Travis Diener
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Travis Diener
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mosarsour
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Travis Diener
I see that Travis Diener is finally getting some playing time in Indiana lately, and I was wondering what the Pacers fans think of him and his play thus far this season. I watched his 19 point performance (including that barrage of threes near the end of the 3rd quarter) against the Kings on NBA TV and was very impressed with the way he was running the Pacer offense. What are your thoughts?
"You cannot have a bland feeling about me. Either I'm a showboating son of a bitch or I'm the darling that everyone picks on." - Al McGuire
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count55
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He's an OK backup, not much more than that. He's been a disappointment to me in shooting the ball. When he's hitting, he can be productive, but if not, he can be detrimental on the floor.
He got the look early, then played his way to the bench. Now, with the Tinsley saga and Owens weak offense, he's getting another shot.
He got the look early, then played his way to the bench. Now, with the Tinsley saga and Owens weak offense, he's getting another shot.
I have no idea what you're talking about, and clearly, neither do you.
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APerna
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I'd rate Diener as an OK backup as well. Better than Keith McLeod...ahh...but not spectacularly better than a guy like Darrell Armstrong.
He was hot against Sacramento, and if he shot the game half as good as he did against the Kings on a regular basis I'd say he's a great option for us. I still think he can improve with us, but he's nothing more than our emergency option right now.
He was hot against Sacramento, and if he shot the game half as good as he did against the Kings on a regular basis I'd say he's a great option for us. I still think he can improve with us, but he's nothing more than our emergency option right now.
+ PF
"If Jack makes that shot, the game is over." - Tommy Heinsohn after Jarrett Jack missed a shot at the buzzer of a 105-105 game between the Celtics and Pacers.
"If Jack makes that shot, the game is over." - Tommy Heinsohn after Jarrett Jack missed a shot at the buzzer of a 105-105 game between the Celtics and Pacers.
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notque
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He's a SG to us that brings the ball up, in all honesty.
He doesn't actually have the handles to drive a kick well. He can't really get to the bucket.
He can't really run the offense. When he brings the ball up, it goes to Dunleavy or Granger to start the offense, which I actually like anyway.
So He's a bad defending SG that covers the opposing PG. If his shot is on, great. If it isn't, horrible.
He doesn't actually have the handles to drive a kick well. He can't really get to the bucket.
He can't really run the offense. When he brings the ball up, it goes to Dunleavy or Granger to start the offense, which I actually like anyway.
So He's a bad defending SG that covers the opposing PG. If his shot is on, great. If it isn't, horrible.
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jeremy1215
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notque
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jeremy1215 wrote:What makes you think that? He has played well of late except for his shot. I can't wait till he proves you all wrong.
We'd all be happy if he puts it together. Stop acting like we have some vendetta against him.
There are many more important things in life than if our backup point guard can become starter quality. We all hope we get better, and thus all hope he becomes the next John Stockton.
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JarrettJackSG
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Jeremy has an almost "dew" like intensity of love for Diener....
I like him as a backup, he's serviceable.
I like him as a backup, he's serviceable.
Rest in Peace, Pacerfan
Will eat crow if Brandon Rush turns out good.
Will eat crow if Brandon Rush turns out good.
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jeremy1215
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Having a huge crush helps.darkflashfox wrote:Jeremy has an almost "dew" like intensity of love for Diener....
I like him as a backup, he's serviceable.
But thats not the only reason I like him. He is just like Steve Kerr, and while Kerr was never a starter, thats what I see Diener becoming. He could be a starter but most likely he will be a sixth man like Kerr was. But, as I said, it will not hurt our team right now to start him over Tinsley. He in no way hurts our team if he can start hitting his shots. And he could very well turn into starting material for many teams.
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fdefore
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darkflashfox wrote:Jeremy has an almost "dew" like intensity of love for Diener....
I like him as a backup, he's serviceable.
partly that and partly the opposite... he has an insane hatred of jamaal tinsley. with those powers combined you get captain jeremy1215
i actually think the offense has run well with him the last couple of games. he is only ever going to be a back-up though. poor defense and poor finishing ability (both shooting and passing)... he seems to be like 75% of the way there constantly, he gets the offense going but the pass just doesn't make it or he gets open but the shot doesn't fall... maybe more minutes will improve that. who knows maybe he'll eventually put it all together and break out like beno has this year.
