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Looks like we'll be kicking off the Orlando Summer League in just a few minutes playing against the 76ers. I've watched some grainy footage of these in the past but probably won't today. Anyone planning to follow along and post updates? I want to know how Lance and Orlando look. Maybe Miles Plumlee will have, like, 57 rebounds and make me hate him less.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYpTScPfSyw[/youtube]

Hey fellas, just watching this pre-season game and wondering why the heck you guys are converting Stephenson to a PG? The guy has nice size at SG and most importantly since he was a star in high school and playing in the rucker he's been a big time scorer, all he does is get buckets so to try and convert a natural SG to pg is puzzling to me. On top of that, he's not very good as a point guard, what's the deal?

ball teacher wrote:Hey fellas, just watching this pre-season game and wondering why the heck you guys are converting Stephenson to a PG? The guy has nice size at SG and most importantly since he was a star in high school and playing in the rucker he's been a big time scorer, all he does is get buckets so to try and convert a natural SG to pg is puzzling to me. On top of that, he's not very good as a point guard, what's the deal?

He can be one of the best passers in the NBA and can create shots for other players better than anybody else on our roster.

orlando johnson, doin work, im impressed

Ben Hansbrough is terrible

Crowman wrote:Ben Hansbrough is terrible

And some people on here thought we should have drafted him after his senior year.

ball teacher wrote:Hey fellas, just watching this pre-season game and wondering why the heck you guys are converting Stephenson to a PG?

actually it's more the other way around. he came to us as a PG. everyone assumed with his passing skills that would be his position. however, if you read his end of season review on pacers.com, you'll see that the coaches now see his future as a shooting guard. however, he is still a combo guard and it looks like OJ is one too. I'd say putting the ball in Lance's hands in the summer isn't an indication that he's hoping to be our third point guard. he's fighting to be our second shooting guard and he just might make it. but he has more pro level experience at the point than anyone else on our summer squad.

who would start ahead of him on this summer team? B Hansbrough? Hamilton? Kramer? Stephenson's future may be at the two but he's the best point guard we have in Orlando. OJ and even Hamilton may have more potential at the point than Lance, but they aren't better at that position yet. Hamilton hasn't even shown he deserves to be on an NBA roster yet.

Indy2thaWindy wrote:

Crowman wrote:Ben Hansbrough is terrible

And some people on here thought we should have drafted him after his senior year.

In the 2nd maybe. You cannot deny he led the Irish with impressive stats in the Big East. My theory is, if you can get another Hoiberg in the 2nd you do it, but you have to be careful to avoid the Bailey's and Alford's too. I think there is a real fine line honestly.

If somebody said first round, they need to be committed.

Regardless, Flight 'White cost us two 2nds, and he was just as worthless as any pick in the history of the franchise, with exception to Bailey of course, but he was a token pick. We essentially give 2nds away.

Anyhow, OJ, Lance, and Plumlee did well, while Pendergraph didn't. He should realize this is the summer league and expect to dominate. He played better against the actual Heat for God's sake. Another performance like this and we should abandon him for a roster spot.

Indy2thaWindy wrote:

Crowman wrote:Ben Hansbrough is terrible

And some people on here thought we should have drafted him after his senior year.

Who? Who stood on the table in this forum for Ben Hansbrough? Even in the 2nd round? Plural?

Ben Hansbrough was dribbling A LOT. When he's on the court, it seems like the guys are playing frisbee, trying to catch all the awkward passes from double teams.
Solid work from Lance and Orlando. Lance played smart, he was running the show, when he's off the court, the offense collapses. I am impressed with Orlando Johnson as well, he's something the Pacers do not have - a guy that is more than willing to score. Plumlee, expected outcome, his timing is still a bit off, and a little finetuning on his low post game would be beneficial.

Really ugly game. Still not sure what to think of Lance. He can certainly make the great pass and has a really strong handle. Wonder if he will ever learn to shoot or play off the ball. Probably won't learn much about that here since he apears to be the best pg option.

From a style standpoint it's hard to distinguish between OJ and Lance. Good handle, athletic, able to get to the basket and take contact. Both look like they should be able to defend. Can't help but think for both it will come down to being able to shoot. No sign of that skill in yesturday's game.

Plumlee was pretty much as advertised (Jeff Foster clone). There is definitely a place for that on the Pacers. Of everyone out there he looks to be most capable of playing a role this year.

Yea im warming to the Plumlee pick now i can see why we took him Roy can show him some post moves

Scoot McGroot wrote:

Indy2thaWindy wrote:

Crowman wrote:Ben Hansbrough is terrible

And some people on here thought we should have drafted him after his senior year.

Who? Who stood on the table in this forum for Ben Hansbrough? Even in the 2nd round? Plural?

I don't remember who, but there were people who wanted him or Matt Howard.

I'd rather have Baby Stockton.

Wizop wrote:

ball teacher wrote:Hey fellas, just watching this pre-season game and wondering why the heck you guys are converting Stephenson to a PG?

actually it's more the other way around. he came to us as a PG. everyone assumed with his passing skills that would be his position. however, if you read his end of season review on pacers.com, you'll see that the coaches now see his future as a shooting guard. however, he is still a combo guard and it looks like OJ is one too. I'd say putting the ball in Lance's hands in the summer isn't an indication that he's hoping to be our third point guard. he's fighting to be our second shooting guard and he just might make it. but he has more pro level experience at the point than anyone else on our summer squad.

who would start ahead of him on this summer team? B Hansbrough? Hamilton? Kramer? Stephenson's future may be at the two but he's the best point guard we have in Orlando. OJ and even Hamilton may have more potential at the point than Lance, but they aren't better at that position yet. Hamilton hasn't even shown he deserves to be on an NBA roster yet.

