From Deseret News archives:

Pacers are new, hope to be improved

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008 12:10 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The most visible Indiana Pacers from the past three years were nowhere to be found Monday on the team's media day.

Jermaine O'Neal was traded to Toronto in the offseason. The Pacers have said Jamaal Tinsley will not play for them again after his on-court antics and off-court problems damaged their reputation. Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson have been gone for a while now, traded in the Pacers' effort to rid themselves of malcontents.

Jeff Foster and Austin Croshere are the only players left from the team involved in the brawl with Detroit Pistons fans in 2004, and Croshere was a recent addition who is not promised a spot on the team. After two draft-day moves and the Croshere pickup, eight new players showed up for Media Day. The Pacers hope the changes help the franchise start winning again, project a more wholesome image and improve last season's league-worst attendance.

"Whole new ballgame this go-round," coach Jim O'Brien said. "We're virtually starting with half the team that is new, and very positive additions to our basketball team and our franchise."

Story continues below
Team president Larry Bird got busy after the team went 36-46 and missed the playoffs last season. The Pacers had one of the best offenses and worst defenses in league last season, prompting Bird to add speed at the guard spots and size in the post.

The team appears to be building around a mainstay, fourth-year forward Danny Granger. He averaged 19.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.

O'Brien knows Granger can score. Now, he wants to see him become a dominant defensive player.

"I would hope he impacts it from a leadership standpoint at the defensive end more than any other area," he said.

Mike Dunleavy is coming off a breakout season. The shooting guard averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season and he believes he can be better this year.

O'Brien applauded Granger and Dunleavy for their production last season, but said gaudy statistics won't matter if the Pacers miss the playoffs again.

"Danny and Mike put up big numbers, but everybody in the league will say people don't pay attention to big numbers if they come on a mediocre basketball team."

Granger said he knows the Pacers are an afterthought without the big names from the past.

"We've got a big opportunity in front of us," he said. "A lot of people are not expecting much from us. Sometimes, that's a good thing."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

If the 17 year old had behaved as a proper law-abiding citizen, then this...

Max Hall issues apology

Max doesn't need to apologize, He's a senior, he had a lot of time to think...

"Boy" my eye! Just tell it like it is.

as a ticket holder to the BYU vs. Utah game, I refuse to go to that game no...

Letters: Left-wing AP

they need you to come back now

Please go away. You know nothing about basketball.

Religion in politics is tiresome

Civilization is based on religion. Most of the world does indeed "swim in...

Utes won't respond to Hall

Glad to see the U show their class in response to a childish tirade by an...

Play it close to the vest Max. Don't show 'em they hurt you.

In newspapers the word "boy" is used for males up to the age of 18, then the...

Advertisements