A Breakdown of the Pacers Roster

Larry Bird is more excited than he's letting on.

You think it would be the opposite, but when a good team loses, the world seems to be splitting along its fault lines. Fans stick their heads in the oven and Kendall Gill suggests the Bulls "pick up another big man," as if there's a pile of them decomposing on Madison Ave. The Bulls lost at home without Luol Deng and Taj Gibson to a much-improved Indian Pacers team. No Taj Gibson means Brian Scalabrine, originally substituted for defensive purposes, ends up missing the potential game-winning shot. There are no mysteries surrounding the injury-free Bulls. They'll be back to the ECF against Miami, everything until then falls under "team building" or "ego stroking." The injuries are the only IF. We know how good the Bulls are when healthy. For that reason, the Pacers are much more interesting. How good are they really?* Below is my -- as always -- very serious opinion of each player on their roster.

* - Pretty damn good.




DAVID WEST - If you kept a close eye on West during yesterday's game you saw a player who was thoroughly enjoying himself. His overall demeanor -- big whooping laughs, reckless flailing of the arms, and childlike enthusiasm, gave the impression he was the Pacer most looking forward to avenging last year's playoff loss. Except West was not a member of last year's playoff team, yet still seemed to have a personal vendetta. West relishes contact. He's the increasingly rare player who doesn't mind fighting for a board and then puffing his chest out when he's accidentally smacked in the mouth. His toughness is a welcome addition to a team that was already pretty tough. I get the impression he tattooed the 'X' on his left arm himself.

DANNY GRANGER - So much of what the Pacers have been building the last three years is dependent upon Granger playing like a superstar. He'll churn in the occasional performance, like last night, where his stat line looks nice because he converts some easy baskets around the rim and hits three of his four three-point attempts. Then you see he missed three of his four 17-19 footers and got lit up by Ronnie Brewer on the other end and you just have to tip your cap on this particular day. The chaos he created ultimately worked to his benefit. Frustrating as it is, Granger will follow this game up with a 5-18 and five more turnovers. The Pacers always rebound and play solid defense, but they live and die with Granger's outside shot falling and that is not a particularly good spot to be in.

ROY HIBBERT - Hibbert broke his nose on Sunday and now wears the same style mask popularized by Rip Hamilton. There is no player in the NBA who looks better in a face mask. Hibbert always struck me as the horror movie villain. He's enormous, lumbers down the court in no particular hurry, and seems to be confused about everything except shanking the guy face guarding Granger. He probably owns a shed with a lawnmower and a chainsaw and a closet full of flannel sweaters. Hibbert looked confident in the post yesterday and his confidence on the basketball court is the most terrifying thing of all. His improvement spells disaster in the form of the frontcourt slasher film he released last night.

DARREN COLLISON - The Pacers are on the verge of contending in the East. They're good enough defensively to put a scare into someone in the second round. All teams on the verge are a piece or two away from being perennial conference favorites. Collison is the guy everyone thinks needs to be replaced. He's lighting quick but plays out of control. He can get to the basket, but doesn't have the strength or size to finish consistently around the rim. He's just there. A good player but not good enough for a team with title aspirations. His presence is a sobering reminder that in all walks of life, despite doing your job competently and occasionally brilliantly, you can always be replaced.

PAUL GEORGE - George is the Wild Card. He already is an excellent defender who, at 6'9 can guard positions 1-3. How his offense comes along will be the biggest question. Should George live up to his promise of being a 20 ppg scorer, Danny Granger all of a sudden becomes expendable. Danny Granger becoming expendable, I would argue, is a good thing. At the same time, if George stays an elite defender and never polishes his offensive game, the Pacers still got a steal with last year's 10th overall pick. Every year, a guy drafted in the 8-10 spot ends up becoming an impact player that a team drafting earlier foolishly passed up. George is that 2010 guy. In hindsight, you think Minnesota might have preferred him over Wes Johnson?

