Despite the preseason shooting woes of Danny Granger (5 for 32 from the field in three games), the overhauled Pacers roster has looked somewhat promising in camp. And while I put all preseason NBA happenings on roughly the same plane of credibility for projecting reality as the Decabox pundits on CNBC are on for estimating daily Dow fluctuations, this marks at least a first sign that Indy fans like myself can maybe possibly sorta think about removing the paper bags from our heads.
For a team that unbelievably only has two players left from its 2005-2006 squad (then rookie Danny Granger and rebounding savant Jeff Foster) and ranked dead last in attendance last year (12,000 per game, which was more than 1,000 less than the lame-duck Sonics drew in Seattle), it is absolutely imperative that a few guys emerge who can not only help the team win games on the floor, but also establish themselves as the new face of the franchise to a disillusioned fanbase.
In last night’s victory over Dallas, rookies Roy Hibbert and Brandon Rush both scored 15 points and new acquisitions Rasho Nesterovic and Jarrett Jack have each shown that they will likely be at least solid rotation contributors. Most importantly, it has become increasingly clear that TJ Ford, if healthy, is going to absolutely flourish in Jim O’Brien’s free-wheeling, quick-shooting system, giving the team a third perimeter threat to drop 25 on any given night (in addition to Granger and Dunleavy) and the capable penetrator not named Jamaal Tinsley that Indy has not had since Jalen Rose.
The interior is still a mess, there remain a host of other problems and the team still clearly isn’t good.
But these two photos below better illustrate the promise of a new post-brawl era and the feeling of refreshment that, for better or for worse, the JO trade/2008 Draft has provided Pacers fans than any season preview you could possibly read. (Though “The Dunleavy Faces” graphic alone on Ball Don’t Lie’s team preview makes this link fully worth the next ten seconds of your life.)
(Thanks to local fan MagicRat for the photos.)
Known Associates:
Brandon Rush,
Decabox,
Dr. Hibbert,
Granger,
Jalen Rose,
Jarrett Jack,
Jeff Foster,
Jim O'Brien,
JO,
Malice at the Palace,
MDJ,
Pacers,
Rasho,
TJ Ford
