[From the FanPosts, Duke is primed and ready for tonight's preseason opener. Enjoy!  Note by Tom Lewis ] 

October 2, 2009

April 15th seems like an eternity ago, if you are a Pacers fan. The come-from-behind victory over the Milwaukee Bucks that night had the Pacers showing that "We'll be back." In the Terminator-esque sort of fashion.

That was April 15th. Just about 6 months ago. Like any offseason you begin to see new faces and lose familiar ones. We have seen the long-awaited departure of Jamaal Tinsley, and the somewhat-heartbreaking loss of Jarrett Jack to free agency.

With every door closed another one opens. Larry Bird went dollar-store shopping this summer and found some decent bargains. He was able to sign Western Conference starter Dahntay Jones on the cheap, and Earl Watson from Oklahoma City. These players were brought in to help out this whole defense problem we had a season ago.

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This is more commentary than anything...

Today on The Dan Dakich show, Jarrett Jack called in from working out at Georgia Tech.

Dan went on to tell him that because he was working out and not at a casino (Like Travis), this is why he is our starting point guard. It is really good that the players get along so well, and can give each other a hard time. That really shows that things have turned around in the locker room.

Now onto the serious stuff...

Jack was asked if he'd like to return to the Pacers next season, and Jarrett replied,

"I owe it to the Pacers...they gave me a change where in other places I didn't get an opportunity."

Jack went on to say that he has a tough "contract battle" starting July 1st. In my mind I really don't want to see or hear the words battle and contract in the same sentence, especially from a player.

So in this sense I am glad he wants to remain a Pacer. Jack arguably was one of the hardest working guys we had on the floor last year outside of Granger.

Well, I know it's been a while. I hope you all welcome me back in good spirit!

[Great stuff from duke dynamite on Danny Granger's development since being draft in 2005. - CR]

The headline of The Indianapolis Star's Sports section the morning after draft day in 2005 read, "PLEASANT SURPRISE, GRANGER IS A PACER." Danny Granger was picked at 17, and was a gleam of hope for a team coming off a disasterous season.

Looking back at Danny Granger's sophomore season, Al Harrington was brought back from Atlanta, and was expected to play next to Jermaine O'Neal for "One of the strongest frontcourts in all the NBA." This meant for Granger that he would have to come off the bench for Harrington, even after showing us some nice play late in his rookie season.

We all know the story of how that season played off, Harrington, Stephen Jackson, and Sarunas Jasikevicius were traded to Golden State for Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, and Keith McCleod. This trade for Granger was a blessing in disguise.

After the trade, Danny moved up permanently into the starting lineup along with newly-aqquired Dunleavy and Murphy thus ending a sub-par season, riddled with losing streaks and injuries to Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley. The Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years, finishing 41-41. 

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Many fans have wondered, and so have I about the possibility of Dunleavy returning healthy this season. A lot of people are saying mid-late January, and that is good news for Pacers' fans. If he is, he couldn't return at a better time.

This raises the question of how Danny will continue to produce. I honestly don't think you can slow Granger down unless you are playing him the whole game with not much help. (Prime example last night against Atlanta.) With Mike back in the game, a lot of that pressure and exhaustion will be lifted from Danny.

There is also the thought of stunting Brandon Rush's development adding Mike back into the 2 guard position. Here is a quote from a discussion I had earlier on pacersdigest.com:

Kevin (Lee) had a great point last night (during his Call-In Show). He said that when you draft someone in the first round you draft with hopes that particular player would work for a starting position. I agree with that to the extent of other factors could hinder that possibility.

Brandon is in a unique situation here, where when healthy, our starting "shooting guard" is a force to be reconed with.

I would think that if were to Mike continue to struggle on defense, when the game is mainly going to be in the hands of the opposing team, Rush will play a pivotal role in stopping the ball, and breaking momentum. Thus, putting a rested Dunleavy back in the game so maybe he could help with a lot of the on-court decision making late and avoiding bad plays and turnovers.

