Quick Thoughts on the Pacers’ universe
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Roy Hibbert asked the question we all wanted to during the NBA Finals: “Who’s Jesse Williams?”
After the annoying drama surrounding the Clippers, many are suggesting Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw is an unfortunate victim of another quirky NBA offseason. Yet he is still by all accounts a top candidate for the more desirable opening. The Nuggets are young, deep and set up for years of success. The next coach in Los Angeles has to worry about Chris Paul’s knees, win-now pressure and Donald Sterling, one of the worst owners in professional sports.
The world in general is far too smitten with charisma. In business, politics and sports, charmers and sweet talkers convince people they are right for leadership positions, regardless of substance. The scuttlebutt on Shaw is that he’s a dull interview. It is amazing how that may override the heavy lifting he’s done as an assistant in Indiana.
The New York Yankees – baseball’s polar opposite of the Clippers – have developed a strategy over the past decade of signing former stars to fill out their roster, with the idea that aging, decorated veterans often retain more skills than players with lower peaks. As the Pacers look to shore up their bench, this theory – which has served the Yanks well – might be one to try out. The front office acquired younger players like D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green who disappointed. Maybe it’s time to look in the other direction. Elton Brand, Kenyon Martin, Mike James and Antawn Jamison are among the older guys who might be obtainable.
There isn’t a friendlier, more thoughtful Pacer than Jeff Pendergraph. He was married last summer. Will this one bring him financial security and an opportunity for regular playing time? He can do a lot more than jump and shout in the middle of a pregame huddle.
The biggest strength of the offense last season was a high free throw rate. That’s also the individual specialty of Tyler Hansbrough, who probably gets fouled shopping for groceries at Kroger.
George Hill, who likes soul food, will miss his kindred spirit Mike Wells, who was taken off the Pacers beat by the Indianapolis Star after eight years.
The Pacers have selected a player at No. 23 twice in the NBA draft: Mitchell Wiggins in 1983 and Travis Best in 1995. Wiggins was traded before he ever played a game for the franchise. Best averaged 8.1 points per game in 6 ½ seasons and was a key member of the 2000 Eastern Conference champions. Team president Donnie Walsh would be happy this week to find another player like Best.
In all the hullabaloo over LeBron James’ headband, it occurred to me the Pacers don’t have a single player who wears one. It’s not clear what this says about T.J. Ford’s legacy.
Miami’s NBA championship guaranteed the Big Three era – two titles, three conference championships in three seasons – is a success no matter what happens from here. What stood out most about the 2013 Finals was the amount of time spent in small lineups and the prominence of the 3-point shot. While the Spurs and Heat showcased these leaguewide trends, the Pacers are trying to win by perfecting a traditional style that goes against the innovative grain.
If you divide the 82-game season into quarters, Indiana had a 10-11 record in the first quarter and finished 15-5 in the second. They went 14-7 in the third quarter and were 10-9 in the fourth quarter. When temperatures outside were coldest, the Pacers were plenty warm in gyms around the nation.
Paul George displayed emotion at times in the playoffs. After making a 3 he raised his right fist high in the air, pointing it toward the crowd. After another bucket, he pushed both fists against his head, glaring at no one in particular before trotting up court. Those gestures were a positive sign. George is in training for an alpha dog role, where guys need to play with a little outward fire. Teammates look to them to set a tone.
If Shaw does land a head coaching job, Alvin Gentry and Lawrence Frank would be perfect replacements as Frank Vogel’s lead assistant. Whether they’re realistic options, I’m not sure, but either would bring experience and needed Xs and Os acumen.
If George can throw it down over Milwaukee shot-blocker extraordinaire Larry Sanders – he embarrassed Sanders on multiple occasions in 2012-13 – there’s no one George can’t put on a poster.
