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Pacers play hard, but lack talent
Game Time: Pistons 114, Pacers 110
Let's scrutinize Indiana's roster to discover the details.
Danny Granger: He's strictly a rhythm shooter but, man, can he fill it! Granger can catch-and-shoot; pull-and-shoot left and right; and his pet move is to drive, bump, then step back and let it fly. His passing, however, is somewhat erratic — he can always see (six assists) but can't always deliver (six turnovers). On defense, he's merely adequate — he routinely fails to step out and help on weak-side screens and curls — but he is the Pacers' most effective shot-blocker.
Charley's NBA tour
FOXSports.com's Charley Rosen has been watching every team closely this season. Now he has a scouting report on each one.
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The verdict: His defense needs improving, but he's certainly a bona fide All-Star.
T.J. Ford: For most of the game, he could bring the ball into the paint whenever he desired — and his kick-outs were right on the money. But Ford never did anything with his left hand except to set up his right-handed dribble; he forced a pair of shots; and on defense he was confounded just about every time he had to navigate past a screen.
The verdict: Opponents' defenses would be unable to gang up on Ford as much as they do if Mike Dunleavy was around to provide another hot-shooting target for his drives-and-dishes. Still, Ford doesn't shoot, defend or go left well enough to be the full-time floor leader of a team with championship aspirations.
Troy Murphy: He isn't much of a presence on defense where he always seems to be a half-step behind the unfolding of every play. On the other end of the court, he sets adequate screens, is an inferior passer and relies on long-range shooting. Except for his rebounding prowess and his lack of athleticism, Murphy plays like a small forward. On the one sequence where he ventured into the pivot — only because Rodney Stuckey was guarding him in a mismatched switch — Murphy ignored his 6-inch height advantage to take (and make) a twisting, off-balance, fade-away jumper.
The verdict: If he shoots well, he plays well.
Rasho Nesterovic: This guy is actually the fulcrum of much of Indiana's half-court offense. He receives the ball at the high post, then waits for his teammates to make various combinations of back-door cuts, back screens-and-pops, dive cuts and squeeze cuts before either passing or shooting his fairly accurate midrange jumpers. He also successfully teamed with Ford to score on a couple of nifty screen/rolls. Rasho's slow-motion lateral-movement becomes evident on defense, where he can show but is only occasionally able to recover.
The verdict: His intelligence and strength serve to maximize his limited skills, but he's best suited to be a backup.
Marquis Daniels: He's a slasher who makes smart and efficient cuts. Daniels is shaky with the ball in traffic, plays slightly better than average defense in iso situations, but loses his concentration when playing off-the-ball defense.
The verdict: An energy player who would be better employed on a second unit.
Jeff Foster: Plays the high post when Nesterovic is on the bench, has great hands and is the most athletic (as well as the best defender) of the Pacers' big men. Shoots 16-foot free throws (2-for-2), and even hit a midrange jumper from the left baseline. But his forte is rebounding.
The verdict: One of the most underrated backup centers in the league.
Jarrett Jack: Strong, fearless, smart — but not very smooth with the ball — and has no shooting stroke. Played good defense against Allen Iverson and Rip Hamilton — was hurt most often when he tried to top screens.
The verdict: An excellent backup point, but one with obvious limitations.
What's right with this team?
Most of what Ford does. Foster's defensive rotations and rebounding. Some of what Murphy does. Their up-tempo and early-offense opportunities. Their teamwide unselfishness, discipline and hustle. Coach Jim O'Brien's ability to get his players to overachieve. And just about everything that Granger does.
What's wrong with this team?
Some of what Ford does. The lack of a scorer off the bench — which is why Granger plays with the second unit. The continuing absence of Dunleavy. The absence of anybody who's a threat to score in the low post. And the limited skills of all of their bigs.
Even though the Pacers are 7-15, their winning percentage will improve when/if Dunleavy returns. But no matter what their immediate destiny might be, Indiana is still better off with Murphy and Dunleavy than they were with Jamaal Tinsley, Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson.
At least, the Pacers currently have the kind of players that devoted Indiana fans can feel good about rooting for.
Straight Shooting
Disregarding any salary-cap considerations, the Charlotte-Phoenix trade was perplexing.
2009 NBA Finals
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Sunday's Game 5
- Lakers 99, Magic 86 (Lakers win 4-1)
FOXSports.com analysis
- Playoff results, schedule
- 2009 NBA Playoff Central
- Rosen: Why the Lakers won
- Behrendt: L.A's title sequence
- Rosenberg: Kobe not done yet
- Tomasson: Kobe proves critics wrong
- Feigen: Jackson in class of his own
Video
- Postgame: Lakers celebrate 15th title
- Postgame: Kobe leads Lakers to title
- Postgame: Magic discuss Finals loss
- Marques Johnson's NBA Finals recap
Photos
- NBA Finals, Game 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1
The Suns get Jason Richardson, an explosive but erratic scorer, who barely plays defense. Also Jared Dudley, who plays effective deny defense, can knock down standstill jumpers, always hustles, but at 6-7 is an undersized power forward.
The Bobcats get Sean Singletary, who's an emergency-only point guard. Also Boris Diaw, who has a fragile ego and lacks a definitive position. Plus Raja Bell, a lock-down defender and long-range bomber with an often-contentious on- and off-court demeanor.
For sure, J-Rich gives the Suns another professional scorer who can make defenses pay for doubling Shaq.
But the major question for Phoenix is this: Without Bell, who's going to play defense?
The likely answer is this: nobody.
As for the Bobcats, their collective defense will tighten up, but how will they replace Richardson's point-making?
With Adam Morrison? Matt Carroll?
Larry Brown seems partial to shifting the 6-1 Raymond Felton back to his natural slot at shooting guard and making D.J. Augustin the full-time point guard. And since Gerald Wallace is perpetually mentioned in trade rumors, perhaps Bell will step in as the starting small forward.
Ridiculous!
Discounting any further moves that Phoenix and Charlotte might (must!) make, this is a classic trade in that it makes both teams worse.
Vox Populi
Who are the top 10 coach-killers in the NBA today? — Jason, Houston, TX
The majority of coaches are secure enough to withstand even the most extreme negative behavior on the part of their star-power players. Which is not to say that they're all totally immune from determined coachicidal maniacs.
Here's the list in alphabetical order:
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Travels with Charley
The late Sam Washington was one of the CBA's most fascinating characters.
Must-read:
Must-see:
Top headlines:
- McNair had taped a suicide PSA
- Fans vote Victorino, Inge All-Stars
- Tour hits Spain; Lance still in 2nd
Worth a thousand words:
For example, before the advent of Caller ID, Sam would use a phony voice whenever he answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hello. Is Sam Washington there?"
"No. Never heard of him."
"Sam Washington? The coach of the Detroit Spirits?"
"What do you want him for?"
"Oh, this is Charley Rosen with the Albany Patroons. And we just want to know if Sam is interested in trading for Clinton Wheeler?"
"Hi, Charley. I sure would be interested. What did you have in mind?"
Obviously, Sam must have had some dangerous enemies.
Also, whenever the Spirits would embark on a lengthy road trip, his wife would deposit him at the airport. But instead of traveling with the team, Sam would take a cab back to Detroit and shack up with his mistress of the moment. Meanwhile, his assistant would coach the team, and the radio play-by-play announcer would lead his audience to believe that Sam was indeed on the bench. Then, of course, Sam would rendezvous at the airport in time to meet the team and his wife.
That's why Sam was often called "The Ghost."
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