Teamates Feel the Rush

[PR07]

When Rush has a game like Tuesday night, when he stepped into the small forward position made vacant by Danny Granger's one-game NBA suspension and scored 24 points with nine rebounds, hitting four 3-pointers to play a key role in a 107-96 victory over Philadelphia, the whole team smiles.

"He's the best," said Murphy. "He's got a great attitude and he's a really good guy and we all really do root for him. He's a very likeable guy and he's popular in our locker room.

"He's a good guy. People don't know him. He's doing his best, he's coming along, he's making a lot of progress and he's going to be a really good player."

http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/web_100310.html

[PR07]

Seems like the Bobcats trade rumor has really pushed Brandon into being a more consistent performer as of late, maybe that's all the Pacers really wanted. He's picked up his game and has reinforced the idea that he should be part of the core going forward.

[8305]

Good as his stat line was last night I still marvel how a guy as athletic as he is can struggle finishing around the basket the way he does. I was at the game last night and truth be told he should have had 30. Also worth noting we were facing a very uninspired group from Philly. I'm not sure anyone from their side other than Jrue Holiday was working very hard.

[mizzoupacers]

Rush has been erratic and at times disappointing, but he's also showed enough signs of promise that you have to try to stay patient with him. It sure would be nice if he could lock down the two-guard spot. Then we'd have three viable starters to build around. We'd just need a point guard, and a power forward who can mesh with Hibbert.

If Rush works out, all the Pacers would have to do is add Derrick Rose and Chris Bosh to the team and then they'd be dangerous.

[Miller4ever]

^^Please, we could totally get Chris Paul and Josh Smith (who would fit better next to Hibbert).

[writerman]

I'm very satisfied with our young core (Hibbert, Rush, Price, Hansborough, McRoberts, etc.) plus Danny and a couple of good draft choices we will be getting, I feel we're definitely on the right track.

Now we need to get a REAL coach.

Give Lester Connor a shot...or Mark Jackson, Bill Laimbeer...

[RAW]

Give Lester Connor a shot...or Mark Jackson, Bill Laimbeer...

This.

[Grang33r]

I'm very satisfied with our young core (Hibbert, Rush, Price, Hansborough, McRoberts, etc.) plus Danny and a couple of good draft choices we will be getting, I feel we're definitely on the right track.

Now we need to get a REAL coach.

Give Lester Connor a shot...or Mark Jackson, Bill Laimbeer...

Not sure I agree. Brandon Rush is far from impressive. He's getting the minutes and he plays for an offensive minded coach who loves a fast tempo, so, his stats are probably inflated. The only thing that Rush has showed offensively is he has a nice shot, but very inconsistent shot. When he gets "hot", he can make 4-5 three's in a game. When it's not going in, he's worthless. He can't drive in. He can't get to the line, he can't make his own shot inside the arc.... he's a pure shooter who's shooting is inconsistent.

Unlike in the 2009 draft, where i def did not want Hansbrough and there was like 3-4 other players i wanted badly, in the 2008 draft, my guy was Eric Gordon, which obviously was long gone, but then it was between Rush and Anthony Randolph for me. So it's hard for me to go back and be bitter because it's a guy who i wanted as well, but, so far, i have been very much turned off by Rush.

If the Pacers tried to trade him once, i have a feeling they are not impressed with him either, since the two guys we were going to get are guys who are in almost same situation as Rush. If they tried to trade him once, they will be on the phones again once the season is over.

[Grang33r]

Give Lester Connor a shot...or Mark Jackson, Bill Laimbeer...

This.

Not sure what type of coach Mark Jackson would ever be... offensive, defensive... and what tactics he likes, but, he was a great floor general, always a teacher on the court type player with Indiana and in his career and i love him on ESPN. Without doing research, to the naked eye, my hope for next coach is Mark Jackson.

Only thing that worries me about him as coach is, when we were in the process of hiring Jim O'Brien few summers ago, i remember a few people on here, me including, wanted Jackson then. If we all thought he was a good up and coming coach then, how come he has failed to land a job since then? Just makes me double think is all.

