You guys don't know what you have in TJ..

[Derekman]

TJ is an incredible player. His midrange-high arcing shot is automatic, his court-vision is unparalleled and his Leadership is highly underrated. As a Raps fan, i am sad to see him go but understand the position that BC was in. This is better not only for the Raptors but for TJ to. IMO, he's going to be an all-star this year and will lead you guys to the playoffs. He's a good individual scorer to so he can take the scoring load off of guys like Granger and Dunleavy. And if Murphy/Foster have soft hands, TJ will find them under the basket with his incredible passing. Brandon Rush is perfectly suited to play by TJ and when/if you guys trade Dunleavy for a star-front court player, you'll be ready to get to the promise land.I truly believe you guys got the better end of the deal and that TJ will leave his mark in Indiana. GL this year; I'll be rooting for you guys.

[PaceWalker]

thanks Derekman, this makes me feel really excited about next season. I really hope your right because Indiana deserves something good to go their way finally. After "The Brawl" the city lost a lot of passion for the Pacers and its a shame. I'm excited for the future that lies ahead for the Pacers and the state of Indiana and hopefully Ford can help pave that. All I have heard from Raptor fans is how good a player Ford is which I have never seen before for the year or so I have watched these forums. I haven't had a chance to see Ford play much but I hope he works out well. I wish you guys good luck as well with JO. There was a time when he was a top 5 player in the league and everyone in Indiana loved him. I still like the guy even though it didn't work out here, but I wish the best for him in Toronto. Can't wait for the first TOR-IND match up of the year.

[Dcbaseballer52]

I very much agree that we got the better end of this deal, especially in the long run. Think about how much better Milwaukee was before the Ford/Villanueva Swap. Since then Toronto has been a playoff team. I don't know if he has slowed down at all but at one point I beleived him to be the quickest player in the NBA. I have been a T.J. Ford fan since the 2nd round matchup between Purdue and Texas Willie Deane's senior year. Does anyone remember that shot Deane made at the end of the 1st half to tie the game? He caught the pass with one hand and threw it from the corner and it went in. Texas ended up winning by 10 I beleive

[Charcoal Filtered]

On the court, I think everyone has seen how quick and smart TJ is. We are just looking for him not to get paralyzed.

There has also been rumors that he is tough to be around in the lockerroom. As long as he is not in the paper for off the court issues, I have no problem with that.

As far as playoffs go, that may be alittle bit harder this year.

Boston, Detroit, Toronto, Atlanta, Washington, Orlando, Cleveland, and Philly have not regressed below last years effort and should be improved over playoff efforts.

Chicago, Charlotte, Miami, and Milwaukee could all suprise.

I am pretty sure Dunleavy and his contract is not going to net a big man to put us over the top. Our best chance would be for Troy Murphy to live up to his contract or Shawne Williams to stay out of trouble/develop on the court. We are probably still on the outside looking in for the playoffs.

Regardless, it will be fun watching TJ run the show next year.

[Miller4ever]

Is that TJ Ford in your profile picture, Derekman?

[wajr]

I like TJ and all but your making him out to be Chris Paul or Tony Parker. I'm sorry but this just isn't the case. Unparalleled court vision? TJ far to often dribbles himself into no man's land and when he does get to the rim he is a below average finisher. He is to short and I believe his injury history affects the way he attacks and plays the game. His high arching shot IS NOT automatic, it has improved but to say it's automatic is a big overstatement. Lastly, TJ an all star? If so it's only because he plays in the east and even then I just don't see it. You have Billups, Harris, Rose, Arenas, Calderon, Rondo, and even Andre Miller who are all better players IMHO. I know i sound like a cynic and real TJ Ford basher but I'm not. I'm a realist and your setting up Pacer fans for a big disappointment by making these statements. Maybe I'm wrong and TJ will reach his potential in Indiana in which case I would be happy for him. TJ was a warrior for us and helped get us to the playoffs for the first time in a while but he is not what you make him out to be. Good luck next year pacer fans. I look forward to watching some good battles between our teams.