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xxSnEaKyPxx
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Just an observation, I may be wrong, but here is my guess at it Jeremy.
You love Diener because you enjoy rooting for the underdog. Maybe you play basketball and have a similar game to his, or maybe you really like Marquette. Diener doesn't have starting quality, sorry to say, but its just not true. Diener barely has backup quality. Pacers have been known to have good backup PG's lately(Armstrong, Johnson, Best) but this year its just not true. Diener has speed, thats about it. His shot is good, but thats only when he is hitting, which has been in very few games this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the way he has been playing, but he is way to inconsistent to be considered a good backup PG, much less a starter. He makes Dunleavy look like an All-NBA first team defender.
I don't hate Diener, in fact I really don't mind him at all. He really comes through for us in some games. But to say he could be a starter is pretty crazy. Until he proves otherwise on a consistent basis, he is serviceable like others said.
You love Diener because you enjoy rooting for the underdog. Maybe you play basketball and have a similar game to his, or maybe you really like Marquette. Diener doesn't have starting quality, sorry to say, but its just not true. Diener barely has backup quality. Pacers have been known to have good backup PG's lately(Armstrong, Johnson, Best) but this year its just not true. Diener has speed, thats about it. His shot is good, but thats only when he is hitting, which has been in very few games this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the way he has been playing, but he is way to inconsistent to be considered a good backup PG, much less a starter. He makes Dunleavy look like an All-NBA first team defender.
I don't hate Diener, in fact I really don't mind him at all. He really comes through for us in some games. But to say he could be a starter is pretty crazy. Until he proves otherwise on a consistent basis, he is serviceable like others said.
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ahartleyvu
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Starter potential? His specialty is shooting... he is a "sharpshooter" that comes into games to score points and hit alot of shots.
He is shooting 36% and 29% from the 3pt line.
He has backup potential at the moment, and if he keeps it up he might be a decent one, until then, he has proved nothing in the league, especially for us.
He is shooting 36% and 29% from the 3pt line.
He has backup potential at the moment, and if he keeps it up he might be a decent one, until then, he has proved nothing in the league, especially for us.
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JarrettJackSG
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Jeremy is dew's cousin who likes Diener more, which provides for interesting Thanksgiving coversations?
As for the Beno Udrih comment, as a Spurs follower on occasion, but not as a recent Kings fan, I can state with some confidence that Beno Udrih is much better than Jammal Tinsley. Some of the Spurs fans didn't want to give him up, because they knew he was still good, he could shoot the 3 well, have good accuracy, could move the ball, had some driving potential, and was a good passer. He also had some good defense, and might be a better defender than TP9 in terms of stealing and man to man, although it is obvious that TP9 is faster and can keep up with nearly anyone.
I don't see that with Diener. I see a good shooter, decent ball mover, poor defense player, isn't good good at driving, and may be a bit slower.
As for the Beno Udrih comment, as a Spurs follower on occasion, but not as a recent Kings fan, I can state with some confidence that Beno Udrih is much better than Jammal Tinsley. Some of the Spurs fans didn't want to give him up, because they knew he was still good, he could shoot the 3 well, have good accuracy, could move the ball, had some driving potential, and was a good passer. He also had some good defense, and might be a better defender than TP9 in terms of stealing and man to man, although it is obvious that TP9 is faster and can keep up with nearly anyone.
I don't see that with Diener. I see a good shooter, decent ball mover, poor defense player, isn't good good at driving, and may be a bit slower.
Rest in Peace, Pacerfan
Will eat crow if Brandon Rush turns out good.
Will eat crow if Brandon Rush turns out good.
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ahartleyvu
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Tinsley takes alot of heat for his great numbers.
8.5 APG!
He has never averaged below 5 a game, usually around 7 or so.
I think we are taking him for granted because his off the court antics. His shooting % is below average, but still. I think if you put him on a team like Miami, or LA and he would excel even farther.
I take him over Beno any day of the week (aside from contract isses)
As for Rush, he is shooting a little over 40% which is about average. But like you said, his shot has been a little off (dead on lately). Killer: 38.5 3PT%.
If we need someone to chuck 3s, we can let Rush do that.
8.5 APG!
He has never averaged below 5 a game, usually around 7 or so.
