PG: Pacers @ Bucks

[Newz]

Can't help but notice that we as a team are playing incredibly well with a ton of guys looking for a new contract and/or on rookie deals.

Jennings, Monta, Dalembert, Dunleavy, Beno all in contract years and playing excellent ball. Tobes and Sanders on their rookie deals and the both of them playing very good.

I don't think that's a coincidence.

[coolhandluke121]

Wow, paul and MaxGreen having an argument about when we couldn't get the 8th seed anymore. That's like the worst argument ever.

lol, yeah I shouldn't have got involved it just annoys me when people go out of their way to distort facts to suit their particular argument. I lack the necessary 'meh whatever' personality trait, wish I had it.

[LUKE23]

Through 7:

O: 17th (102.9)
D: 5th (99.2)
Pace: 95.9 (1st)
Expected W-L: .647 (4.53-2.47), 53 wins over a full season
RPI: .550 (tied for 7th)
SRS: 1.51 (11th)
SOS: .495 (tied for 13th)

Scoring efficiency:

Ellis: 20.0 @ .475 TS
Jennings: 16.9 @ .526 TS
Dunleavy: 11.3 @ .635 TS
Sanders: 10.1 @ .669 TS
Harris: 8.3 @ .698 TS
Udrih: 7.7 @ .552 TS
Henson: 6.5 @ .440 TS
Ilyasova: 6.4 @ .335 TS (LOL)
Dalembert: 6.3 @ .745 TS
Daniels: 5.7 @ .439 TS
Udoh: 5.6 @ .553 TS
Gorilla: .7 @ .500 TS
Lamb: .5 @ .100 TS

Tobes and Dunleavy need more shots.

[Thunder Muscle]

Defensive rating very impressive thus far. Pretty big turnaround.

Statistically Dalembert is good in alot of categories actually. I am starting to like the combo of him and Sanders.

On the eye ball test I feel Tobias has been more assertive and effective on offense the last few games. I guess his TS% backs that up a bit.

Ersan has been bad, woof.

[LUKE23]

I feel like Harris should be getting probably another 5 FGA per game. I think he can easily maintain a .550+ TS even with a scoring average around 15 ppg. Since his offense is by far his greatest asset right now, they need to utilize it.

[Thunder Muscle]

I feel like Harris should be getting probably another 5 FGA per game. I think he can easily maintain a .550+ TS even with a scoring average around 15 ppg. Since his offense is by far his greatest asset right now, they need to utilize it.

In an ideal world it would be nice if a few of Ellis/Jennings' shots went to Tobias. I guess it is a good problem to have but it seems like we don't have enough basketballs to go around but do have guys that can score it, especially if Ersan ever gets near his career norms. And even Henson is looking like a guy that can get you double figures on a nightly basis if the opportunity would ever present itself.

[Newz]

I feel like Harris should be getting probably another 5 FGA per game. I think he can easily maintain a .550+ TS even with a scoring average around 15 ppg. Since his offense is by far his greatest asset right now, they need to utilize it.

I kind of like the "dual PG" look of Jennings and Monta. Monta is just inefficient and takes a lot of bad shots right now.

I think we'd be a better team if we moved Monta for something of value and distributed his shots to Tobes, Dunleavy, Jennings, Beno and whoever his replacement would be.

[coolhandluke121]

I feel like Harris should be getting probably another 5 FGA per game. I think he can easily maintain a .550+ TS even with a scoring average around 15 ppg. Since his offense is by far his greatest asset right now, they need to utilize it.

I kind of like the "dual PG" look of Jennings and Monta. Monta is just inefficient and takes a lot of bad shots right now.

I think we'd be a better team if we moved Monta for something of value and distributed his shots to Tobes, Dunleavy, Jennings, Beno and whoever his replacement would be.

Again I have to bring up my Ellis for Devin Harris/Anthony Morrow TI. Harris is just as good as Ellis right now. The team would retain its identity while solving the Monta problem. People didn't like the TI at first, but those same people are the ones that complain about Ellis's inefficiency. If Harris wasn't a team player he could still put up the same numbers as Ellis. Morrow would be a nice one-year fill-in until Lamb gets some experience. Both Harris and Morrow are expiring. It's a great trade.

[JimmyTheKid]

Statistically Dalembert is good in alot of categories actually.

I'm not sure if he's more skilled or if its simply just a matter of not trying to do too much, but I definitely prefer Dalembert to Bogut on the offensive side of the court. Possessions would be lost by trying to feed Bogut in the post. He'd "go to work," use the entire shot clock, and throw up a lefty (good) or righty (bad) hook. The Bucks rarely give it to Sam and say "go to work." He gets dunks, put backs, and spot up jumpers. And can make his free throws! All while playing average D. Good enough for me. He's been a pleasant surprise through 7 games.