[Chamilitary Man]

i agree totally with the post above

[Dcbaseballer52]

Well to me it seems like you overrate Tony Parker. Parker can't do anything that TJ can't. In a line-up where his scoring is needed I could see TJ averaging 16pts, 9ast, 2 steals

Which could very well be an all-star typr year

[wajr]

Parker is a champion who plays in the Western conference. I know he had TD and a great supporting cast but the two players are in a different league. Any GM would be out of his mind to take TJ Ford over Tony Parker.

[count55]

This is what would make me happy from TJ:

75 games
12-14 pts
6-8 asts
1+ stl
28-30 mpg
365 days a year of not being Jamaal

Anything beyond that is icing on the cake.

[wajr]

Well then you should be happy because you just posted his career averages almost to a T. Minus the games played part where he averages 63.25 games a season.

[AndreaBustani]

TJ Ford is a top ten point guard in the NBA, and he will have a amazing year next year, playing with competent players for once who actually attack the rim will only progress his game more. As Derek mentions his lil fadeaway floater is money in the bank, he's fast enough to get by anyone and attacks at will and dishes to the open man.

[count55]

Strictly speaking, it's only 50.6 gamesr per season...he missed all of 2004-2005, so he's got five years in the league, not four...but that's counting nosehairs. He lost 108 games to that one horrific injury iin 04. No matter...I'd rather take this risk than the constant uncertainty associated with the chronic, nagging injuries that guys like Jamaal and JO have had to deal with for the past few years. It's a risk, but a calculated one. (As I type this, I now realize that most of my risks have turned out poorly for me, so....)

[wajr]

I'm sorry Bustnani but he is not a top ten point guard in this league. In no Particular order the following are better PG's then Ford

Chris Paul
Deron Williams
Tony Parker
Jason Kidd
Baron Davis
Steve Nash
Chauncey Billups
Allen Iverson
Gilbert Arenas
Andre Miller
Devin Harris
Derek Rose (I don't care if he hasn't played an NBA game. I take him over TJ any day of the week.)
Jose Calderon
Mike Bibby (Toss up)
OJ Mayo (Maybe a SG but I'd take him as my PG over Ford also.)

Ford fits in somewhere around here which does make him a top 15-20 PG in the league. He's good but not great. You say he will be playing with competent players for once? Are you insinuating that the Raptor team is incompetent. I don't understand your argument. We made the playoffs the past two years and have this all star named Chris Bosh who is very competent on the court. Oh and TJ doesn't attack the rim at will. He over dribbles the ball far to often and then proceeds to jack up a bad percentages shot which usually misses. Sometimes he finds the open man for wide open looks but don't act as if this happens each and every time down the court. I think TJ will show Pacer fans flashes of brilliance like he did in Toronto but ultimately his inconsistency and inability to hit a long range jumper will show the true player he is and that is an average to above average PG. I believe the best situation for TJ would be coming off the bench for a contender. Problem is we already know that TJ isn't a back up. He told us so last year when he sulked coming off the bench.

[Dcbaseballer52]

1. Mayo is a 2 guard since conley is the PG
2. Ford is a better distributor and floor leader than Bibby
3. There is no evidence that Harris is better than Ford... they have played cloase to the same amount of games.. and Ford has higher scoring and ast averages
4. Calderon didn't even win the job until Ford got injured and I think is a better 3 point shooter only
5. Tony Parker winning championships is no more important than the one Rajon Rondo just won... it doesn't make him or Lindsey Hunter, or Jason Williams, or Ron Harper any better just because they have rings.
6. I will never consider Iverson a point guard even if he ends up playing more seasons at PG than he did at SG... he might be a playmaker... but he scores first and distributes second

[omeloon]

Ford - as a starter - is definitely better than Bibby, Andre Miller, and Devin Harris (right now at least). His numbers as a starter have always been very impressive - especially if you look at his MPG (which have always been kept quite low playing with two very solid back-up PGs in his career).

