Posts tagged ‘Jonathan Bender’

I mentioned this in one of the episodes, but wanted to type it out to get my point across.

Just here me out on this first.  I realize this team has had more off-the-court incidents than any other team in the NBA.  Most people would say that is the reason the Pacers are so bad now.  I would agree with them that it is ONE reason why.   The other reason, in my mind, is the loss of Jonathan Bender.  This team and franchise was looking at him as their next superstar.  He was supposed to step into the shoes of Reggie Miller.

Bender had all the qualities of a rising superstar.  He had an outside jumper that he could shoot over anyone, athleticism, quickness, a good basketball IQ.  He was a tough matchup when he was playing and would be one of the toughest matchups in the NBA if he was still playing.  He would be 26 reaching his prime with 8 years of NBA experience under his belt.  His 6′ 11″ frame would  be impossible to guard.  Not even Bruce Bowen would be able to shut him down.  If you put a typical 2 guard on him (6′6″), he could shoot over them.  If you put a guy with his size on him, you would be rolling out the red carpet for him to drive to the hoop.  He showed a good combination of penetration and quality shot selection as a youngster that was oozing with superstar.  He would easily be averaging atleast 2o points and 5 rebounds a game.  Atleast 20 & 5.  Most likely he would be an all-star and the team’s go-to guy.  The only player comparable to him with size, speed, and athleticism is Lamar Odom.  But Bender can shoot better than Odom, is more athletic than Odom, and more assertive than Odom.  So basically he is a better version of Lamar Odom.

The reason I think he is a huge reason this franchise is in a downfall is because of the team’s depence on him to be the next big time player.  When you lose a player with superstar potentia, it is devastating to a franchise.  Even with last year’s trade with Golden State, the team would have a killer lineup that would be perfect for Jim O’Brien’s offensive system.  They would be starting Tinsley, Bender, Dunleavy, Granger and O’Neal.  Talk about a lineup that could run and shoot.  The Pacers could spread the floor with Bender, Dunleavy and Granger around the perimeter.  Tinsley could penetrate with multiple options to kick it out to for threes.  Also, Jermaine would be able to easily get one-on-one isolations in the post and without a double team because of the lineups shooters.  That would be a high scoring, high flying, WINNING lineup.  The Pacers, even this year, would easily make the playoffs with him.  They would most likely be a 3 seed behind two of the toughest teams in the NBA.  They would be one role player away from making a title run.  That’s how much of a difference Bender would make.  He would have this team competitive.

When a franchise loses a player of that quality, it is difficult to recover.  They are now looking for a new face to the franchise and a new superstar because Bender had to prematurely end his career.  Hopefully they’ve found a blossoming one in Granger and can draft another to try to take the place of a player that no one would have been able to stop.