Don't expect Rush to miss out on a lot. Jim O'Brien as we all know is very picky with his rotations, and he is only going to play the guys who are playing good consistent games.

With all that said, I will stick by my word. I think that with some healthy bodies, this team will be able to stick with their opponents late in the game, and maybe come away with a few W's.

The Blogger Contest!

"Congratulations on being randomly selected as the first winner in the Pacers.com Fan Blogger contest. Please respond to this e-mail ASAP with your full name and complete contact information (phone, cell phone and preferred e-mail)  so we can make arrangements for you to attend Tuesday’s game as our special guest."

w00t! I am very happy, and will represent Pacersdigest.com and Indy Cornrows. I am thankful for this opportunity.

Thanks,

Tony

At the end of the game Saturday night, Slick was praising the play of McRoberts and stated that he needs to play more. Also, he said when everyone is healthy, that may keep him from playing more, but should get more time regardless.

Slick made it clear that McRoberts has a lot of potential.

I really think that if he continues to play well, and stay out of foul trouble, he may be able to make it in this league, and maybe become a valuable role player.

One thing I've seen that he needs to work on is his footing while guarding in the post. He looks a little nervous so he gets all over the place.

Thoughts?

Sorry guys, this new job is keeping me away from my real responsibilities! Ha ha, no way, but I do miss being here. If I had the time I'd talk all day, but I've got an appointment here in a couple of hours...

So I did the Indy Two-Step and went to both the Colts game and the Pacers game Sunday. The fans at the RCA Dome/Lucas Oil Stadium have been just really a fine example of how you should support your team. The crowd always gets wild. I got to experience that twice this weekend.

The Fieldhouse surprisingly was just as loud and proud. This year has been a great turnaround for the franchise, despite the losing record. The fanbase has risen again and our attendance is up from last year.

I wish my photos were better, stupid me forgot the camera as I was leaving the house.

[I second duke's thoughts as he caputres the spirit of the day. The turkey ought to taste especially good today to Pacer fans after last night's win. Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy. - CR]

I just wanted to tell you guys Happy Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for a new team, that is willing to go out and give 110% every night.

I am thankful for the opportunity to support a franchise with a proven history of greatness, and a potential for more.

I am thankful for our coach, for he knows the game inside and out, and never stops thinking about basketball.

I am thankful for Danny Granger, because he never quit last night. Danny because like us fans, he bleeds blue and gold. 

Finally, I am thankful for everyone that reads, comments, compliments, and criticizes my words.

I am truly thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[duke dynamite watched the tough loss last night and looks for a glimmer of hope amongst the tragic late game collaspes. Thanks, duke! - CR]

I was going to wait until after the Houston game to write this out, but I had to do it.

Believe it or not, there is a gleam of light in this darkness we call a 3-game losing streak. This gleam is known as Brandon Rush. Rush has shown us his career-best in the past two games, with the potential of making it three in a row tonight. Brandon has just come out of nowhere and really has lit it up offensively. Now if only we could get Hibbert more minutes.

As I stated earlier last week, too many people have written off Troy Murphy. Stop! He has put up some good numbers so far and only think he'll get better. I understand, but he is not the only player fading in the second half. I blame everyone.

We are getting some great looks at shots in the second half, but nothing seems to want to fall. In that, I say we need to drive to the basket more. I know that Jim O'Brien loves the long-range ball, but it never works. You need to adjust your strategy based on many factors:

• opposing defense strength
• size and speed of defense
• team 2nd half FG % efficiency (us=bad)
• ...and more

I can go all Norman Dale all day long, this team just lacks fundamentals. I agree with the coach's philosophy of passing the ball, but you can't have a team that can't pass...well, pass. If anyone has noticed we have committed more turnovers by bad passes or deflections than anything else. (I don't have the stats, I call it like I see it.)

Coach O'Brien I think cannot work with just a three point offense like he has until Dunleavy comes back, if he comes back. I'm starting the get the "Colts" feeling with the whole Mike's knee situation. What are they not telling us, if they are not telling us everything?

