Encouraging signs apparent, even in slump
By Conrad Brunner | Nov. 11, 2007
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.
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."
