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Let's face it, the Pacers don't have a PG worth starting. The TJ Ford experiment has failed. In his only two seasons he has been replaced as the starter midway through both times and nobody around the league has showed any interest in acquiring him. And since Bird has made it clear this will be Ford's last season with the Pacers, there is no reason in my mind that he should even play. Next, when AJ Price fully heals from his knee injury, I like him as a career backup. I went to UConn during all 3 of his seasons there and saw every dribble of his career. I like everything he can do on the offensive side of the ball, however he is too much of a liability on the defensive side to consistently start in the NBA. I'm not a fan of Watson and it seems that Bird is not pursuing him anyways. So that leaves Stephenson who was a blue chip recruit at Cincinatti and had a great summer league. The Pacers literally have nothing to lose, so why not play with our future now. Worst case scenario, we get a high lottery pick and end up with an opportunity at drafting Kyrie Irving or Josh Selby. Let me know how you guys feel

Lance Stephenson should start at PG, I agree. When did Bird say he wasn't bringin back Ford? Price ain't too bad on D, he just is too injury prone.

Bruno on the Pacers website has said from what he has heard, that Bird is shopping Ford and since this is the last year of his contract, he has no intentions of resigning him

Lance Stephenson is about as much of a point guard as Corey Maggette.
You're setting yourself up for serious disappointment if you're expecting him to be able to run your team, even off the bench...

Think the Pacers should approach this the same way Miami did with Mario Chalmers. Sure you will get the bumps and bruises, but many didn't expect to see Chalmers flourish his rookie year in Miami and he was solid.

vincecarter4pres wrote:Lance Stephenson is about as much of a point guard as Corey Maggette.
You're setting yourself up for serious disappointment if you're expecting him to be able to run your team, even off the bench...

When you're possibilities appear to be TJ Ford, an injured AJ Price, and Lance Stephenson, disappointment is heavily expected. However, short term and long term, which is the lesser disappointment?

It would be great if we threw Lance the starting opportunity and got a Brandon Jennings - Mario Chalmers result. The possibility of that result would give him the nod over TJ as far as I'm concerned. Its really hard for me to see the team as a whole playing to its potential with TJ running the show.

All that said I'm more and more coming to the conclusion that getting a veteran point guard (even if you use some of the 2011 cap space) is a good investment. In Milwaulke last year one of the more under rated aspects of that team's success was Luke Ridnour. Kirk Hinrich probably helped make things easier for Derrick Rose. Either Jose Calderon or Kirk Hinrich could deliver that element here. Lance and everyone else will be better if we make that investment.

Only fear I would have is that would you want two rookies starting in our backcourt with Stephenson and George with Granger, Murphy, and Hibbert up front?

If we end up playing Stephenson at PG, I have a heavy assumption that Dunleavy will play next to him at SG to help alleviate some of the pressure of being essentially the only ball handler on the court. Granger isn't really one. Murphy and Hibbert sure as hell aren't one.

Scoot McGroot wrote:If we end up playing Stephenson at PG, I have a heavy assumption that Dunleavy will play next to him at SG to help alleviate some of the pressure of being essentially the only ball handler on the court. Granger isn't really one. Murphy and Hibbert sure as hell aren't one.

I think you're right. For the offense to function and take advantage having Stephenson's size and strength you would need another ball handler/passer on the floor. McRoberts assumed this role on the Summer League team.

The trouble with this line up is who guards the other team's point guard?

Regardless of who starts at pg, Dunleavy is our best option starting next to Granger on the wing. That is if we're serious about victories, and not player development. Paul George could apply some pressure.

Also, Bird didn't give Brandon a vote of confidence when he drafted George and to a lesser extent Stephenson. So what's that tell us. To me it means Brandon will be fazed out, or become a b/u once Mike expires. The Pacers know Rush won't develop into a starter, atleast here anyway.

Scoot McGroot wrote:

vincecarter4pres wrote:Lance Stephenson is about as much of a point guard as Corey Maggette.
You're setting yourself up for serious disappointment if you're expecting him to be able to run your team, even off the bench...

When you're possibilities appear to be TJ Ford, an injured AJ Price, and Lance Stephenson, disappointment is heavily expected. However, short term and long term, which is the lesser disappointment?

That's why Indianna should trade Granger to NJ for Devin Harris and Terrence Williams.

But on a serious note, I still think Bird will make a move to bring in a real point guard before the season, even if it's a minor move, just as long as he brings in a real NBA point guard not named TJ Ford.

I just feel Stephenson is going to be terrible as a point guard and not much of a factor, or a player for that matter in the NBA.

Paul George on the other hand...