[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I had to catch my squad’s first pre-season game of the season! Here’s what I noticed: 

Pacers 

Paul George – He’s 100%. No limp. No hesitation. Quickness is back. Timing is close to being 100%. Everyone is worrying about him defending four men, but they need to be worrying about how they’ll defend him. He’s going to be a HUGE problem in this offense at the four position… In transition and the half court. Defensively, he’ll be better than what people think. He held his own at times against Anthony Davis, despite Davis being able to shoot over him a few times. I also really like the way he defended Ryan Anderson. George could seriously win DPOY with the way he’s able to defend P&R/P&P, switch out on guards and close out on shooters. I think George’s biggest adjustment will be blocking out four men and getting the rebound. 

Monta Ellis – He was extremely quiet. He’s going to have to adjust to playing with so many ball handlers. George Hill is intent on staying aggressive with the ball in his hands, but I’d like to see Ellis handle the ball more and be in pick situations with George. Defensively, Ellis is going to have issues. Both Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon were too big/strong for him. 

Myles Turner – He’ll never be a great runner, but his running gait has changed significantly. It looks normal. He’s been struggling with some knee soreness, but still played. He didn’t shoot well, but I really like what I see. He needs to adjust to the game speed, but that’ll happen soon. He needs to get stronger obviously, which will help him establish position better. He needs to get better at setting picks. Defensively, he’s going to be something special. 

Joseph Young – I like him a lot. He’s very talented and has a lot of offensive skill some of the top guards have. Defensively, he pressures the ball up the court, but in the half court, he has to be better. Norris Cole was getting passed him. He can overdribble at times. I’m interested to see if he can secure the backup point guard spot and get consistent minutes. 

Offense – 100% different. They now look to push the ball on makes or misses. Way more three’s. So much spacing… Four ball handlers in the starting lineup. A lot of high screen and roll. I really liked the way they moved CJ Miles/George around without the ball and got them open looks. At one point, it was G. Hill, Joseph Young, Miles, George and Turner on the floor and they had the Pelicans defense wide open… Holes/gaps everywhere. Need to clean up turnovers though. The ball could move more and extra passes made.  

Defense – It’s a lot different without Hibbert protecting the rim, covering up mistakes and communicating. They didn’t close out well on shooters or stop dribble penetration enough last night. Ellis and Miles are non-defenders. At times, the Pacers looked really good defensively though using their speed/quickness. Defense will be a work in progress.  

Pelicans

Anthony Davis – He was slowed a little with a minor ankle tweak, but he looks amazing. His back to the basket game looks better. His footwork looks much improved and he looked more comfortable shooting over his left shoulder. It’s ridiculous just how long he is. He’s about to have a HUGE season. He’s so versatile and his game is so unselfish. He can get his in so many different ways with or without the ball.

Eric Gordon – I could tell from just one pre-season game that he’s so much happier playing under Alvin Gentry. He looks very healthy. Showed great explosiveness on his change of pace crossover. 

Jrue Holiday – Looked good in limited minutes. He’s a big guard. Once he’s healthy enough to play, I wonder who’ll come off of the bench.. Him or Tyreke Evans? 

Luke Babbitt – His shooting should get him minutes in this offense. He was lights out. 

Kendrick Perkins – Waste of a roster spot. 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 PG at PF is not going to work out.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

We’ll see… Offensively, he’ll cause problems as a stretch/playmaking four. Strength defensively and blocking out are my biggest concerns. 

I’m interested to see how it all works out. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

We’ll see… Offensively, he’ll cause problems as a stretch/playmaking four. Strength defensively and blocking out are my biggest concerns. 

I’m interested to see how it all works out. 

[T Rex]

 his morale is the biggest worry. 

[T Rex]

 his morale is the biggest worry. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

You might be right. PG clearly doesn’t like playing the 4. His morale is a HUGE worry.

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2015/10/03/pacers-debut-small-sloppy-ball/73085538/

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

You might be right. PG clearly doesn’t like playing the 4. His morale is a HUGE worry.

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2015/10/03/pacers-debut-small-sloppy-ball/73085538/

[T Rex]

 PG at PF is not going to work out.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 Jrue has always had a nice shot. I be the could handle the 2 offensively so Tyreke can handle the ball more. It may serve to keep him healthier, too. 

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 Jrue has always had a nice shot. I be the could handle the 2 offensively so Tyreke can handle the ball more. It may serve to keep him healthier, too. 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

To be honest, I hate teams that play their small forwards at the 4 spot, let alone start at it. I mean its good in stretches but for a guard to wrap his head around playing at the frontcourt is really hard, especially for a star like George.

 I, as a guard hated when my coach assigned me to play the 4, mainly because I had to do al those things I was used to my teammates doing for me. Setting screens and spotting up and stuff. I’m pretty sure George HATES setting screens. George is a star who wants the ball in his hands, and that won’t happen when you’re the screener, not even if you’re the best player out there. As the ball-handler, you have the freedom to drive, spot up or make passes whereas as the bigman, you just have to hope your guard gives you the ball. Also, I can see just a bit through that one game that George does not set effective screens. Guards will have an easy time going over his screens when he does play it full-time.

 And as one of the best wing-stoppers in the league, why would you want to take away George’s strength in lateral quickness and length at the guard spot to guarding big men down low. You have a guy that could contain a player like Jimmy Butler but assign him instead to Pau Gasol. What a waste of talent!! I really hope they abandon this project or at least don’t do it majority of the time.

 

 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

To be honest, I hate teams that play their small forwards at the 4 spot, let alone start at it. I mean its good in stretches but for a guard to wrap his head around playing at the frontcourt is really hard, especially for a star like George.

 I, as a guard hated when my coach assigned me to play the 4, mainly because I had to do al those things I was used to my teammates doing for me. Setting screens and spotting up and stuff. I’m pretty sure George HATES setting screens. George is a star who wants the ball in his hands, and that won’t happen when you’re the screener, not even if you’re the best player out there. As the ball-handler, you have the freedom to drive, spot up or make passes whereas as the bigman, you just have to hope your guard gives you the ball. Also, I can see just a bit through that one game that George does not set effective screens. Guards will have an easy time going over his screens when he does play it full-time.

 And as one of the best wing-stoppers in the league, why would you want to take away George’s strength in lateral quickness and length at the guard spot to guarding big men down low. You have a guy that could contain a player like Jimmy Butler but assign him instead to Pau Gasol. What a waste of talent!! I really hope they abandon this project or at least don’t do it majority of the time.

 

 

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