Pacer Fact or Fiction: Summer 2008 edition

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FACT or FICTION - A consensus Top 10 player will slip to us on draft night.

FACT. Because I don't think there really IS a consensus Top 10 this year. Consensus Top 4 maybe. Beyond that...I just hope Gallinari is not the guy who "slips," we have two perfectly good small forwards already and another who looks like a pretty good prospect.

FACT or FICTION: Ike Diogu, NBA bust

EDIT: I probably should have said "A consensus Top 10 player will slip to us, and we'll live to regret it".

FACT - Though it's hard to say this will be played out this season, I believe he's a player whose skill sets are a poor match for where the league is going. Offensively, he's a classic post player in a league whose officiating and rules continue to be more discouraging to post offense. If he can't lean on that main strength of his game, he simply becomes and undersized 4 who struggles to play within offensive and defensive systems.

FACT or FICTION: Shawne Williams, Future NBA Starter

[cdash]

FACT or FICTION - A consensus Top 10 player will slip to us on draft night.

FACT. Because I don't think there really IS a consensus Top 10 this year. Consensus Top 4 maybe. Beyond that...I just hope Gallinari is not the guy who "slips," we have two perfectly good small forwards already and another who looks like a pretty good prospect.

FACT or FICTION: Ike Diogu, NBA bust

EDIT: I probably should have said "A consensus Top 10 player will slip to us, and we'll live to regret it".

FACT - Though it's hard to say this will be played out this season, I believe he's a player whose skill sets are a poor match for where the league is going. Offensively, he's a classic post player in a league whose officiating and rules continue to be more discouraging to post offense. If he can't lean on that main strength of his game, he simply becomes and undersized 4 who struggles to play within offensive and defensive systems.

FACT or FICTION: Shawne Williams, Future NBA Starter

Fact, I'm sure he will start some games, but I think you meant more along the lines of a solid starter, and that I am not sure about. This upcoming season (much like last season for Granger) is really important to him. By their third season in the league, you can usually tell if a guy "gets it" or not. I think Shawne will take a surprising leap forward.

On a side note, I love to see the glowing optimism of our fans! Its palpable! I hope this is the offseason where it all turns around...but I just dont have that confidence in Bird. I think if he doesnt get it right and make some changes...the David Morway era begins.

Fact or Fiction: Troy Murphy, wanting to reclaim his right as an NBA player and not a "Salary Cap Killer", averages a double-double (or very near it...say 9 boards) this season and doesnt look apathetic on the court all the time!

[coolweed]

Fact: I think Troy finally came over the wall in the Obie Offense after the break and will continue to produce respectable close to double-double numbers this season.

Fact of Fiction: Pacers second round pick will impact the offense in a bigger way than the first round pick.

[joew8302]

Fact: I think Troy finally came over the wall in the Obie Offense after the break and will continue to produce respectable close to double-double numbers this season.

Fact of Fiction: Pacers second round pick will impact the offense in a bigger way than the first round pick.

Fiction- There is no guarantee the second round pick will even make the team more or less get steady playing time.

Fact or Fiction- The Pacers will cut 10 million dollars in Salary by the END of next season