Best-case scenario, I have a feeling that we are not going to succeed much more outside of the development of this team unless we do something about the way our offense is run. I don't know what it is, maybe teams have picked up on what we do, and just let us coast in the first half then slaughter us in the second. I don't believe that. Call me in denial.

I hate to just rag on a "developing" team. It seems to many like my expectations are high, but I'm like every sports fan and wants their team to win.

There has to be a silver lining here. I just hope that I see it soon.

[I've been doing my best to not mention this "anniversary" and now thanks to duke dynamite, I don't have to.  -CR]

It just won't go away!

Four years ago this week we witnessed one of the most awful events in sports history...The Brawl at Auburn Hills. I hope you like the title, because it can mean two things.

In the "Back to the Future" sci-fi world, it could mean, "What if the brawl didn't happen? Would we have been a good team and make it to the Finals?" "Would Reggie have retired that year?" "Would our attendance be so low?" Or it could mean, "Would Danny Granger..." You can put anything in there. Would've he had been a Pacer, the night club incidents, Mel Mel getting injured or sick all the time. Take your pick.  It could go either way. There are a million scenarios that could come to play within this four-year time period.

I myself am happy with the team's progress so far, but it's always hard not to look back and ask yourself, "what if?"

Now, on to things that matter in 2008...

I'm sure most of you are still mulling over what I said earlier in the week about my opinion of O'Brien, well...I still feel the same way, but I'll let it slide.

We've been the center of a lot of attention lately. Losing two heartbreakers in a row and coming back to a big win against apparently one of the toughest teams in the East. (I still think Atlanta isn't that good...yet.) At one point last week we were 6th in Hollinger's ESPN Power Rankings. Sweeeet.

On the eve of another challenge, the Pacers still them see themselves in an uphill climb. Orlando has seemed to remain close to the top of the East after a slow start. This team has some great talent, and it's up to the newly-found Indiana Defense to try and stop Dwight Howard. Last year's Most-Improved Player, Hedo Turgolu, has a really nice outside shot, and could put the lights out against any team on any given night. (I still think Dunleavy deserved that title.)

With all that said, the Pacers need to raise their game to a level of consistency and make sure to spread the scoring around to almost everyone, and we may have an excellent shot at winning. The past wins, the Pacers have had almost all of their starters in double-figures and their bench has out-scored their opponent on most nights.

I need to say a few things about Danny Granger. If this guy doesn't make the All-Star Team in some fashion, the selection process is a joke. Right now he is tied for 6th in scoring along with Kobe Bryant. If you want company, it doesn't get any better than that. Danny has played solid all-around in all of his games so far, most recently scoring 34 against Atlanta Tuesday evening.

Danny may be leading the team in points, but a few other players, well, all of the other players have been put in a very important role the past few games. We have Rasho and Jeff coming up big in almost every play they are in. I just can't believe the way Foster has been playing as of late. I think this has a lot to do with his newly-appointed sixth-man role. Rasho on the other hand, has really come up big defensively.

I know many of you want to rag on Troy Murphy. Yes, his shot selection has gone south, but he's been making up for it with his boards. In the past two games his rebounds have been in the teens and has a double-double in each of those games.

The same has been said about Daniels. I hear one week he is an instant defensive specialist, and the next he is blasted for his poor shooting. His defense has been his crutch all year. He can come up big with an inside shot, but let him pass the ball or shoot it outside and it's an instant change of posession. All in all, Marquis has played better this season overall than he has any other year. He is healthy, and is a nice fit in the absence of Dunleavy.

I'm really looking forward to the weekend. We have 3 winnable games in 5 days, but we need to remain consistent and ready for anything that could come at us.

Who else besides me thought that 3-pointer by Jeff Foster was just freakin' awesome?

I know we are very early in the season, and we've been riddled with injuries, but I really am starting to feel the opposite of how I felt in the summer. Most people close to me know that I've supported Jim O'Brien as a good coach for this team.

