Comments on: Where Do We Go From Here?

By: Game #73 Recap – I Am Tyler Hansbrough’s Jump Shot

Game #73 Recap – I Am Tyler Hansbrough’s Jump Shot — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:23:23 +0000

[...] Indiana has some decent pieces, and they have lots of cap room and flexibility this summer. But, as Alex Yovanovich pointed out, we still don’t know where we are going from here. [...]

By: Alex Yovanovich

Alex Yovanovich — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:04:32 +0000

A belated you’re welcome to Chris.

The big thing to keep in mind is that I do not think Herb Simon nor anyone else associated with this organization wants to take a step back. I just think the Pacers will fully evaluate each and every player after the season and then decide what to do with the luxury of this cap room. I wouldn’t get upset if the team doesn’t return intact, because any moves that are made will be with an eye on improving the win total… and that’s the ultimate goal. Finally we get see the benefits of not being saddled with any bad contracts. The albatross has been removed from our collective neck. If nothing else, let’s celebrate that fact.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:13:19 +0000

Woops, I keep thinking Rush is starting. He’s not of course, but I’m not sure he’s even good enough to be a back-up. Maybe he is. Dunleavy and Dahntay are probably better back-ups at the 2 and 3, but there is something to be said about youth, athleticism, and 3-point shooting. Maybe it’s time for Rush to focus on being that spot-up 3-point shooter that every team needs.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:02:57 +0000

One more thing…. I think mgmt needs to get DC the coaching he needs to become a true starter. That has to be a priority. He has really been abysmal considering his abilities. I’m a fan, but he can sink this young team with a few bad possessions, offensive and defensive! Obviously the other guys have a ways to go too, but I believe they’ve shown steady improvement (except Rush, blah). IMO, DC has taken steps backward.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:49:56 +0000

Great questions, and I agree with everyone else to run forward with what they have. They are 15-13 since the last game O’Brien won, and have a consistent rotation (finally), with Tyler turning it on. I also love the statement that we should build “with” Granger and not “around” him. Very well put Terry Donahue! It’s probably safe to assume that all of the starters, especially being young, will improve, giving you a pretty nice lineup. Who knows if mgmt agrees, and on that note, I hope Bird stays on. I think he is not being given NEAR enough credit for where this team is at. This team was essentially rebuilt in less than 5 years. Are they there yet? I think next year will provide that answer, but I’d say YES considering the cap space achieved. Obviously work remains. On a side note, personally I’d like to see McRoberts and Foster resigned. McRoberts I believe is totally untapped and could be had for cheap. Foster seemed to find the fountain of youth. Dunleavy is such a hard call. He probably could be had for cheap too, but how does he fit in? I’m not a big Brandon Rush fan at all, so this is a tough one for me to figure. Great post!! Go Pacers!!!

By: Chris D.

Chris D. — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 03:06:23 +0000

Alex, thanks for the stats on Pritchard. 50-32 in the West is nothing to yawn at, but I would definitely be leery of anyone coming in a looking to do the sort of overhaul you indicate. This Pacers team could be improved, no doubt, but I see some hints of rapport (as I saw at the game in Charlotte last night) that have been missing for several years till now.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:59:39 +0000

Blowing up the team would not go over well in Indiana. Bird has had chances to trade Granger and couldn’t get value for him. Unless Pritchard trades Granger for Hoosier native Eric Gordon and a first round pick fans will rebel.

The team needs to work on the bench. Once you get pass the starting five who on this team would play minutes for a contender? Josh McRoberts? Jeff Foster? Brandon Rush? Not really. The bench is something they can fix through free agency and Pritchard can do that with the cap space.

By: Alex Yovanovich

Alex Yovanovich — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:16:42 +0000

Here’s Kevin Pritchard’s background.

Pritchard was born in Bloomington, Indiana. He played a key role on the 1988 Kansas national championship-winning team. He had a six-year NBA career, bouncing around to the Warriors, Celtics,76ers, Heat and Bullets. He was GM/coach of the new ABA Kansas City Knights, which he led to a minor league championship in 2001. He then became a scout, training under R.C. Buford with the San Antonio Spurs. He took over coaching the Portland Trail Blazers on an interim basis when the team fired Maurice Cheeks in 2005. He left coaching to move to the front office with Portland, where he eventually became GM in 2007.

Pritchard’s draft picks include Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Fernandez and Nicolas Batum, however, he also drafted Greg Oden. He orchestrated a trade with Phoenix where Portland got James Jones and the #24 pick in the draft, Rudy Fernandez, in exchange for cash. Pritchard was fired on the day of the 2010 NBA draft. Portland owner Paul Allen received national criticism for the move.

The most interesting part of Pritchard’s reign as GM in Portland is the team’s record before and after his hire. Prior to Pritchard taking over as GM, the team went 27-55, 21-61 and 32-50. After Pritchard took over the GM spot, the Trail Blazers went 41-41, 54-28 and 50-32.

This improvement is probably a good reason why you shouldn’t be skeptical of Pritchard.

By: Chris D.

Chris D. — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:17:16 +0000

I was at the Charlotte game last night. By coincidence I saw the Dec. game vs. Charlotte in Indy during a family visit. First, Pacers fans are still more energetic than Bobcats fans by far. Attendance is very weak both places. Pacers could be lots better but they do look like a playoff team vs. Bobcats who got worse after their trade. Pacers fans will come back if we can start a season, say, 20-10 and stay on the plus side, finishing #4 or #5 in the East for a season or two. Then we think about what it takes to be East champs. If we set reasonable incremental goals instead of abstract ones, things look more managable. We don’t have to blow up the team to get to where I’m pointing. We do need another big man to push Roy. Foster can’t play forever. We could make an upgrade at any position, but not all at the same time. I don’t know how great this fellow from Portland is supposed to be but I haven’t seen them win the West lately, so count me
skeptical. This team (as is) could finish #6 in the East given a full season without JOB. So I’m hoping we don’t get stupid.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:06:29 +0000

I’m sick of my teams going through “rebuilding seasons”. I’ve spent a whole decade seeing ND football do that, and the Pacers just went through it the past few seasons. If a new guy comes in I hope he realizes how dire of a situation it is Indy. There is hardly any support for this team, and if they get rid of fan favorites without positive results it is going to get ugly.