Official Indiana Pacers Thread

[travis72]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Bring me SAM MITCHELL or take a chance w/ Mark Jackson.

Larry Bird still has some cards to play before the trade deadline.

Im wondering if he make some roster moves now or waits to see what the coaching change does and makes "big" moves in the off-season w/ all the contracts coming off the books.

I dont think Bird w/ allow a new Coach to come in that isnt under his thumb.

This is how I feel exactly. I would even consider Jeff Van Gundy as coach. Glad to see O'Brien gone, they are not evn playing close to there potential and look to confused at times after timouts and that has to be on the coach IMO. Personally i wish Larry Bird would come down and coach this team the rest of the season. I know he don't want to but we need in the playoffs and he gives this team the best shot this year.

[z Revis]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

This is how I feel exactly. I would even consider Jeff Van Gundy as coach. Glad to see O'Brien gone, they are not evn playing close to there potential and look to confused at times after timouts and that has to be on the coach IMO. Personally i wish Larry Bird would come down and coach this team the rest of the season. I know he don't want to but we need in the playoffs and he gives this team the best shot this year.

Bird said in his press conference just now that he doesn't want to as he's been out of coaching too long and he feels more comfortable with Frank Vogel taking over.

Here's a live blog for the press conference with Bird and Vogel if anyone wants to read what they said... http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/live_blog_110131.html

There was a stream too but I don't know if they're replaying it or not.

[BATMON]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

When Bird "Coached" he had great assistants alongside him ,due to his inexperience.

Along w/ the fact he had a veteran roster that didnt need the same approach that this team needs.

Bird was the motivator but not the teacher that Larry Brown was.

I wouldnt want him on the sidelines this time. His timing was perfect back then.

I'm not a fan of Mike Brown. He's an excellent defensive coach, but his X's and O's are suspect after watching him coach in Cleveland...IMO.

I was not convinced he was the man to get LeBron and them over the hump, despite the Finals appearence, which was an illusion during an Eastern Conference that was in transition after The Pistons melted.

[travis72]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Bird said in his press conference just now that he doesn't want to as he's been out of coaching too long and he feels more comfortable with Frank Vogel taking over.

Here's a live blog for the press conference with Bird and Vogel if anyone wants to read what they said... http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/live_blog_110131.html

There was a stream too but I don't know if they're replaying it or not.

Yeah I watched the press conference and I know Bird has said in the past that he has no interest in returning to the sidelines. I am just happy to see O'Brien out.

[travis72]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

When Bird "Coached" he had great assistants alongside him ,due to his inexperience.

Along w/ the fact he had a veteran roster that didnt need the same approach that this team needs.

Bird was the motivator but not the teacher that Larry Brown was.

I wouldnt want him on the sidelines this time. His timing was perfect back then.

I'm not a fan of Mike Brown. He's an excellent defensive coach, but his X's and O's are suspect after watching him coach in Cleveland...IMO.

I was not convinced he was the man to get LeBron and them over the hump, despite the Finals appearence, which was an illusion during an Eastern Conference that was in transition after The Pistons melted.

I agree Bird was handed a great basketball team that Brown had taught how to play the right way plus there was a lot of leadership on that team. I just feel Bird could motivate these guys. This team has talent, if you look at this roster as a whole there really isn't that many teams in the east that has more talent. IMO the Pacers as a whole have more talent overall than the Bulls but Rose is the only one on that team that is head and shoulders above any of the Pacer players.
I don't want to see Mike Brown as coach, as I don't feel he has much to offer other than a great defensive mind. I don't think Larry would hire him anyway as head coach.
A few guys i would like to see the Pacers take a look at are Sam Mitchell, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. I know jackson does not have any coaching experience but I think he could succeed as a coach. Honestly Larry should have never let Carlisle go. He just had a bad group of players that were disruptive and had got into much trouble.

[HealyMonster]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

you know, I just hope they can play .500 ball from here. Bird criticizes Obrien (rightfully so), for calling out Hibbert. I made mention of this a few weeks ago. At the same time though, every interview Bird is saying "playoffs, playoffs, playoffs." what does this do to the young guys who have never had a winning record let alone made the playoffs? I mean you have to walk before you run. I can understand saying playoffs is the expectation at the beginning of the year, and even going into January when we were like hovering around .500. Now though, you have a center seeing a shrink, lost like 8 of 9, fired the coach. Hey, lets win some ballgames. I think Bird is off and I think him saying playoffs every day is further exhausting the team mentally and emotionally.

these guys havent learned how to play as a team yet or win, nobody should be treating them like failures if they dont make the playoffs.

[BATMON]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Ill agree, but after the 4th seed. The East is weak.

Boston
Orlando
Chicago
Miami

after that This Pacers team should be able to beat NY, Atlanta, ad the rest of the East filler.

The Playoffs are a realistic goal.

[dunnyduns]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

I don't want to see Mike Brown as coach, as I don't feel he has much to offer other than a great defensive mind. I don't think Larry would hire him anyway as head coach.

Your assuming that Larry Bird will be back to make the hiring decision. As I mention in the thread in the main NBA forum Larry Bird is in the last year of his contract and could be gone after this season as well.

Unless Mike Brown doesn't want the job I would put my money on him getting the job. Would he be the right hire is debatable but, I'd take him over Jim O'Brien any day. You mentioned that the Pacers should have never let Carlisle go and I feel like Mike Brown is the most Carlisle like head coach out there especially since he was an associate head coach under Rick Carlisle for 2 years.