Call it the lack of Mike Dunleavy (or any healthy player) on the floor, the over-abundance of poorly-judged jump shots, but I'm starting to feel that this team cannot make it very far with O'Brien at the helm.

You can label me as a flip-flopper all you wish, but I don't feel like when the game is getting out of control you leave your guys out there to get their faces mopped up in their own failure. You talk it over. From a team that blew a 26 point lead in a game with a worse record, to a team that was destined to hit twards the bottom of the Eastern Conference, I just don't see it.

Yeah, we're going to lose some games. Like the Sixers game Friday, I felt like that was one I just didn't want to talk about. I still don't. This team has shown that it can win (or at least compete) against tough teams.

I know, a lot of that can't be blamed on coaching, but for the past two games the Pacers have looked lost on the court. (With the exception of the first quarter Friday evening.)

Coming into this season we set our expectations low. This was a re-building year. Then the team that showed up on the floor on October 29th had something different to say. You can call it what you want, but I really don't see that Jim O'Brien has what it takes to rebuild a team into a contender.

From decisions like keeping Tinsley in the game last year against Phoenix, to letting Jeff Foster and Marquis Daniels throw up heavily contested jump shots, O'Brien is not focusing on the fact that he has plenty of players that could simply drive to the basket and score, or even draw a foul.

Sure, we have some all around shooters. But talk about inconsistency. Call it a drought, we've been there, done that. I keep telling myself, "When Mike comes back...when Mike comes back." What if he doesn't come back? Don't get me wrong, up until Friday night I've been enjoying what I've been seeing. But deep down I feel in denial.

I'm not giving up on this team by any means. It's still too early, and I've never given up on any iteration of a Pacers team.

What if JOB is not who the team really needs to lead this team back into the playoffs? Who would be capable of leading this team? I wish I knew.

[From the FanPosts, duke dynamite takes some time to share his thoughts on the Pacers from his perspective at the Fieldhouse. - C]

Week 2

Talking about the OKC game, first off, this in my mind should have been a blowout. By the Thunder. Yes, you heard me right, the Thunder. Our team did not show up until late in the first half. At one point Danny had 4 point and 3 fouls, and everyone was cold shooting from deep. No one could contain Durant, and there was no answer for OKC's offense.

With all that said, it was amazing how a team could fight with what little they had. Troy Murphy exiting the game after the first half while battling flu-like symptoms, Rasho still out and Diener limited.

It just amazes me how well Josh McRoberts came in and turned the story of the game around as well as he did. For his first minutes of the regular season, they were the most important minutes of his young career to date. I always measure a player on what they have done. I believe after last night, McRoberts is capable of doing that again. It's just a matter of when.

I'm not sleeping easy anymore. For all what I just said to happen, we've got to get Dunleavy back into the rotation. Over the past week I've seen some scoring from places I'd thought I'd never see, but we can't have just one consistent scorer. If and when Mike comes back, and if he could be anywhere close to where he was last season (in the only pre-season game he played in, he put up a decent number), I'm sure we'd not be squeaking by opponents such as the Nets and the Thunder.

Fortunately, I'm starting to get the feeling back in my brain from the Boston game. The team has shown that they can win against a tough team, and come close in other games. The only problem is that there are so many tough teams out there, it will be hard to contend. We have to win games. Coming close and barely losing is good from a potentials standpoint, but when it comes to the point of the standings, it's either win or lose. Coming up short does not get us in the playoffs.

I was really close last night, Steve Nash was doing some poses for the camera but I wasn't able to get a decent shot in due to all the people walking in front of me. He was sticking his tounge out and waving his hands...

Anyway, enjoy the look on Hibbert's face while he was next to Shaq...

Each one of these is a clickable thumbnail image. 56k users, you've been warned.

Better late than never...

