Post by duce on Apr 8, 2007 12:37:58 GMT -5
Team strengths:
Almost all areas are covered, however as in past years it is the inside scoring, rebounding, and post defense that stands out. There has also been improvement in outside scoring and ball-handling.
Garnett and Grant Hill have been a hard duo to defend; with Duncan around from the beginning this time it may be impossible. Doug Christie and Troy Hudson provide this team with perimeter scoring as well.
Watch for the league's best rebounding team to be even better this season with Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Jamie Feick and Ousmane Cisse.
Indiana has great depth with 7 or 8 capable starters.
Team weaknesses:
Expectations too high? Too many players in contract seasons?
This team doesn't appear to have any weaknesses on paper. Unfortunately the sad reality is one big injury at the wrong time could spell doom for the Pacers.
With 2/3 of their roster to become free agents, this becomes "now or never" for them. They can only lock up one of Duncan and Garnett.
Franchise Player:
Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan
Both players made a significant stride this off-season. Garnett has improved his ball-handling and Duncan has worked very hard on rebounding. The two are arguably the best two players in BBS because of their all-around dominance.
Season Outlook:
This is THE year for the Pacers. The last two years ended up having championship expectations, and while the results were disappointing it would be nothing compared to failure this season. There are so many 'free agents to be' and such great talent and depth on this team, that anything short of a ring would be terrible.
Almost all areas are covered, however as in past years it is the inside scoring, rebounding, and post defense that stands out. There has also been improvement in outside scoring and ball-handling.
Garnett and Grant Hill have been a hard duo to defend; with Duncan around from the beginning this time it may be impossible. Doug Christie and Troy Hudson provide this team with perimeter scoring as well.
Watch for the league's best rebounding team to be even better this season with Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Jamie Feick and Ousmane Cisse.
Indiana has great depth with 7 or 8 capable starters.
Team weaknesses:
Expectations too high? Too many players in contract seasons?
This team doesn't appear to have any weaknesses on paper. Unfortunately the sad reality is one big injury at the wrong time could spell doom for the Pacers.
With 2/3 of their roster to become free agents, this becomes "now or never" for them. They can only lock up one of Duncan and Garnett.
Franchise Player:
Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan
Both players made a significant stride this off-season. Garnett has improved his ball-handling and Duncan has worked very hard on rebounding. The two are arguably the best two players in BBS because of their all-around dominance.
Season Outlook:
This is THE year for the Pacers. The last two years ended up having championship expectations, and while the results were disappointing it would be nothing compared to failure this season. There are so many 'free agents to be' and such great talent and depth on this team, that anything short of a ring would be terrible.