2011-12 Indiana Pacers Overview
Pacers were able to sneak in the playoffs last year because of a top heavy Eastern Conference and a bunch of lower seed playoff contenders fighting for positioning. The Pacers managed to get the 8th spot despite having a record of 37-45. Many expected the Pacers would roll over and lose to the No. 1 seeded Bulls in a sweep, but the Pacers fought on and gave the Bulls a run for their money in a thrilling 6 game series. The team seemed to find their footing after they replaced and fired Jim O’Brien with Frank Vogel at the middle of the season. The Pacers ended the season with 20-18 behind coach Vogel and they are hoping to take that momentum going forward.
Indiana lost Josh McRoberts, T.J. Ford and Mike Dunleavy Jr. to free agency, but the signings of David West and George Hill will help this squad take the next step towards becoming one of the best squads in the East. Their 15th pick Kawhi Leonard was dealt to San Antonio for Hill, so they will not have any rookies to play this season.
Starting PG Darren Collison, is definitely one of the happier guys over the signing of David West. Collison played with West in New Orleans during his first year, so there may be some teamwork that these two guys can can find again. West performend like an All-Star in his last four years with the Hornets putting up nearly 20 points and 8 boards a contest. He was out due to an ACL injury that forced him to miss the last 12 games of the year. Collison put up 18.8 points and 9.1 assists in 37 games playing with West during his rookie season, and the hope is that Collison can do better than his 13 points and 5 assists that he put up last season.
While Danny Granger led the team with 20.5 points/game, he clearly lost some of the scoring ability he had in previous seasons when he averaged nearly 25 points a game. The Pacers really need Granger to bounce back from the disappointing season that he had last year, for them to really have a chance to launch themselves in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.
Starting Center Roy Hibbert displayed flashes of excellence last season, and showed the franchise why he was taken with the 7th overall selection in the 2009 NBA draft. If Hibbert can live up to his promise this season, Indiana can go from being a decent team to a great team. Hibbert has the ability to put up a double-double and reject 2-3 shots a night, the only doubt is if he can become that guy this year.
Paul George and Hill will battle for the starting shooting guard spot. George Hill may start to begin the season, but either way both guys will be given a lot of minutes and play a big role this year. Whoever doesn’t start will play a lot minutes and be a spark off the pine. West’s addition will give Indiana the option of using energetic power forward Tyler Hansbrough with the second team and provide a much needed spark the Pacers really require.
Prediction – 2nd Eastern Conference Central Division: The additions of David West and George Hill will catapult the team to a 2nd place finish in the Central division, they have true sleeper potential with the NBA Championship odds, especially if the West pickup can pan out the way everyone expects. But the Pacers will have a hard time getting in the playoffs, if they have another losing record.
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