[travis72]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Your assuming that Larry Bird will be back to make the hiring decision. As I mention in the thread in the main NBA forum Larry Bird is in the last year of his contract and could be gone after this season as well.

Unless Mike Brown doesn't want the job I would put my money on him getting the job. Would he be the right hire is debatable but, I'd take him over Jim O'Brien any day. You mentioned that the Pacers should have never let Carlisle go and I feel like Mike Brown is the most Carlisle like head coach out there especially since he was an associate head coach under Rick Carlisle for 2 years.

there is a chance that Bird will not be back, ithink it will be up to him if he wants to continue on as Simon won't relieve Bird of his duties imo. Brown would be better than O'Brien but not by much, however Brown would be a assistant for defense.

[BATMON]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

If Mike Brown isnt that much of an improvement over O'Brian, why are we selling ourselves short?

Get a Coach that can make them a contender not just "well at least he's better than O'Brian".

[dunnyduns]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

If Mike Brown isnt that much of an improvement over O'Brian, why are we selling ourselves short?

Get a Coach that can make them a contender not just "well at least he's better than O'Brian".

I think Mike Brown can make us a contender. We have won before with a coach who was a really good defensive coach while his offense was pretty stale in Carlisle. If we can get the right players and they buy into a defensive system like under Carlisle the Pacers can have success. Now, championship caliber success?? I doubt it because that's going to take more than a coach, it's going to take the Pacers landing a superstar player somehow someway or our ceiling is probably what the Atlanta Hawks are right now.

[travis72]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

If Mike Brown isnt that much of an improvement over O'Brian, why are we selling ourselves short?

Get a Coach that can make them a contender not just "well at least he's better than O'Brian".

Exactly, Mike Brown is just a defensive coach and does not have much of a clue when it comes to coaching a team. Honestly if he was still with the Cavs they might still be searching for their 1st win. Lebron was that team and anyone could take a team with Lebron even O'Brien,lol. We got to get a coach with knowledge of both offense and D as well as a motivater.

[dunnyduns]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Exactly, Mike Brown is just a defensive coach and does not have much of a clue when it comes to coaching a team. Honestly if he was still with the Cavs they might still be searching for their 1st win. Lebron was that team and anyone could take a team with Lebron even O'Brien,lol. We got to get a coach with knowledge of both offense and D as well as a motivater.

I'm willing to give Mike Brown a pass with the Cleveland situation giving that we don't know what kind of control he was given over that team. With what came out about Lebron's time in Cleveland after he left I don't think Mike Brown had much say over the offense as Lebron did. Mike Brown had a situation in Cleveland that was messed up with a prima donna superstar in Lebron James and a bad team around that superstar and still he finished 272-138 in 5 seasons with Cleveland. Lebron James definitely helped Mike Brown in Cleveland but, Mike Brown does deserve some credit for the success as well.

Look at the Miami Heat this year with Lebron James, Wade and Bosh at the end of January are 33-14. The Cleveland team last year which is basically this years Cleveland plus Varejao and missus Jamison were 37-8 at the end of January.

I think Mike Brown did the best with the Cleveland situation and can have success with the Pacers. You have to also remember that was Mike Brown first head coaching coaching job as well. That time in Cleveland should have helped him grow as a head coach as well.

[travis72]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

I'm willing to give Mike Brown a pass with the Cleveland situation giving that we don't know what kind of control he was given over that team. With what came out about Lebron's time in Cleveland after he left I don't think Mike Brown had much say over the offense as Lebron did. Mike Brown had a situation in Cleveland that was messed up with a prima donna superstar in Lebron James and a bad team around that superstar and still he finished 272-138 in 5 seasons with Cleveland. Lebron James definitely helped Mike Brown in Cleveland but, Mike Brown does deserve some credit for the success as well.

Look at the Miami Heat this year with Lebron James, Wade and Bosh at the end of January are 33-14. The Cleveland team last year which is basically this years Cleveland plus Varejao and missus Jamison were 37-8 at the end of January.

I think Mike Brown did the best with the Cleveland situation and can have success with the Pacers. You have to also remember that was Mike Brown first head coaching coaching job as well. That time in Cleveland should have helped him grow as a head coach as well.

While none of us really know just how good of coach Mike Brown would be since he did have Lebron. It just my opinion there are a lot of better options out there besides him for head coach. Defensively he would make a good assistant coach as the pacers do need help there but I am just not confident in his overall coaching ability especially with a young team. Its going to be interesting to see who the Pacers go with in the off season. If this team ends up turning things around and make the playoffs they might make Vogel the head coach. I think the determining factor will be how the young players respond and improve the rest of the season under Vogel. He has a lot of work to do. If they were playing any other team tonight besides Toronto or Cleveland they would have lost with all the turnovers. They did not look all that impressive on the defensive side of the ball either tonight Toronto just really stinks.

[dunnyduns]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

I didn't get to watch tonight's game but looking at the boxscore it was nice to see Hibbert with 24 and 11. That's the best output he's had since the win over the Lakers in November. The 5 turnovers are a little high though. I think Hibbert should benefit the most with Jim O'Brien being gone. I'm expecting good things from him for the remainder of the season.

Paul George getting almost 25 minutes is good to see as well. He should average 20-25 minutes a game from here on out. I think he has the potential to be a great player and he has shown flashes of being a good player this season.