Jermaine back...glad? Not?

joew8302 · Post #21 » by **joew8302** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:23 am

Lets look at the draft position between 8-15. NBAdraft.net has us taking OJ Mayo at pick 9. At pick 15 Javelle McGee is scheduled to be picked, ouch. Also after pick 9 D.J. Augustine, Kevin Love, and Hasheem Thabeet are scheduled to be picked. These are all guys that could help us at our two weakest areas (pg and c). I think for the Pacers there is a big difference between 8-15, and it would greatly help Indiana to snag a top 10 pick.

Before anyone says it, I know NBAdraft.net isn't the end all, be all of everything, but they are usually pretty accurate. I think it also shows the need to pick before 15. I mean do you really want to be in a position where you have to reach and draft Thabeet a few spots too soon?

ajizzle · Post #22 » by **ajizzle** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:54 am

I'd like to see JO back, but off the bench... Not as a starter. Having JO come in instead of Harrison could be huge, especially w/ guys like Travis, Kareem, and Shawne in there w/ him.

I'm w/ Bird... Let's win as many as we can. But if JO is being too risky in his opinion (or that of the training staff), then he should shut it down for the year.

BTW... Don't know if Gordon's still coming out, but unless he has a ridiculous showcase over the summer, he'll be there around 10-13.

basketballwacko2 · Post #23 » by **basketballwacko2** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:20 pm

Yeah ESPN has Gordon slipping right now, I would bet my truck that he is gonna be in the draft. Would we pick him if he were there? I don't know how we couldn't.

Post #24 » by **PR07** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:55 pm

Beasley and Rose are probably the draft's superstars, but I think guys like Eric Gordon, Jerryd Bayless, Brook Lopez, DeAndre Jordan (Future Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum), Mayo (if he goes pro), and James Augustin are all players we will miss out on if get start getting away from the #9 spot. Those are 9 players too, so we know for sure that we would probably get one of them.

ajizzle · Post #25 » by **ajizzle** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:18 am

Well, some teams will be looking for size early in the draft, so hopefully you can add in guys like Hibbert and Thabeet to improve our odds at EG... I'd love to get him in a Pacers' Uni... He'd definitely bring some fans back to Conseco, seeing a local product and all...

CourtsideTV · Post #26 » by **CourtsideTV** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:00 pm

whens jermaine conming back?? i got him on fantasy and we have playoffs this week..

Post #27 » by **count55** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:18 pm

They have not set a date, but he is practicing. We think the next week or two.

CourtsideTV · Post #28 » by **CourtsideTV** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:36 pm

jermaine cleared to play..i have him for fantasy..but wont use him tonight b/c i dont know what to expect..

joew8302 · Post #29 » by **joew8302** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:44 pm

Geeze, what is the point of this? Take the rest of the year off Jermaine, we have no use for you.

Post #30 » by **Grang33r** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:36 pm

joew8302 wrote:Geeze, what is the point of this? Take the rest of the year off Jermaine, we have no use for you.

Totally agree. There is no point at all. JO is being selish is what it looks like to me.

blue_gold7 · Post #31 » by **blue_gold7** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:12 pm

Grang33r wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Totally agree. There is no point at all. JO is being selish is what it looks like to me.

If we can get in the playoffs and JO helps us accomplish that,....great. I do, however see this as more of an audition for him to prove to other teams he is ready to play. I don't see this as selfish though. While it does benefit JO, it also benefits the Pacers. If he comes back and plays solid for the remainder of the season then he should be able to raise his trade value considerably, and I'm all for that.

Post #32 » by **count55** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:27 pm

Grang33r wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Totally agree. There is no point at all. JO is being selish is what it looks like to me.

reasoning?

joew8302 · Post #33 » by **joew8302** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:29 pm

Raise his trade value? Eh, I don't buy that. The main thing JO has proven this year is that he can't stay healthy. I don't think a few games at the tail end of the season where he goes for 15/7 after being injured all year and maxing the league maximum will really entice any teams.

Dunthreevy · Post #34 » by **Dunthreevy** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:51 am

We'll see just how healthy he is tomorrow night. He says he's going to play against the Heat. I honestly am really on the fence about his return. On one hand I really want to see what our team looks like if he's healthy and Danny, Mike, Troy and the boys still play up to the level that they have been playing. On the other hand, I just want him to rest up and let us get a good draft pick.

blue_gold7 · Post #35 » by **blue_gold7** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:31 am

joew8302 wrote:Raise his trade value? Eh, I don't buy that. The main thing JO has proven this year is that he can't stay healthy. I don't think a few games at the tail end of the season where he goes for 15/7 after being injured all year and maxing the league maximum will really entice any teams.

Yes it does raise his trade value. Why do you think he wasn't traded before the trade deadline? Because he had a knee injury. Any team considering making a run at him is going to want to see that knee tested. Whether it be for 10 games or 50, it is better than 0. If he goes out there and plays well you are going to have a few other teams come into the mix, and someone is going to take a chance on JO. Not without seeing some pt on that knee though.

blue_gold7 · Post #36 » by **blue_gold7** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:44 am

Ultimately though, I would like to see him stay here and stay healthy.....A combination of the two doesn't seem all that probable right now though so...

cavsfan_osiris · Post #37 » by **cavsfan_osiris** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 3:17 am

I kinda like him coming off the bench right now. It doesn't make the focus so much about him. If JO can accept a supportive type of role instead of being the man I think he can help the Pacers in the future. If they want to make him the go to guy and the man again it's not going to work.

I don't care how much he makes, throw the salaries out and settle into the role this team needs. Obviously he's got to stay healthy.

Post #38 » by **mizzoupacers** » Tue Apr 1, 2008 3:39 am

^ That's just the thing with JO--he could be exactly what this team needs. A defensive enforcer in the paint, and a viable low-post scoring option.

IF he can stay healthy, and forget all the crap about being the Anointed Leader By Reggie, blah blah blah.

I've said for years I wish he would concentrate on defense and rebounding. Be content with 15 points a game, and worry more about a high shooting pct. than scoring a lot of points. The Pacers just may have reached the point where there are enough other scoring options to allow him to fit into that ideal role.

Or maybe not. My hopes spring eternal when it comes to O'Neal. But I hope we hang onto him for next season, unless we get a REALLY good trade offer, or unless his relationship with Bird is just so poisonous that he has to go. If he comes back and is productive, it would be almost like getting a top-three lottery pick.