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Young Pacers look West for leadership

NEWARK, N.J. – When it was time to be serious, the most immature of the Indiana Pacers clowned on the practice floor and scoured stat sheets in the locker room to tease struggling teammates over poor performances. For all the burgeoning talent in the room, the culture had been too sophomoric. For every tough-minded young player, there was someone else to play the fool a season ago.

Pacers president Larry Bird made Frank Vogel his coach and carefully chose his assistants to complement a young voice. But ultimately the guidance, the policing, works its way inside out. For everything free-agent forward David West has brought to the Pacers – a classic, refined presence – he’s declared his loud, bold arrival in the most subtle of ways: performance over promise, correction over criticism, a raised eyebrow over a harsh word.

“I don’t tolerate a lot of ignorance, and I think guys are starting to figure that out,” West said. “I’m not a preachy guy, but I just try to represent something different in terms of who I am.”

After eight seasons with the New Orleans Hornets, West comes to the Pacers with a two-year, $20 million contract, a rehabilitated left knee off ACL surgery and an unblemished, unimpeachable reputation. An eighth seed last season, the Pacers are looking to make a move into the thick of the Eastern Conference, and West can clear the path for them. He balances the floor and balances the room.