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

Not sure I agree. Brandon Rush is far from impressive. He's getting the minutes and he plays for an offensive minded coach who loves a fast tempo, so, his stats are probably inflated. The only thing that Rush has showed offensively is he has a nice shot, but very inconsistent shot. When he gets "hot", he can make 4-5 three's in a game. When it's not going in, he's worthless. He can't drive in. He can't get to the line, he can't make his own shot inside the arc.... he's a pure shooter who's shooting is inconsistent.

Unlike in the 2009 draft, where i def did not want Hansbrough and there was like 3-4 other players i wanted badly, in the 2008 draft, my guy was Eric Gordon, which obviously was long gone, but then it was between Rush and Anthony Randolph for me. So it's hard for me to go back and be bitter because it's a guy who i wanted as well, but, so far, i have been very much turned off by Rush.

If the Pacers tried to trade him once, i have a feeling they are not impressed with him either, since the two guys we were going to get are guys who are in almost same situation as Rush. If they tried to trade him once, they will be on the phones again once the season is over.

I think saying he's worthless is a bit of a stretch... he's the best defender on this team, by far. How is that worthless? I really don't like how people label Rush a bust because he doesn't look for his shot every possession. He's a system player. He needs structure. He needs to know where to be, where to fill in, and what role to play. All of these things make him a terrible fit for O'Brien. So while you can make a case that the run-and-gun inflates his stats, you can also make a case that they hurt his stats because it's not a system he's suited for.

Also, maybe the reason for including Rush in the trade wasn't because they were displeased with him, but because he was a sweetener added in so a team would be willing to take on TJ Ford. We know the Pacers have tried to trade TJ for "years" now with no success. Adding a young player with upside like Rush is the only way you can move someone like that. It's not a knock on Rush at all. I really, really hope we don't trade Rush before we see what he can do in another system, under a more traditional coach.

[PR07]

Yeah, even if Rush isn't scoring, he's still the best perimeter defender on the team.

[Grang33r]

Not sure I agree. Brandon Rush is far from impressive. He's getting the minutes and he plays for an offensive minded coach who loves a fast tempo, so, his stats are probably inflated. The only thing that Rush has showed offensively is he has a nice shot, but very inconsistent shot. When he gets "hot", he can make 4-5 three's in a game. When it's not going in, he's worthless. He can't drive in. He can't get to the line, he can't make his own shot inside the arc.... he's a pure shooter who's shooting is inconsistent.

Unlike in the 2009 draft, where i def did not want Hansbrough and there was like 3-4 other players i wanted badly, in the 2008 draft, my guy was Eric Gordon, which obviously was long gone, but then it was between Rush and Anthony Randolph for me. So it's hard for me to go back and be bitter because it's a guy who i wanted as well, but, so far, i have been very much turned off by Rush.

If the Pacers tried to trade him once, i have a feeling they are not impressed with him either, since the two guys we were going to get are guys who are in almost same situation as Rush. If they tried to trade him once, they will be on the phones again once the season is over.

I think saying he's worthless is a bit of a stretch... he's the best defender on this team, by far. How is that worthless? I really don't like how people label Rush a bust because he doesn't look for his shot every possession. He's a system player. He needs structure. He needs to know where to be, where to fill in, and what role to play. All of these things make him a terrible fit for O'Brien. So while you can make a case that the run-and-gun inflates his stats, you can also make a case that they hurt his stats because it's not a system he's suited for.

My entire post was about his offensive game or the lack of, and called him worthless when his 3-point jumpers weren't going in. I understand he plays good defense, and i would say Danny Granger is the teams best defender. This whole thread was about the teams offense, systems, what players would help offensively... and i just broke him down with disappointment with the ball. So you are right about him not being total worthless. And good point on the system although i just don't see it.

Also, maybe the reason for including Rush in the trade wasn't because they were displeased with him, but because he was a sweetener added in so a team would be willing to take on TJ Ford. We know the Pacers have tried to trade TJ for "years" now with no success. Adding a young player with upside like Rush is the only way you can move someone like that. It's not a knock on Rush at all. I really, really hope we don't trade Rush before we see what he can do in another system, under a more traditional coach.

True, that is a possibility. I guess, we just don't know. I could see why Indiana would want two young players such as Augustin and Henderson, and willing to get rid of Rush in order to add 2 young guys plus get rid of a team "cancer". I guess the truth will be said this summer, to see if Rush is included in others deals.