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Orlando created a defensive nightmare for many teams making them match up with Hedo and Lewis at the forward positions. It meant a power forward had to either chase Lewis around the 3 point line or try to handle Hedo off the dribble. Cleveland in particular struggled with this match up.

I'm wondering if Granger and Dunleavy bring much of the same dynamic. Granger's game bears similarities to Lewis. I think he's actually a tougher match. And Dunleavy has many of the same skills as Hedo. Couple this with the fact that there probably aren't enough minutes at positions 2 and 3 for Granger, Dunleavy, Rush and Jones to get their minutes and you have a pretty good reason for a certain amount of this small ball lineup.

What do the rest of you think Granger/Dunleavy vs Hedo/Lewis?
Just how much small ball will/should the Pacers play this year?

Howard created that dynamic. Teams had to protect the post first, which left Hedo and Lewis free to roam.

At the other end, Howard anchored the defense and protected the paint.

We clearly don't have Howard, and if Orlando didn't have Howard, then playing Lewis at the 4 and Hedo at the 3 would have been a complete abortion.

I agree that Howard was key to the almost exclusive use of Hedo and Lewis together. Not suggesting the Pacers would use Granger and Dunleavy at the 3 and 4 to the extent Orlando used Hedo and Lewis. I don't think its a stretch to think that having our five best players on the floor would include Granger, Dunleavy and Rush. Or that you would like to have Granger and Dunleavy out there but not ask either to guard a James, Wade or some other big time wing scorer. During stretches like that I think you are playing small. Unlike last year at least its an option this year.

count55 wrote:Howard created that dynamic. Teams had to protect the post first, which left Hedo and Lewis free to roam.

At the other end, Howard anchored the defense and protected the paint.

We clearly don't have Howard, and if Orlando didn't have Howard, then playing Lewis at the 4 and Hedo at the 3 would have been a complete abortion.

Here's to hoping Hibbert can develop into that role Howard plays even if it is at a lesser talent level!!!

Honestly it isn't much different than having Murphy roam around the 3pt line like we did last year. While he isn't nearly as athletic, he spreads the floor.

We will have a good amount of flexability in our roster next year with Rush, Jones, Granger, Dunleavy, Murphy, Foster to play mulitple roles and then have solid depth at the big positions to handle the battles on the interior.

The only upgrade I would like to see is an athletic defensive presence on the interior. Hibbert could fill this role, but I don't see him being the presence that say JO was in his prime.

count55 wrote:Howard created that dynamic. Teams had to protect the post first, which left Hedo and Lewis free to roam.

At the other end, Howard anchored the defense and protected the paint.

We clearly don't have Howard, and if Orlando didn't have Howard, then playing Lewis at the 4 and Hedo at the 3 would have been a complete abortion.

That.

But we've seen that the Mike and Danny combo can be pretty potent. I think we'll see it again this year.

From a talent standpoint, our two are pretty close; but as Count said, we don't have that absolute force to be reckoned with in the paint that is Dwight Howard. I'd also venture to say that if you had a Chris Paul or Steve Nash running the show, you could probably make it work as well with uptempo ball.

Yeah, we'd be a lot better with Chris Paul. Which reminds me of Bird's pre-draft comment saying he wanted "a Chris Paul." I wonder if he has somebody in mind... the crowning move on 'the plan' ? Not sure if there are any upcoming draftees that would fit the bill. Maybe Kemba Walker? Bird's apparently shown a fancy for UConn guards...