-forward type of player with basketball IQ off the charts.  He would be able to work in the half court sets the Bucks like to use and could come in and start right away with this roster.  Westbrook is also a possibility here especially with his ability to play defense on the perimeter which is something Milwaukee needs.

9. Charlotte- Biggest Needs: C, PG

DeAndre Jordan-C-Texas A&M-This might surprise some people because of the ability Brook Lopez has showed at Stanford, but Jordan’s potential is too much to pass in my mind and I do not like Lopez’s game.  Lopez is talented offensively, but is not a good rebounder and is not very athletic.  Both of which could be problems when trying to defend the typical C/PF of the NBA.  Jordan is the exact opposite.  He is not nearly as polished, but is a good rebounder and has athleticism and potential that are off the charts.  I think Lopez will be at most a Chris Kaman type of player where Jordan could be the next in line alongside the likes of Amare Stoudemire and Dwight Howard.  Could be. The Bobcats aren’t in position to contend for a title this upcoming year so I think Jordan is the right call for them.

10. New Jersey- Biggest Needs: PF, C, (SF if Richard Jefferson is on the trading block like rumors say)

Kevin Love-PF-UCLA-I have not liked Love’s NBA possibilities since I first saw him play at UCLA, but supposedly he has slimmed down and was in better shape than ever at the Pre-draft camp.  If that’s the case, then this could be a steal.  I still think Love is least likely to be a bust but also least likeyl to be a superstar.  His basketball IQ and passing skills are among the best in the draft and not just among big men.  He is also extremely talented scoring inside.  This could be the compliment the Nets need for their centers Sean Williams and Dasagna Diop who are more of a defensive and rebounding presence. His passing skills would also be welcome from players like Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.

11. Indiana- Biggest Needs: A star, PG, Post

Russell Westbrook-PG/SG-UCLA-This is the guy, if available, I think the Pacers should select.  He will have a slightly larger learning curve at point than players like DJ Augustine or Mario Chalmers because he often had to play off the ball at UCLA, but I think he will become a very good point guard in the future.  He brings freakish athleticism, quickness, and energy, all three of which this team desparately needs.  He also has the ability to take people off the dribble though his weak hand ballhandling must improve.  He does not shoot the ball extremely well, which is something O’Brien would want, but that can be taught and tweaked.  He also automatically gives the Pacers their second best or maybe best defender.  He could guard either guard position and do it well.  The Pacers got burnt by lesser point guards constantly last year because none of the players on the roster could keep up with them.  Westbrook would change that. 

12. Sacramento- Biggest Needs: PG, PF

Darrell Arthur-PF-Kansas-If Brook Lopex is still available, they might bite on hime purely because most people would think it is a steal.  In my mind, Darrell Arthur would fit them better.  Arthur just needs a fire lit under him and live up to his potential.  At times he looks like the next superstar and at times he looks like a good role player.  He has the ability on both ends of the floor to be an eventual all-star and getting instant playing time in Sacramento would be just what he needs.  Arthur would fill their second biggest position hole even though the PG position is glaringly shallow. 

13. Portland- Biggest Needs: Experience, PG

Donte Greene-SF/PF-Syracuse-I think Portland will actually deal this pick because they have a recent history of being very active on draft day.  They should trade it for an experienced veteran, preferably at point, because they are loaded with young talent 2 deep at almost every position. If they keep the pick, it will be between Greene and Joe Alexander of West Virginia because none of the point guard prospects will be available down this far.  Greene has tons of potential but is still a little raw.  He has a good skill set of moves but does not use them at the right times.  He has shown the ability to take the ball off the dribble, get to the rim, create fouls, pull up mid-range, hit the three, and score in the post.  But he does often does not exploit his opponent on every position like a guy of his talent should.  He gets too caught up in settling for three pointers when he could have his way with a defender if he chose another move.  If he learns to polish his offensive skills and hustle every play on defense (another big problem his freshman season) he could be yet another future all-star on the Trailblazers roster.

14. Golden State- Biggest Needs: PF, C

Brook Lopez-C-Stanford- In most people’s mock drafts, Lopez goes well above this mark.  As I have previously mentioned, I think Lopez’s ceiling in the NBA is low, but Golden State would be stupid not to pick him if he was available.  Lopez will be able to come in right now and start in center for them and would give them an inside scoring option which they lack.  This team wants to win right now and this is a player who could step in and help them win right away.  He might have trouble keeping up with the Warriors temp but he also could be a good option for the team in a half court set because, especially in the playoffs, you are oftentimes forced to execute in the half court.

That is my Lottery Mock Draft.  Again I made how I think the teams should pick and not on what the front offices are actually thinking.  The rest of the first round mock draft is soon  to come.

When has Larry Bird ever brought this franchise luck??  Never to my recollection.

The NBA Draft did not go as well as hoped but the Pacers did end up with the 11th pick overall.  The sad part is the prospect of possibly facing Beasley or Rose for the next decade or so in Chicago.  That could not get any worse for this team.  The rest of my post lottery reactions and predictions will be up tomorrow in the next episode of the pacerscast.  Make sure you check it out.

The big day #1 is tomorrow at 8pm. I will be tuned in for all the “action” if you call drawing ping pong balls action. Right after the lottery is finished, I will give my post lottery selection reactions, probably disappointment and draft forcast. Stay tuned for what hopefully (.8% chance) be a top 3 pick.