I think we are taking him for granted because his off the court antics. His shooting % is below average, but still. I think if you put him on a team like Miami, or LA and he would excel even farther.
I take him over Beno any day of the week (aside from contract isses)
As for Rush, he is shooting a little over 40% which is about average. But like you said, his shot has been a little off (dead on lately). Killer: 38.5 3PT%.
If we need someone to chuck 3s, we can let Rush do that.
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ajizzle
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Diener has earned a chance to see what he can do in the SL, IMHO. Kareem is starting now b/c his defense has improved and we need someone to be able to defend the opponent's best perimeter player.
Travis does what he's supposed to do. He initiates the offense, he does so in Obie's "3-second" manner (which we haven't really seen until the last few games since early December), he takes good shots, he DOES drive-and-kick well (in fact, he's our best drive-and-kick player right now), and he gets back on D.
He is a liability on D, but we've already shown that we're not gonna stop anyone, and we need to outscore opponents to win... so I agree w/ Jeremy in that we can put anyone out there at PG on our roster right now and we're still gonna get burned. If we somehow acquire Jason Kidd or Deron Williams anytime soon, then Diener should definitely take a back seat, but until then, let's see what the kid's got.
We are basically East Golden State, w/ more size in the middle and less talent at the guard positions, especially now that we're playing Small Ball. For all of these numbers that Tinsley puts up, when it really comes down to it, they're not that impressive. Tinsley should have 12apg instead of 8.5. With the shooters we have, Tinsley should be passing the ball, penetrating and finding the open guy... but we've seen what happens come the 4th -- shoot, shoot, and shoot some more -- and all those assists don't really matter then.
Point is, we want the bulk of the shots to go to Danny, Mike, JO, and Kareem. Who would you rather have on the floor to make sure that happens? Who's gonna look to pass first and shoot second? Who's gonna actually be able to hit the 3 if the defenders sags into the lane? Who's not gonna make that ill-advised, stupid pass that just makes you wanna punch something? Who is a better PG FOR OUR TEAM??? I gotta go w/ Diener for right now.
I like some of the trades we've said for Jamaal (Ridnour or Crawford would be good for now), but until then, while we run Small Ball and run mainly drive-and-kick or the high post offense, I'll take Diener.
P.S. IMO, Diener doesn't have to start, just play the bulk of the minutes, especially in the 4th or if we have the lead, the two most likely scenarios where our offense seems to sputter and become stagnant.
Travis does what he's supposed to do. He initiates the offense, he does so in Obie's "3-second" manner (which we haven't really seen until the last few games since early December), he takes good shots, he DOES drive-and-kick well (in fact, he's our best drive-and-kick player right now), and he gets back on D.
He is a liability on D, but we've already shown that we're not gonna stop anyone, and we need to outscore opponents to win... so I agree w/ Jeremy in that we can put anyone out there at PG on our roster right now and we're still gonna get burned. If we somehow acquire Jason Kidd or Deron Williams anytime soon, then Diener should definitely take a back seat, but until then, let's see what the kid's got.
We are basically East Golden State, w/ more size in the middle and less talent at the guard positions, especially now that we're playing Small Ball. For all of these numbers that Tinsley puts up, when it really comes down to it, they're not that impressive. Tinsley should have 12apg instead of 8.5. With the shooters we have, Tinsley should be passing the ball, penetrating and finding the open guy... but we've seen what happens come the 4th -- shoot, shoot, and shoot some more -- and all those assists don't really matter then.
Point is, we want the bulk of the shots to go to Danny, Mike, JO, and Kareem. Who would you rather have on the floor to make sure that happens? Who's gonna look to pass first and shoot second? Who's gonna actually be able to hit the 3 if the defenders sags into the lane? Who's not gonna make that ill-advised, stupid pass that just makes you wanna punch something? Who is a better PG FOR OUR TEAM??? I gotta go w/ Diener for right now.
I like some of the trades we've said for Jamaal (Ridnour or Crawford would be good for now), but until then, while we run Small Ball and run mainly drive-and-kick or the high post offense, I'll take Diener.
P.S. IMO, Diener doesn't have to start, just play the bulk of the minutes, especially in the 4th or if we have the lead, the two most likely scenarios where our offense seems to sputter and become stagnant.