Not trying to pick a fight or anything, but Lance has NEVER been a point guard, I followed him since he played in the EBC league in the rucker tourney, he's a shooting guard to the core. Sure he knos how to make plays and nice dime drop offs, but the guy doesn't have a point guard bone in his body. So when you say he came to the team as a PG, I don't know what to make of that since you guys drafted him. You have 3 solid point guards on the team already and imo, you seem to need another SG to help get buckets and thats really what Lance does, he gets buckets.

I understand making the guy from Uconn convert to a PG, but Lance is 6'5 with a strong frame, why take him out of his natural position? On this link showing his college stats, it shows he played forward
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/bvi ... yer=422447. A wikipedia entry states "He is a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) shooting guard and attended Lincoln High School in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn", again, not trying to argue, just saying as an outsider it doesn't make sense to not play this guy to his strengths.

I know it's summer league and he may seem to be the best PG, but in the end it hurts him to be playing PG instead of getting him accustomed to playing his natural position, and the guys who are playing point need to improve their point play which is what the summer league is all about anyways. Just my opinion though, I think he'd be a great backup at SG behind George by the way.

ball teacher wrote:
Not trying to pick a fight or anything, but Lance has NEVER been a point guard, I followed him since he played in the EBC league in the rucker tourney, he's a shooting guard to the core. Sure he knos how to make plays and nice dime drop offs, but the guy doesn't have a point guard bone in his body. So when you say he came to the team as a PG, I don't know what to make of that since you guys drafted him. You have 3 solid point guards on the team already and imo, you seem to need another SG to help get buckets and thats really what Lance does, he gets buckets.

I understand making the guy from Uconn convert to a PG, but Lance is 6'5 with a strong frame, why take him out of his natural position? On this link showing his college stats, it shows he played forward
http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/bvi ... yer=422447. A wikipedia entry states "He is a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) shooting guard and attended Lincoln High School in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn", again, not trying to argue, just saying as an outsider it doesn't make sense to not play this guy to his strengths.

I know it's summer league and he may seem to be the best PG, but in the end it hurts him to be playing PG instead of getting him accustomed to playing his natural position, and the guys who are playing point need to improve their point play which is what the summer league is all about anyways. Just my opinion though, I think he'd be a great backup at SG behind George by the way.

Ultimately, it's easy to be a SG in college. It's tough to be a SG in the NBA where you actually are supposed to be able to, you know, shoot? If Lance could put that part of his game together, he'd end up ok.

Scoot McGroot wrote:Ultimately, it's easy to be a SG in college. It's tough to be a SG in the NBA where you actually are supposed to be able to, you know, shoot? If Lance could put that part of his game together, he'd end up ok.

You don't convert a SG to PG just because he doesn't shoot very well, and being a shooter and a scorer are two totally different things. Lance is a scorer, not a shooter and again, the guy isn't a undersized SG, he's got good NBA SG size with above average scoring abilites it's just puzzling to see him being converted to point, that's all. Besides, there are a number of SG's in the league that start and can't shoot, Thabo Sefolosha, Tony Allen, Landry Fields, even Paul George who seems to start more because of his height and defensive abilities and being able to hit the occasional 3 pt shot. Lance is a flashy NYC player with bad shot selection but good one on one handles and moves, but not a point guard. He needs grooming on taking better shots and maybe tweeking his form, not a totally different position. Just my humble opinion though.

I know I'm repeating myself but you are reading much too much into him playing some point in the summer league. Lance is going to be given every opportunity to be the first shooting guard off our bench this year. that he can also play some point in a pinch is a plus. that he and OJ can play together in a summer league back court is also a plus.

ball teacher wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:Ultimately, it's easy to be a SG in college. It's tough to be a SG in the NBA where you actually are supposed to be able to, you know, shoot? If Lance could put that part of his game together, he'd end up ok.

You don't convert a SG to PG just because he doesn't shoot very well, and being a shooter and a scorer are two totally different things. Lance is a scorer, not a shooter and again, the guy isn't a undersized SG, he's got good NBA SG size with above average scoring abilites it's just puzzling to see him being converted to point, that's all. Besides, there are a number of SG's in the league that start and can't shoot, Thabo Sefolosha, Tony Allen, Landry Fields, even Paul George who seems to start more because of his height and defensive abilities and being able to hit the occasional 3 pt shot. Lance is a flashy NYC player with bad shot selection but good one on one handles and moves, but not a point guard. He needs grooming on taking better shots and maybe tweeking his form, not a totally different position. Just my humble opinion though.

There's one thing that all 4 of those SG's you listed have in common.....they are LOCK DOWN defenders on the wing whose teams can start them to shut down a top opponent. Is Lance that?

Until Lance can show in real NBA games that he can play the SG position effectively and fill the role there, he's just not a SG yet. How many ball dominant pure scoring guards that were given free rein to just play in high school and college can keep that up and be effective in the pros? A very low percentage.

Plumlee.