You wouldn’t think so, but the Indianapolis Colts have certainly earned the local (and perhaps even regional) bragging rights in recent seasons. However, we’re almost a quarter of the way through the NBA season and no one’s talking about the Indiana Pacers, who evened their record tonight at 8-8 with a 95-89 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jeff Foster dunks home two of his 11 points against the Blazers Wednesday night. Foster also contributed 17 rebounds (eight offensive), three assists and a block. (image courtesy of espn.com)
I’m going to say what everyone at CWAMB has been afraid to to this point: these guys can play. They’re not Showtime, but they can play. Here’s my “20-percent-done-with-the-season” Pacers report card:
Jermaine O’Neal, PF/C: I have to start here because the team’s built around him. He’s missed the last five games, but the Pacers have gone 4-1 in those games. That won’t last. The Pacers will need a reasonably-healthy JO desperately over the course of the season, as he’s the only bona-fide low-post scorer they have, and he’s one of the NBA’s premier shot-blockers. Unfortunately, the JO they’ve had this season is averaging only 13.2 points per game on 38 percent shooting. That’s a bad guy to build a half-court offense around. When I saw the Pacers lose to the Celtics two weeks ago, he got pushed around by Kendrick Perkins. Yes, that Kendrick Perkins. I know he’s playing through more pain than I could tolerate laying on my couch, but JO gets a D at this point in the season. Hopefully, he’ll be able to salvage what’s left when he gets back.
Danny Granger, SF: In JO’s absence, the 24-year-old Granger has become the best player on the Pacers. He’s throwing in 18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and often guarding the opposition’s best scorer. His 46% field-goal percentage is right in line with his career average. He’s no superstar (yet), but he’s tough to stop from getting his. If only all of Larry Bird’s moves went as well as nabbing Granger with the 17th pick three years ago… A.
Jamaal Tinsley, PG: Critics will be quick to say that Tinsley can’t find his shot, but his .390 field-goal percentage is only slightly lower than his career .397 average, so this is “finding his shot.” Tinsley hasn’t scored this much (13.8 ppg) since 2004-05, and is providing some great floor leadership for the squad (8.3 apg). He single-handedly willed the Pacers into the Celtics game last week, drew heaps of praise from LeBron James after Sunday’s loss to Cleveland, seems to have put last season’s shenanigans behind him and has finally made the locals forget Anthony Johnson. If that’s not a great start to the season for Tinsley, then nothing is. The only knock on him is that he seems to have lost a half-step defensively. A-minus.
Mike Dunleavy, SG: Wow. Finally, the player Golden State thought they were getting with the third pick in 2002 has started to emerge. Junior’s averaging career-highs in points per game (16.3), shooting (.474), and three-point shooting (.392). He’s another guy who’s tough to stop from getting his, and typically, if Dunleavy’s off, the Pacers don’t have much of a chance. You can tell he’s worked hard in the off-season on his defense, too. He’s no stopper, but his floor positioning and awareness are much better. Sometimes, as he did in Cleveland on Sunday, physical defenders can keep him from getting his touches. However, the love-in continues with an A-minus.
Jeff Foster, PF/C: The venerable Foster has been fantastic this season. He’s leading the team in rebounds (9.1 rpg, despite averaging only 23 minutes per contest), defends the opposition’s best low-post option every night, and is a great big man to have passing or finishing in transition. The Feisty One continues to be CWAMB’s Favorite Pacer. A.
Troy Murphy, PF/C: I have no doubt that Murphy’s trying to earn his gigantic paycheck. But unless you’re a superstar and have teams built around you, then you’re just a guy trying to fit into a system. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Murphy fits with the 2007-08 Pacers, largely because he’s a better player when JO is on the floor. Having JO in the low post allows Murph to find his spots on the perimeter, where he can be positively deadly. JO’s absence has meant that Murph’s been the primary low-post option some nights, where he’s not nearly as effective. His rebounding (6.8 per contest in over 26 minutes) has been adequate; his shooting (.398, compared to .434 for his career) has not. Keep grindin’, Murph. C.
Shawne Williams, F: Very quietly, Williams has emerged as a solid rotation player (10.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg). He fits in well defensively with this group because he clogs up a lot of passing lanes with his length and quickness. However, he’s inconsistent, and needs to learn how to be more effective on the nights where he’s not needed for 20-plus minutes. B.
The Supporting Cast: G Marquis Daniels, when healthy (12 games), has been a difference-maker, especially in the open floor with his offense (9.8 ppg) and defense. C David Harrison, as he has for his previous three seasons, alternates looking like seven feet of emerging force and six fouls’ worth of stiff. PF Ike Diogu was off to a fantastic start before falling to a torn calf; hopefully he can contribute in the post in the second half. PG Travis Diener hasn’t found the three-point stroke he was signed for (.235), but has done a good job in the minutes he’s picked up at the point. SG Kareem Rush hasn’t found his stroke either (.292 from outside the arc, .347 overall). Indy’s own G Andre Owens has barely played, but has ticked my friend Foxy off somehow. Tough breaks are just part of dealing with the Fox, man. Sorry. Overall, the group gets a C-plus, which should improve when Diogu returns.
“Why the hate, Foxy? I don’t even play enough to have a picture of me actually playing basketball on ESPN.com? Why no love for the end-of-the-bench guy?” (image courtesy of espn.com, naturally)
It’s a long, long season. This has been a long, long post. Funny how that works out. Anyhow, many kudos to Coach Jim O’Brien (and even Larry Legend, who get them by not messing with what he had, even though he was the only one who knew). He’s got this group playing hard for the empty seats at Conseco Fieldhouse, but hopefully Indy will come around to appreciate what they may have this season. It could still be a lot of fun.