PACERS: Caught in the Web 071111

It's painfully obvious what isn't going right at the moment. The Pacers are fouling too much, defending too little, and losing commitment to their new style of offense when under pressure.

O'Neal

It's as if, when the going gets tough, they revert to the old approach, expecting Jermaine O'Neal to beat double- and triple-teams in the post or Jamaal Tinsley to make something out of nothing, and the next thing you know there are four seconds left on the shot clock and nothing good is about to happen. Why they revert to this stagnant mindset is a bit of a mystery because it doesn't work, and hasn't worked for a few years, so it's not like they're falling back on old reliable.

But the point here is not to beat on the bruises. In fact, none of these developments should really be all that surprising. Tinsley and O'Neal have played one way for the past four seasons; it's not realistic to expect them to completely adapt in two months.

The fact of the matter is, even with the current three-game losing streak, there are a number of reasons for optimism. To wit:

Already, the Pacers have produced two 40-point quarters and 70-point halves, strong indicators of how well the system works when they stick to it.

Dunleavy

The Golden State trade is looking better every game. Mike Dunleavy has been the team's most consistent all-around offensive player, Troy Murphy has jumped right into the flow and Ike Diogu, prior to his injury, was emerging as a force off the bench.

Though Danny Granger has struggled with his jump shot of late, perhaps because he can't resist the temptation to fall in love with it, he looks very much like a player taking a big step toward legitimate stardom.

Shawne Williams obviously is still learning but the second-year forward is looking more and more like an invaluable fixture in the rotation.

O'Neal not only has looked capable of fitting in but thriving, at times, particularly with his heretofore unexpressed creativity when it comes to playmaking from the low post.

Daniels

Coach Jim O'Brien may have hit upon the solution to the rotation when he slid Marquis Daniels into the backup point guard role against Denver. Assuming Daniels can handle the backcourt responsibilities, it would open up needed backup wing minutes for Williams and Kareem Rush.

And then there is O'Brien himself. It would've been very easy for the coach to publicly flog the team after the second-half meltdown against Denver but he's far too experienced, and resolute, to let his emotions get the better of him six games into his first season.

This isn't just a transition to a new coach. The Pacers are undergoing a complete change in culture. Like it or not, it will take time.

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE FOR O'BRIEN

After facing one of his former stars -- Denver's Allen Iverson had a big year under O'Brien when both were with the 76ers in 2004-05 -- the Pacers coach moves on to face more familiar faces Tuesday against Boston.

Iverson

Pierce

O'Brien

"I had a good year with Allen," O'Brien said. "He had statistically one of his best years if not his best year. He really led us into the playoffs. I loved having a guy that every time the ball went up, he gave every ounce of effort in his body. You can appreciate that in any sport when somebody does that. He was a good guy to have on your side."

O'Brien compiled a 139-119 record with the Celtics from 2001-04 and directed the team to its last trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002. Most of the players are gone, though Paul Pierce remains.

"I have a lot of friends in Boston still, I have a lot of friends in their organization," O'Brien said. "For their organization I’m very happy that they were able to make the moves because they deserve to challenge for another banner. I know there are a lot of people in that organization that have tremendous respect and have been waiting for that chance again, to challenge for banner 17. I’m happy for them, I really am."

With Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Celtics appear poised to challenge for the conference title once again. Pierce told The Boston Globe he expected O'Brien to succeed with the Pacers.

"He's a straight shooter type of guy," said Pierce. "He demands a lot of his players. I'm surprised he has been out of coaching that long. I think we had a good relationship. We had an open relationship. He was real demanding of his players. I looked at him as one of those old-school coaches. He's a throwback coach. He preaches a lot of defense. He always preached about that. I think (the Pacers) are going to like him."

After an ownership change in 2003, Danny Ainge was hired as director of basketball operations and he began re-shaping the roster, trading away four key members of the '02 conference finals team, including Antoine Walker. That led O'Brien to resign midway through the '03-04 season.

"We had a great thing going there," O'Brien told the Globe. "We had almost an ideal situation where I loved the players. They did it with their work ethic. As a result there was a close bond of players and coaching staff. We had a terrific couple years. (Watching the trades) was painful. A group like that is hard to replace. (Ainge) had his reasons to tear it down and build it up to win a championship. It was too painful for me."

INTERNOTES …

Granger not only doesn't mind the nickname "Hollywood" hung on him by new teammate Travis Diener, he has embraced it. "That's not a problem," he said with a laugh. "I like the Hollywood name. I put it on my shoes."

Miller

Reggie Miller picked the Bulls to win the East, which is why he said he's "banging my head on the wall right now" over Chicago's unexpected early struggle. ''It would be easy to say they're a little distracted by Kobe Bryant (trade) talk,'' Miller told the Chicago Sun-Times. ''A number of their players were mentioned in the rumors, and it can weigh on your mind as a young player."

Because the Warriors have gone winless while Stephen Jackson serves his season-opening seven-game suspension, it isn't surprising they're really looking forward to his return. But he cautioned his teammates not to expect too much. “I’m not Jordan. I’m not God. I’m a basketball player and I can’t do it by myself,” Jackson told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I need my teammates."