Dunleavy, Granger, Murphy join O'Neal, Tinsley

O’Brien quickly settles on lineup

Friday, Oct. 5, 2007

It didn't take Coach Jim O'Brien long to settle on a starting lineup.

Though Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley looked like the only certain starters entering training camp, they were quickly joined by Mike Dunleavy, Danny Granger and Troy Murphy on a first unit that doesn't appear likely to change any time soon.

"It's set in stone from the standpoint that I think if I had to start a game tonight that would be my starting lineup," O'Brien said. "So, as a result, I'm giving them a chance to play. That doesn't mean Marquis (Daniels) can't start, or Jeff (Foster) or David (Harrison) can't start, or Ike (Diogu). It just means the way I envision the team, that seems to be our best team and I've seen nothing after three practices that would lead me to believe that's not our strongest unit right now.

"Certainly, it's nice to have Jeff Foster, Marquis Daniels, our point guards, Kareem Rush and Stephen Graham – I think we have solid depth and that's so important for the long run."

ADJUSTING TO NEW COACH OLD HAT FOR EX-WARRIORS

Learning a new system and adapting to a different head coach has become an area of unwelcome proficiency for Murphy, Dunleavy and Diogu.

  • Caught in the Web archive
  • Pacers Preseason Central
    • Murphy is playing for his seventh head coach in seven seasons, Dunleavy his fifth in six seasons and Diogu his fourth in three seasons.

    Murphy

    "Coming from the Warriors, we had a new coach every year so this is not a new thing," Murphy said with a smile. "The guys that came over (in last season's midseason trade), it's something that we're kind of used to and we're looking forward to playing Coach O'Brien."

    It's particularly stressful for a young player in Diogu's position, constantly trying to learn new systems while adjusting to the NBA, but he just shrugs at the challenge.

    "That's part of the business," he said. "Anybody can go at any time – players, coaches. You've just got to be ready to adapt. It's one of the unique things about the league, so you've just got to roll with it."

    What they'd really like to do is make sure the team is successful enough that they're able to play for the same coach next season.

    "I hope so," Murphy said. "It'd be nice."

    O'BRIEN'S HONESTY CATCHES REPORTER OFF GUARD

    Of the many refreshing things about O'Brien, candor is at the top of the list – so much so, in fact, that it caught a reporter for The Associated Press off guard.

    Gathering information for a potential story about late roster addition Courtney Sims, an undrafted free agent center from Michigan, the reporter asked O'Brien for his impressions. Of course, the question came after Wednesday morning's practice, just the third of camp.

    O'Brien

    "I think we're many practices from me being able to give an intelligent answer to that," O'Brien said.

    Rather than taking the hint and dropping the subject, the reporter pressed on with another Sims question.

    "Boy, you're really searching," O'Brien said. "You've got to think up something else."

    Desperate but not yet defeated, the reporter laughed and asked O'Brien if he was a Michigan fan.

    "They've got a great fight song," said the coach, laughing.

    Perhaps impressed by the reporter's diligence, O'Brien did offer some analysis of Sims.

    "He's a confident shooter and he's mobile and I think that's positive," he said. "Reality is we have 14 guys signed to contracts and if we were to sign a 15th guy it would have to be someone that's going to be in the rotation."

    In other words, don't ask.

    INTERNOTES …

    Armstrong
  • Darrell Armstrong chose New Jersey over Dallas and thus will finish his career with the Nets. The 39-year-old point guard, waived Monday by the Pacers, signed with the Nets today. With Marcus Williams out up to two months with a broken foot, Armstrong will move right in as Jason Kidd's backup.

  • Newly appointed Golden State team captain Stephen Jackson unveiled a new tattoo at the Warriors' media day on Monday: two hands folded in prayer in front of a church scene, cradling a gun. "What that says," Jackson told the San Francisco Chronicle, "is that I pray I never have to use a gun again." Jackson will begin the season by serving a seven-game suspension for pleading guilty in July to criminal recklessness for firing a gun outside an Indianapolis nightclub roughly one year ago.

  • One other interesting tidbit from Warriors media day. Don Nelson was standing behind Al Harrington during his interview session when the coach interrupted with a question of his own. "Nobody's asking why you don't rebound better," Nelson said. "How come you don't rebound your position?" Harrington laughed, but it appears the joke will be on him if he doesn't crank it up on the boards.

  • Released by the Pacers last year and the Spurs this year, James White has signed a four-year contract with Fenerbahce in Turkey. He reportedly has an opt-out after each of the seasons, should another NBA opportunity arise.

  • Michael Curry, who ended his playing career with the Pacers in 2004-05 before moving into the NBA front office, gave up his job as the league's vice president of basketball operations to serve on Flip Saunders' staff in Detroit. Curry, 39, has designs on becoming a head coach one day and decided it was time to take the necessary first step in that direction.
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