Pacers @ Sacramento

[writerman]

I don't fool myself that we're a contender, but this team has too much talent to be sucking this bad. What in the hell has happened to Murphy? Is he nursing an injury? He was a double-double machine last year, and since he came back he's been nearly invisible. He's not as bad a defender as he's often been made out to be, but he's not good enough to warrant starting if he doesn't score and board.

And Ford...I used to watch this guy with the Raps and think "hey, he's good!" but so far this season he's sucked dirty canal water.

Something has to happen, and while it may not be all his fault, the obvious option is to fire the coach. I know some people here don't like him as GM, but maybe Bird should take over as interim coach. Maybe we should be talking to Mark Jackson or even Reggie about the job. In any of those three cases, you can bet these guys would start to listen and hustle again.

To be fair to Obie, it's true he hasn't really had a full team to work with yet this year, and it's clear some of the guys are slow working back into playing at their best. But something has to change before losing becomes an expectation and then a habit.

Another guy who might be just what this team needs as a coach--and this will surprise a lot of people because I've been vocal about detesting the sonovabitch--but what about Bill Laimbeer? He'd be great with our young bigs...

[Reginald Wayne]

Tyler Hansbrough is garbage.

He ruined the momentum for the Pacers after they came back to take a 1 pt lead.

The dude has absolutely no basketball skills, all he does is run and jump and what not. I know you all love him, but this guy is no good.

I'd love to hear what you have to say about Foster.

Foster is smarter. Tyler looks mindless out there. You can't just run and jump aimlessly like Mcroberts does, that's why he's on the bench.

[Miller4ever]

The fact that Hansborough can get himself in good position for jumpers and knows how to box out and can get himself to the line better than 80% of the other rookies doesn't mean that he's aimlessly running around. He's a smart player who puts in effort. That's why we drafted him.

[PR07]

Hansbrough is only a rookie, cut him some slack.

[Reginald Wayne]

I don't know if I want him getting in good position for a jumper because then he will shoot it.
And seeing as he shoots about 38% from the field...I don't want to see him shoot. He's probably made 2 jumpers all year. He gets to the line....and shoots 65%. =/

[Miller4ever]

Those numbers will get better as he gets adjusted. His NCAA FT% was way better, and that's something that doesn't change when you go pro. One VERY important thing to remember about this team is that we're not at full strength yet and people are shaking off rust. Tyler and Mike Dunleavy didn't see preseason action, Murphy and Foster and Granger have missed games, and that's almost half the minutes of our projected rotation. Granger is 35, Mike is 30, Tyler is 15, Murphy is 30, and Foster is 20. There's 240 minutes to go around. Those five are 130 minutes. So basically, you have to realize that our team is at 70% of its full potential right now.

[Reginald Wayne]

I remember in 04 after the brawl we won enough to make the playoffs at 30%. Good times.

Yeah..I hope these dudes start to gel as a team soon. Although I think we should still beat teams like NY, Golden State, and Sacramento at 70%

[Miller4ever]

I remember in 04 after the brawl we won enough to make the playoffs at 30%. Good times.

Yeah..I hope these dudes start to gel as a team soon. Although I think we should still beat teams like NY, Golden State, and Sacramento at 70%

You realize Jermaine O'Neal was still an all-star and Reggie Miller was on the team? And Foster was in his prime? And Jackson was on the team? And Dale Davis had a rare bout of old power?

And we HAVE beaten New York and Golden State already.

[Reginald Wayne]

That's why I said "good times"

Miller was playing so well at the end of his career. Everyone thought they were done and he led them, awesome.

Granger gotta step it up