Toronto fans judged him far too harshly, just because it's way too easy to fall for the most unselfish player in the entire NBA (Calderon). When you compare anyone to Calderon, they're going to look very selfish. As much as everyone calls Ford selfish, he's still probably one of the few true pg's in the game. He racks up assists per 48 minutes like few others.

Ford doesn't give up the ball as often as Calderon, but he's easier the better playmaker. As long as you have guys who can catch the ball and finish near the basket, I'm sure you will be very happy.
His midrange game is MONEY too.

[AndreaBustani]

TJ Ford only averaged like a little over 20 minutes last year, yet he averaged 12 points and 6 assists, before Tj was injured last year he was averaging like 16 and 8 in under 30 mpg.

Allen Iverson - a shooting guard
Gilbert Arenas - he is not a better point guard than TJ, a scorer yes but that's it
Andre Miller -
Devin Harris -
Derek Rose (I don't care if he hasn't played an NBA game. I take him over TJ any day of the week.) - come on
Jose Calderon - ya right, TJ Ford was having a better year than Jose did until he was injured, all Jose has over him is a 3 point shot and size
Mike Bibby (Toss up) - maybe 5 years ago now nope
OJ Mayo (Maybe a SG but I'd take him as my PG over Ford also.) - a shooting guard

look in the east, Ford is better than rondo, chalmers (if he starts), delonte west, rose n hinrich, harris, jameer nelson, duhon, mo williams, andre miller, dj augustine, bibby, calderon, trust me

[omeloon]

I think Calderon is better if you already have a LeBron James or Kobe, but for you guys, I think Ford would be even better than Calderon too. Calderon works best when you have a premier scorer who usually dominates the ball or a roster full of three point shooters (like The Raps do). Calderon loves to pass it on the perimeter, and to keep the ball swinging.

[wajr]

1. Mayo is a 2 guard since conley is the PG
Please read what I put in Brackets. Mayo is a combo guard and will be a damn good one at that. His versatility alone makes him the better choice.

2. Ford is a better distributor and floor leader than Bibby
I can't argue with that. Looking back at my list I would put TJ ahead of him.

3. There is no evidence that Harris is better than Ford... they have played cloase to the same amount of games.. and Ford has higher scoring and ast averages
We'll see in time but IMHO Harris will turn out to be the better PG. He is taller, a better defender and finishes around the rim with more consistency than Ford. Plus he was coming off the bench in Dallas which speaks more about how good their team was as opposed to Harris not being a worthy starter.

4. Calderon didn't even win the job until Ford got injured and I think is a better 3 point shooter only
Not true. Even in his backup minutes Calderon proved to be the better PG. TJ was starting because we were paying him starters money and he sulked when Sam tried to bring him off the bench. You can also trust it's more than just the 3 point shot in which Jose is the better player. He's a better shooter (mid range and three point), he's a better finisher around the rim, Jose's passing ability is underrated and he is by far the better teammate. Oh ya and Jose's TO/Assist ratio is off the charts.

5. Tony Parker winning championships is no more important than the one Rajon Rondo just won... it doesn't make him or Lindsey Hunter, or Jason Williams, or Ron Harper any better just because they have rings.
Come on. Tony Parker was a huge part of San Antonio's success. He truly does penetrate at will and can actually finish at a consistent rate. I don't think they win it all with out TP. Just my opinion.

6. I will never consider Iverson a point guard even if he ends up playing more seasons at PG than he did at SG... he might be a playmaker... but he scores first and distributes second
This sounds like a PG I watched play first hand the past 2 seasons. His name is TJ Ford except TJ can't score half as well as AI.

[Boogie-Boogz]

Listen Guys. Ford has a some way to go before he can be compared to a Paul when it comes to impact but if he played the same amount of PT as those guys their stats would not be so far apart. Ford averaged 14 and 8 playing 29 minutes in the 06/07 season. Imagine him playing 37-40 minutes a game. WOW hes going to be great for you guys next year.