Pacers’ diverse center trio a surprise package
 Roy Hibbert rises above the Denver defense in Taipei. (Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images) |
Beijing, China – First time out, Solomon Jones looked like the real deal with rebounding, shot-blocking and energy around the rim.
A few days later, it was Roy Hibbert treating the Denver Nuggets like so much summer-league fodder, scoring 20 with 11 rebounds and eight blocks off the bench as the Pacers won 126-104 Thursday in Taipei, Taiwan.
What to expect Sunday at noon, when the teams meet again in Wukesong Arena in Beijing?
The unexpected.
You may not be able to predict which, but odds are at least one of the Pacers' centers will contribute in a big way.
"Solomon, Roy and myself are kind of specialty guys in a way in all different areas," said Foster. "Solomon brings the athletic shot-blocking, can finish at the hoop pretty well. Roy obviously brings low-post scoring, and I try to bring defense and some hustle.
"Unfortunately we're not one player but at some point all three of us are going to have to get heavy minutes and have to contribute for us to be a good team."
Hibbert's progress evident but patience still required
Hibbert represents the future of the center position, while Jones could turn out to be a much bigger factor in the present. Shepherding the two young talents is team Foster, the elder statesman who sets the example with his energy, aggression and selflessness."Roy's going to have an up-and-down year. Most second-year guys do," said Foster. "I think it's more magnified for him just because he's a big guy and people, the team, the franchise, the city, everybody wants him to be the pillar in the middle for years to come and they want it to be now.
"But it's going to take time and they have to give him that leeway. He's going to continue to progress and be a fixture for us for a long time."
Until his big game in Taipei, Hibbert had struggled through much of the early phase of camp. It wasn't for a lack of preparation, because he worked out relentlessly over the summer.
"I'm sensing (improvement) but at the same time I need to get it done out there on the court," Hibbert said. "All that work I put in, it needs to show out there.
"Obviously, we have a game-plan here. We're a shooting team and a running team but eventually, my skills will show. I'm just going to keep working and be patient as much as I can."
Solo brings a different dimension to the mix
Jones languished on the bench in Atlanta's crowded frontcourt but has made a very positive first impression with the Pacers. His quick-jumping ability and shot-blocking stand out. He is still raw but developing and the Pacers are intrigued by his potential."He's a very instinctive athlete, defensively," said O'Brien. "He not only is a good shot-blocker but he has good hands to deflect passes and to pressure the ball. He has good speed and athleticism to be able to impact on the pick-and-roll.
"That's why people like athletes so much, especially that have a fairly high basketball IQ. He was a very, very important signing for us this summer."
Jones came to Indianapolis seeking opportunity and has not been disappointed. In two preseason starts he's totaled 41 minutes, 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.
"They always told me I would have opportunity here and it depends on me," Jones said. "If I come in and work hard I can make something of it. … The coaches have been telling me they have a lot of faith in me and I've just got to keep putting in the work and hopefully it'll pay off."
The 6-10, 245-pound Jones doesn't have Hibbert's size but can compensate with activity. Though a veteran of three NBA seasons, he has started just eight games to Hibbert's 42.
"I think I'm progressing really good," Jones said. "They're teaching me a lot of stuff and I'm learning a lot of things from Roy and Jeff. It's a battle going against those big guys every day. It's not going to be easy. We're going to have to make each other better and fight for our position."
Elder statesman Foster setting the example
Danny Granger is the face of the franchise but Foster is the heart and soul. One of just five players to spend at least 10 seasons with the Pacers, Foster doesn't like to be reminded that at 32 he is the oldest player on the team but neither does he shy from the leadership responsibility that comes with his experience."Jeff is a great model for our young big men like Solomon, Roy and Josh," said O'Brien. "His work ethic is great and he's more vocal on the court now. Certainly, we need leadership from all of our veterans and Jeff being the elder statesman needs to really step up in that particular area.
"Jeff wants to win. I think Jeff trusts the decision-making process and he's a very good communicator so if anything ever bothers him, he communicates it. But very rarely does anything bother Jeff – other than losing."
Foster is the lone bridge from the team that reached the NBA Finals in 2000 but his presence is much more than symbolic. He started 26 games last season and remains one of the game's most productive rebounders and aggressive low-post defenders.
"We know what we're going to get out of Jeff; we're going to get good productivity," said O'Brien. "That's nice as a coach to know what you're going to get out of somebody."
Clearly, the Pacers have a nice variety of options in the middle. The trick will be finding the best way to maximize the strengths of all three, lean on Foster's veteran stability while mitigating the youthful inconsistency of Hibbert and Jones.
"You can have options but those options have to produce on a winning basketball team," said O'Brien. "Those are the only options I'm interested in."
