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THE HOUSE - I had planned to use this space to talk about whether the Pacers made a mistake on passing on DeJuan Blair in the draft.

Blair, who slid all the way to the second round, was selected for the Rookie-Sophomore game Wednesday. Pacers rookie Tyler Hansbrough, well, he's still dealing with his inner ear infection.

I decided to push the Blair-Hansbrough debate to the side about a minute into the Pacers game when it was obvious that coach Jim O'Brien committed a blunder by starting Troy Murphy with four wing players.

Go with Roy Hibbert if you're going to start one big man. Hibbert not only matches up better with Andrew Bynum, but he also gives the Pacers more down low in the post.

O'Brien obviously didn't see it that way.

Link- http://blogs.indystar.com/pacersinsider ... me_wh.html

It was obvious the small lineup would not work. Bynum toyed with us and Jackson is laughing at us. I am not a fan of Jim O'Brien at all but last night i really have to question him. When a number of message posters can realize it hours before tipoff but not the coach, we have a problem.

I think O'Brien has lost it.

In my opinion, there are three guys that should absolutely start every game. Granger, Hibbert, and Rush.

We have nothing to lose by doing this and only positives to gain.

I've been a coach...I know the heat comes on you when you lose, sometimes unfairly

But in this case, Wells is spot on. O'Brien richly deserves the criticism he's getting. He has a guy sitting on the bench gathering splinters half a game or more that has the potential to be a top-flight center in this league for years to come. And for what? A chance to jack a bunch of threes? "Small Ball' is insanity. It might win you a few games here and there, but basketball is a vertical game It borders on criminal the way O'Brien is wasting Roy Hbbert.

I disagree with Wells regarding Hansborough. I think TH can be a solid player in this league for a long time when he gets healthy.

I like Murphy, but he isn't winning games for us. Our starters, despite how many lumps we take the rest of the year, should be Hibbert. Hansborough (and maybe give McRoberts some minutes as well) Granger, Rush, and Price. Price should split minutes withWatson, but it should be clear he's being evaluated as the eventual starter.

There's no excuse for Hibbert getting less than 35 minutes a game. None. If O'Brien can't see that, Bird needs to swallow his pride and fire him.

As I've said before, I'd like to see if Bill Laimbeer might jump at the chance to be head coach of this young team here in Indy...I've always hated his guts, but IMO he would give our young guys, especially the young bigs, exactly what they need...

This title is a bit misleading. I was expecting to read that Wells went on a tirade about O'Brien being a moron (which he is). Instead I saw very light criticism of O'Brien for starting Murphy over Hibbert.

I like that Hibbert actually stepped up and made a subtle suggestion that we take too many 3's.

When the NBA TV crew announced the starting line-ups I thought there was no way that JOB would start those 5. Against LA with Pau and Bynum? Are you kidding me. Dumb move. Way too many 3's. Give it to Hibbert.

Dunthreevy wrote:This title is a bit misleading. I was expecting to read that Wells went on a tirade about O'Brien being a moron (which he is). Instead I saw very light criticism of O'Brien for starting Murphy over Hibbert.

I like that Hibbert actually stepped up and made a subtle suggestion that we take too many 3's.

You are right. Actually, i apologize for that. After I made the post, i looked back on it and thought it was misleading myself, but decided not to change it and allowed people make their own conclusions.

he did start Hibbert in the 3rd quarter though and we did even worse then. Bynum was controlled better but Kobe just went off. nonetheless, it was an obvious brain f@rt for OB. personally, I'd never start Murph and would trade him to keep OB from being tempted to do so. his poor defense gets 55 in foul trouble when he tries to pick up the guy who got around Murphy.

and our jacking up 3's was even worse last night against the Cavs. we just don't run plays. I remember one good 3 from last night. the ball went inside to Roy who found the open man. we need to play inside out.

I got home in time to watch the second half of the Butler game and was surprised to hear the announcers credit OB for giving Brad Stevens suggestions on plays. if Butler is running OB plays, why aren't the Pacers?

Yeah, the Cavs' game was some of the worst offense I've seen us play/run.