Pacers vs. Raptors (10/28/2015)

Post #1 » by **boomershadow** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 9:52 pm

Finally, I get a game I could watch on cable. I was impressed with what we did in the first half, up by sixteen at one point. A third quarter slump took the Raptors up 10 at once point. It was close up until about 2 minutes left in the game. I was pretty happy with how we played. Plenty of mistakes that need corrected, but it seems like a solid foundation. PG played more small forward than I imagined he would. Foul trouble was terrible. I didn't really agree with a few calls that seemed to make a big difference down the stretch, but that's the NBA for you.

Here is hoping for a better showing tonight against the Grizz.

mikepacernation · Post #2 » by **mikepacernation** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 1:30 am

This team just can't play defense that's their downfall.

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Post #3 » by **pacers33granger** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 1:47 am

mikepacernation wrote:This team just can't play defense that's their downfall.

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Yeah, we look pretty good when guys like Miles, Hill, PG, etc. are on, but when our offense is off, we fall apart. Kinda odd to see given it was the exact opposite before.

On the plus side Turner looked good tonight for the most part. Obviously still needs some time to figure things out, but for a 19 year old kid's debut playing against a very good frontline he did well.

We need to stop playing Stuckey/Ellis together and trying to make one of them the PG. It hasn't worked (I know it's early) and I don't see it ever working. It puts whichever one is playing PG in a position where they're not playing to their strengths. I'm also not a fan of Budinger getting meaningful minutes.

I think we're going to be in for a long season trying to figure out what works and what doesn't with so many new guys. But at least there's a bunch of good looking young PF prospects next draft.

Post #4 » by **boomershadow** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:31 am

I do like the Stuckey/Ellis back court. I am for Stuckey getting more minutes because he has looked solid so far. It doesn't really matter which one you call the point guard. If a team focuses on stopping either one, the other can be in a position to do damage. I think it is a better option than rushing Young before he is ready.

I agree about Budinger. I do not think he has played well enough to deserve minutes over GR3 or S. Hill. Hill would at least bolster the defense some.

Wizop · Post #5 » by **Wizop** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 3:23 pm

I totally disagree on Bundinger. he's been the best passer on the break and his defensive position has been good. plus he hit some threes.

I think the Ellis/Stuckey backcourt is mostly about bringing Young along slowly. Stuckey is not a point guard. Ellis has been okay there but obviously is struggling to adjust to new teammates. I now understand cutting Douglass. he would have been a fourth point guard not a third. Young is the third point guard for now and that's just fine.

Post #6 » by **pacers33granger** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 7:14 pm

I think you guys are overrating how Ellis has done at the point. A few times already in two games he has turned it over simply because he is not a PG and he has made some really bad passes. Normally I'd say maybe it's due to a bunch of new guys playing together, but he was the same when he tried playing PG in GS and Dallas.

Imo Stuckey has looked good because he's been more allowed to play his game of slashing and driving. Ellis really hasn't from what I've seen. I just don't like investing 40 mil in a player and having him not play to his strengths. Both are what they are at this point in their careers and neither will ever be a PG.

I'm totally fine with bringing Young along slowly, but we will continue to play incredibly sloppy when Ellis or Stuckey is playing PG and it really hurt us in both games already.

With Budinger, he played fine against the Raps, but was horrible last night. We were -9 with him on the floor because he can't guard PFs whatsoever and can't really even guard SFs well. There's no reason he should have gotten 15 minutes last night when Hill would have defended much better (which was our issue last night). Really we have enough scoring with the second unit and I'd like to give Hill a shot at being the 5th starter. If he gets those wide open threes that Budinger was getting, who knows if he will knock them down. We've really only seen him as one of our main guys last year and in SL.