You've seen photos of the players, and Danny's not teeth. I took some photos, but these are all I'm going to let out. The balloons were cool, and the flag was spectacular. First time seeing it in the Fieldhouse like that. Also, one of the crowd after we went up big.

Wednesday, we managed 4th row seats in the lower level. I will have some AMAZING shots for you guys then.

[duke dynamite from the Fan Posts loved the fresh start on opening night. May there be many more like it. - Cornrows]

There were a few titles I had in mind for today's post, "Boston Massacre" and "Not so St. Patrick's Day" came to mind, with a little help. But I'm just going to tell it like it is. I'm stumped. I don't know how it happened, but I'm going to ride with this for a while.

Opening night is always a special occasion, but last night had a different feel to it. It didn't have the same atmosphere that I've been accustomed to as of late. The Pacers are now celebrating their tenth season in Conseco Fieldhouse. It felt like the first in that building. Say it had that "new car smell". New faces, new experiences.

Everyone was aware of the concert by Blues Traveller, they put on a heck of a show. Not bad at all.

Fast forward. Once the introductions started, the house went dark. Everyone had their lighted rally towels and the sell-out crowd waved them in the air and it was total electric.

Coming into this game, I knew there was going to be a lot of enthusiasm. Both from players and the fans. But I didn't know that the game would turn out like it did...

Opening play we won the tip and Marquis lost it. That play there my heart sank into my stomach. I didn't think we would be any mach for the defending champion Celtics' defense. I was wrong. I hate saying this but, either the Boston team from last year didn't show up, or we are just that good, I hope it was the latter.

We started the game with Danny making I think almost every shot attempt. This looked good becuase I want to see him deserve this new contract. I have to say, Marquis looked great. He shut down most of who he was defending, so seeing that I have high hopes for him, finally.

Almost like every game we play against players with "superstar" status, I was thinking that everytime we brushed by Garnett or Pierce we'd get a whistle. That didn't happen.

After basically putting the Celtics away in the third quarter, Danny started getting the crowd pumped after we went up by 20. The Fieldhouse exploded for the first time I think since the 2005 playoffs. I took some photos of the crowd I will post later.

All in all (sorry this is short, everyone has pretty much covered everything else), it was a great night. I really hope that more people come out and show some support for this team. Tickets are cheap, and I'm sure there are going to be a lot more deals this season.

After all, this is Indiana.

Here are my photos from yesterday's event. It wasn't anything too spectactular. It was great to be able to see the team connect with some of the "displaced" fans.

The team, media relations, and select fans participated in some "driveway" games, and I called Hibbert and Foster the two guys left in knockout. It was great to be right for once.

I only took so many today, the angle I was sitting didn't permit me some good close-up shots of the players, etc.

Well, back last season I asked Mike Dunleavy about what he thought about the kids who made the "Mike Dunleavy Rap" and put it on YouTube.

He told me that Jeff Foster loves to play it in the locker room, and that we should make up a rap for him, or the team. My friends and I decided we would do that during the summer....we never did.

Well, I finally wrote the lyrics to our short rap. Cornrows (and Pacers Digest) readers get a treat, they get to hear it first:

Back in the day, all we had to say is, "Why are the Pacers playing this way?"

Trouble on the court, trouble on the street, this team could never could keep out of the late-night police beat.

Things got down, things got tough, but the Bird came along and did some cleanin' and stuff.

Larry Legend seemed like he couldn't ever do anything right, but things turned around in just one draft night.

Trades, draft picks, almost the lottery and, things are now looking up in Pacer land.

We got T.J., Rush, Roy, and Jack. All in part to bring that Pacer Pride back.

Granger puttin' other teams in danger of going ten points down? Mike throwin' down shots way from downtown.

The front office wants us to ignite the passion, restore the pride, sooner or lata the P's gonna be hittin' their stride.

Look out for the Pacers, nice, new shiny and neat, just wait we gonna get you in that seat.

So long, goodnight for now, I gotta go wash my rally towel.

