RealGM

This is a thought I mentioned a time or two before and I'm simply looking for opinion.

Could O'Brien's system be such that the Pacers need not have a true point guard but rather a solid ball handlers.

Grant it, we've seen the triangle rarely if ever use them.

I can remember Pippen back in his Portland days being the lead ball-handler and distributor for the team play a point forward.

Like serious opinions on this because I think this is something that's bound to happen.

If we went without the "traditional PG" and played our 5 best players, who would we have bring up the ball?

Mike Dunleavy is our only capable pt. foward i'm afraid

If Dunleavy is 100% healthy like he was a few years ago, Id have no problem with that

Yeah Dunleavy would be the only possible point forward on the team. If hes back 100% I would be okay with that. It would only really work out with Jones or I guess Lance at the 2 though, as they could cover the opposing point. Although Rush probably could legitly cover most larger/combo guards, but if hes in I want him on the opp. best wing.

If the Pacers are going without a pg Dunleavy becomes a pretty important guy. Yet, last week he was on the trading block?

Yeah, but I think we've seen over the years how good a SF with ball handling abilities can be. Take Jalen Rose when he started in 2000. Moving him to the starting lineup with his ball handling provided the Pacers what they needed to succeed well, after what they saw what the Bulls did with Mark Jackson years earlier.

I'd also like to see Marcus Williams (think who that guy is), be brought into camp on a nonguaranteed invite and see if he can challenge someone. He started in summer league opposite Stephenson in the backcourt.

So if we trade Dunleavy, does it mean we need to get a PG in return or a better ballhandler at the SG or SF position? Which should be the target? Would Butler work?

Butler who?

we need someone with enough ball skills to get the ball upcourt against pressure. if we try to play Mike at the point with Rush or George at the two, teams will press us.

we need someone who can defend point guards.

we do not need someone who can bounce the ball until his defender blinks and then zip around him for a pull up jumper. that's TJ Ford.

colts2004 wrote:Butler who?

Caron Butler
Butler Bulldogs
Gerard Butler
Geoffrey the Butler
All kinds of Butlers!

colts2004 wrote:Butler who?

Think he means Caron Butler whom the Mavs acquired from the Wizards but may put back on the block.

Wizop wrote:we need someone with enough ball skills to get the ball upcourt against pressure. if we try to play Mike at the point with Rush or George at the two, teams will press us.

we need someone who can defend point guards.

we do not need someone who can bounce the ball until his defender blinks and then zip around him for a pull up jumper. that's TJ Ford.

Agree. Dunleavy's got good ball-handling skills but since he's taller, smaller and quicker guards could swipe the ball off him when dribbling because the ball bounces back higher til it touches his hand. Well unless he could bend a little like Grant Hill, it makes the bounce quicker.
Though it is possible, i'd still think we need a legit point guard. Someone that could exploit the outside shooting capability of this ballclub, the athleticism of the younger guys, and eventually help the bigs find their spots.
Hope we could ship Dunleavy for a true PG, but something tells me it's unlikely to happen.