[Newz]

Again I have to bring up my Ellis for Devin Harris/Anthony Morrow TI. Harris is just as good as Ellis right now. The team would retain its identity while solving the Monta problem. People didn't like the TI at first, but those same people are the ones that complain about Ellis's inefficiency. If Harris wasn't a team player he could still put up the same numbers as Ellis. Morrow would be a nice one-year fill-in until Lamb gets some experience. Both Harris and Morrow are expiring. It's a great trade.

I would do that trade.

[paulpressey25]

Pacer fans melting down at this thread.

http://www.pacersdigest.com/showthread. ... s-Postgame

Fire the coach, tank, Hibbert a bum now that he got paid, trade West for Monta, etc. We can't win with Granger injured. It all sounds oh so familiar.

[JimmyTheKid]

I kind of like the "dual PG" look of Jennings and Monta. Monta is just inefficient and takes a lot of bad shots right now.

Based on what I saw last season, I didn't think it would work. But, again, that addition by subtraction thing with Gooden and Delfino. You see the trickle down to other positions. Other aspects of the game. I think we'd all LOVE the "dual PG" look if Monta got back to his Golden State efficiency and Jennings continued to improve in that area.

[LUKE23]

I wouldn't do that deal just because I think we can get more, or at least one better asset than either of those guys.

On a different note, simple +/- through 7:

Godleavy: +101
Sanders: +42
Udoh: +33
Ellis: +25
Udrih: +19
Daniels: +14
Jennings: +6
Henson: -7
Gorilla: -24
Ilyasova: -28
Dalembert: -36
Lamb: -40
Harris: -70

[JimmyTheKid]

Again I have to bring up my Ellis for Devin Harris/Anthony Morrow TI. Harris is just as good as Ellis right now. The team would retain its identity while solving the Monta problem. People didn't like the TI at first, but those same people are the ones that complain about Ellis's inefficiency. If Harris wasn't a team player he could still put up the same numbers as Ellis. Morrow would be a nice one-year fill-in until Lamb gets some experience. Both Harris and Morrow are expiring. It's a great trade.

I would do that trade.

Devin Harris is hot trash. Morrow is meh. I would definitely not make that trade.

[paulpressey25]

Again I have to bring up my Ellis for Devin Harris/Anthony Morrow TI. Harris is just as good as Ellis right now. The team would retain its identity while solving the Monta problem. People didn't like the TI at first, but those same people are the ones that complain about Ellis's inefficiency. If Harris wasn't a team player he could still put up the same numbers as Ellis. Morrow would be a nice one-year fill-in until Lamb gets some experience. Both Harris and Morrow are expiring. It's a great trade.

I just don't know about the Harris as good as Monta part. Harris to me looks done.

I was all on the Monta trade wagon, until I watched these last five games. Monta just puts tremendous pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to attack the rim. This is a unique skill we've never had. I just worry what our offense looks like without that.

I would much rather send out Ersan and our first for Afflalo if that were at all possible.

[LUKE23]

Also, I will say, I'm not a fan of Ellis, but it has more to do with his shot selection than anything. If we can maintain a top 10 defense with him (which I didn't think was possible heading into the season, but now I think may be due to the defense of the frontcourt), he's not a huge liability if he can reign his shot selection even a little. He does allow us to do two things:

1. Play at the fastest pace in the league when paired with Jennings
2. Makes us a pretty heavy ball movement team (even with bad shot selection) due to his above average passing ability at the SG slot (24.3 team APG)

The biggest issue to me is getting more shots for guys like Dunleavy and Harris, which somewhat falls on Jennings/Ellis, but also somewhat falls on Skiles.

If we are going to move him, which I'm 100% for especially if he's going to opt out, I'd be looking for a young piece or pick over just a high efficiency shooter who doesn't bring anything else (see Morrow).

[LUKE23]

I would much rather send out Ersan and our first for Afflalo if that were at all possible.

There is no chance I do that trade either.

[JimmyTheKid]

On a different note, simple +/- through 7:

Godleavy: +101
Sanders: +42
Udoh: +33
Ellis: +25
Udrih: +19
Daniels: +14
Jennings: +6
Henson: -7
Gorilla: -24
Ilyasova: -28
Dalembert: -36
Lamb: -40
Harris: -70

Harris -70... I like +/- but like any stat, its worthless on its own.

[Newz]

I'm curious to see if Ersan just becomes another dead weight contract. Man has he been terrible so far.

[LUKE23]

I'm curious to see if Ersan just becomes another dead weight contract. Man has he been terrible so far.

He's been off the charts terrible. That said, before this season, he had 6,000 minutes of .530+ TS ball and a rebounding rate around 9.6 per 36. I feel comfortable predicting he returns to that or something close, but his biggest issue is that he lets his shot falling affect the rest of his game.

Volume wise, we also have too much depth for him to play 30+ minutes, given the defensive ability of guys like Sanders and Udoh.