Sorry if that was a little corny, but it seemed fun to make. I'm not much of a rapper, but I am in the works of getting the YouTube video scripted.

Thanks!<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[From the FanPosts, Duke gives us some great insights from his seat at the Fieldhouse. -Cornrows]

First off, forgive me if I miss anything, it's such a long drive home...

Was it just me, or was that game a breath of fresh air?

It was great to see Mike back in the lineup. Right off to begin with he shown why (in my opinion) he deserved the most-improved award last season. After almost scaring me to death by tweaking his ankle early in the first quarter, Dun-Dun overcame a limp to score 9 points in only 12 minutes. He then sat out the rest of the game and let Brandon Rush and Stephen Graham steal the show.

Rush, who has really put a lot of energy into this new Pacers team, blew my mind again by making some tough jumpers. For the past few games, I really didn't think he was capable of doing that so early. For someone who said he wanted to be the next Reggie Miller, I had, and don't all throw things at me for saying this, but deja vu this evening. (Rush even had the wrist bands on both wrists like Uncle Reggie) Brandon led all Pacers' scorers with 17 points. What really got me, was his ability to kill the Grizzlies' defense. 2 blocked shots is something that I wouldn't imagine him being able to do. I really didn't think that he would have a strong inside defensive presence.

"STEPHEN GRAHAM...HOMERUN!"

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A win is a win, preseason or not.  The Pacers held off the Mavericks to a score of 100-93.

Anytime we face a Western Conference opponent, I get nervous. Who doesn't? The outcome of the game couldn't be any better than I thought we were going to be.

I really think our bench came out and played well tonight. Well, for preseason's sake, our bench is our starters.

It was a surprise that Granger played, let alone as well as he did. Danny got out of his slump tonight and put on a a decent show. The Mavericks only played their marquee players for a short time with the exception for Diop, and a couple others. Jason Kidd did not play.

Roy, wow...I still don't think he is starter material, but I still have high hopes from him. His defensive prowess is growing by the game. His presence in the paint is one that I haven't seen the likes of since Rik and Dale. However, he needs to work on keeping a firm ground and has to stay out of foul trouble. He is a rookie, but he sure doesn't look like one.

Brandon Rush played magnificently tonight. However, his and Danny's numbers both really don't tell the whole story. Their free throws added a lot to their game tonight. Their shooting percentage needs to go up in order for us to play well agains the stronger defenses in the league.

Although, Austin made both of his shot attempts, which were behind the arc, I do feel like he needs to become on of those big bodies and box out for the rebounds. He did just that tonight.

T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack played well at the point tonight. Jack had a few noteworthy fast breaks which were nice. The speed of the game was controlled by us throughout the game, which is exactly what we needed out of Ford and Jack.


Some things we need to work on:

Turnovers: we had 21 tonight, 15 in the first half. We have to choose our passes a lot better and protect the ball.

Fouls: There were too many fouls, which most were drawn off of fast breaks. We need to get back on defense and let our big men crash the boards.

Shot Selection: Davis and Rush were main culprits in this area tonight. Be sure that you know that you are capable of making the shot before you go out 23 feet to make a shot.

Notes:

This was Dallas' Coach Rick Carlisle's first game back at Conseco Fieldhouse since his departure in 2006.

Shawne Williams came back to visit since being traded this past weekend to Dallas for Eddie Jones and some other considerations.

I will be at the Fieldhouse this Friday as the Pacers take on the Memphis Grizzlies trying to rebound from the loss agains them Monday in Tennessee.

vs. Chicago, October 10, 2008 - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Ft. Wayne, IN.

Before I begin, I need to mention how much I like the fact that we drafted Roy Hibbert and no one else did.

Unfortunately, I was unable to make my first trip to Fort Wayne to see the P's play tonight, but I wouldn't miss it on T.V. This game from what I understood didn't have the dazzle of Wednesday's game, but it was special in it's own little way.

When the game started, I was still a little nervous on how prepared we were. Many shots didn't fall like they should have and we basically spent the first few minutes catching up to the Bulls. (I meant Hinrich and Thomas) Rasho Nesterovic really came out crashing the boards and for some reason, he looked like a brick wall out there on defense.

Danny Granger has not begun to worry me. I think he is just trying to find out what he can and cannot do, but sooner or later we will need to see the real Danny step up and show why he is the face of this team.

Marquis Daniels really has looked a lot better than he has in previous seasons. I am not sure if it is his temporary promotion as starting point guard, but he looks like he is being a lot smarter on the offensive side of the ball. I also enjoyed that alley-oop in the second quarter. His defense looks a little more finely-tuned than last season so far.

Brandon Rush. The stats really can deceive you. I did not see him score 18 points tonight, but he did. This is the same thing that baffled me while watching him play in Kansas last year. He had some razzle dazzle plays, but so far he is a quiet storm. 18 points, 7 for 9 in field goal attempts, two steals, and only two turnovers playing for only 27 minutes. Impressive.

T.J. Ford's play speaks for himself. He continues to amaze me. I know many people are telling me that he is just playing fundamental basketball, nothing fancy, but I am only used to seeing a beat-up Jamaal Tinsley lead this team down the floor and that's why my mind is blown on how good he is.

Okay, onto Roy. In just sixteen minutes he pulled down six boards and put up nine points. He is a defensive monster with his well...monster arms reaching in for the ball. However, he does get into a little bit of foul trouble, but when all your mind is telling you is "get the basketball, stop the basketball", you'll get a few fouls. His mid-range and post offense play does need to improve. He missed a few close, clear jumpers that I expected him to hit.

Josh Davis came into the second quarter scaring me with a couple of shots he made, that I didn't expect him to come even close on making. He has a legitimate shot of landing somewhere if not in the NBA, but in the D-League.

There was also a lot of talk on Television that McRoberts is highly sought after by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants front office. I would like him to stick around, but I really think if he works in an envrionment with a lot of playing time he may actually become a solid backup big man. He has a great shot and the defensive mindset to keep the other team out of the paint, but give him time.

This game was going to be a little bit more of a sign that Head Coach Jim O'Brien is getting closer to see who he wants on the floor, and what we expect to see when the season starts later this month. I like the combination they used with Jack as the two guard and Ford leading the run. It seemed to work late in the game, but if it's on the line I really want Dunleavy and Granger in there to sink the shot to win the game.

Granted the Bulls are not Hornets, I see a lot of progress coming from this group and hope they continue to mesh going into the first home game actually played at home this coming Monday against Memphis.

- Tony Laurenzana (duke dynamite)

First off I would like to say that I have had a lot of high expectations from the former Memphis swingman, but I am glad to see he is gone.

As we all know Willams has been in a lot of trouble the past couple of seasons since he was drafted in the first round in 2006.

The report comes from IndyStar.com. There are sources stating that we will receive two second round picks and cash.

[Thanks, duke dynamite! Great recap of your PC experience and even better pictures. Dunleavy...simply classic. -Cornrows]

I know, I know...I stole the title. It does seem fitting, though. The Pacers played their first game at the Fairgrounds Coliseum for the first time since 1974. This also happened to be the first time we saw the future of Pacers' Basketball.

This particular game happened to be the first time I participated in an event in the Pepsi Coliseum that didn't have to do with showing livestock. The only thing that was missing were the cows.

Honestly, it never really crossed my mind a sense of nostalgia. I'm too young to have been able to tell you stories of the ABA greats. I did get a taste... 

Waiting to get into the Coliseum I could see many familiar faces, then again some not too familiar. There were a multitude of new faces. I even noticed a ton of older folks with vintage Pacers clothing from way back in the day.

Walking into the place, everything was pretty much the same as it was during the fair, old and worn down. The smell of popcorn and beer totally masked the smell I was anticipating...animals and dirt.

Great pictures after the jump, including Dunleavy's arrival...must see!

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