DAHNTAY JONES - Jones is the designated guy who is always overly excited on the bench. Good play by a teammate, better play by an opponent, it doesn't matter. Jones is happy to be courtside and he's happy to let his voice be heard, and he's happy to piss off the people who paid for front row seats because he's waving a towel in the their face all game. Every good team needs a guy like Dahntay Jones for no other reason than he gets under the opponent's skin. When Jones enters the game, the adrenaline rush could prompt him to lift a vehicle or rescue a child from a burning building. He'll probably turn the ball over trying to do too much instead.

LOUIS AMUNDSON - Enough with the ponytail. A ponytail has no place on a the basketball court (cue WNBA joke). At least Noah rectified his situation by opting for the bun. The bun looks even more ridiculous but at least curbs the problem of hair flying in everybody's face when jumping for a rebound. Here's my suggestion: like the NFL, ponytails in the NBA should be free game. If it's there, you can pull it without being assessed a foul. Amundson would think twice about trotting that stupid-ass look out onto the court if this was the case.

GEORGE HILL - Hill spearheaded the "Collison Is The Weak Link" Movement. Someone should have told him Collison's replacement is going to start in front of him too.

TYLER HANSBROUGH - I like Hansbrough. I know, as a Bulls fan, I'm supposed to feel the opposite. Nope. If you thought West relished contact, then Hansbrough worships it. Hansbrough brings a fullback mentality to the game of basketball, which is why he's so loathed. Fans appreciate style and finesse and Hansbrough possesses neither of those things. He's probably taken Adderall since age seven, which has permanently fixed his face into a stupid scowl, but also contributed to his laser-like focus. I'd love to go to war with this guy. I just wouldn't want to ride in the passenger seat of his Hyundai Elantra because he'd clearly have no problem driving over the median.

LANCE STEPHENSON - Regardless of records, it looks like the Chicago-New York rivalry is never going away. Bulls fans, I know, are enjoying the collapse of the Knicks. I'd prefer the Knicks be good because I'd prefer the games mean something. Anyway, Stephenson is the latest New Yorker supposed to be the "Next Big Thing" who, like the Knicks, has repeatedly face planted. So if you take joy in the continued failures of New York, look no further than Lance Stephenson.

A.J. PRICE & JEFF PENDERGRAPH - Oh Hey! Of course I recognize you guys. High school, right? Junior-year Spanish? No? Oh RIGHT! That time at the mall eating Sbarro. No? Listen guys, I've gotta run. It was nice catching up with you.

JEFF FOSTER - Fuck Jeff Foster.

Day 6: Bulls-Pacers (Game 3)

The Pacers played Game 3 like a team who knew they were overmatched. They tried every trick in the book. Flopping, hard fouls and screens, and sticking their legs out on contested threes and passes, among other things. I'm not about to criticize Indiana for anything they did. In a Playoff series, adjustments are the key. The Pacers outplayed the Bulls in different facets of Game One and Two (some may say the entire games themselves) and still came up empty. They had to do something. Sure, flopping and cheap shots are dirty and dishonest, but what were they supposed to do? Roll over? If anything, the Pacers' style of play in Game 3 was a testament to how good the Bulls are at pulling out victories, even when they don't play well.

Indiana's physical play was the story of this game. Stacey King and Scottie Pippen were ready to suit up and give a hard foul to who ever was closest. Jeff Foster and Josh McRoberts came off the bench took turns clobbering the Bulls, trying to outdo the other each time. Foster in particular drew the ire of Chicago fans when he deliberately came down on Rose's face, prompting a reaction from Rose. Not much later, he swung a blatant elbow to Deng's head, which put him to floor. That's what Foster does. He's in the league for two reasons: to get rebounds and try to get under his opponent's skin.

Some people, King and Pippen included, were quick to criticize the Bulls for failing to retaliate. I think the opposite. Let Indiana try to play their bully brand of basketball. The second Chicago tries to make this in to a shoving match is the second Indiana can take advantage of them. The Bulls are a more talented BASKETBALL team. Playing basketball is what they do best. If Indiana can get Chicago thinking about fouls and how to retaliate, they've got them off their game plan, which is exactly what they want.

I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but the bench was awful for a third straight game. The Pacers' bench has outscored the Bulls' bench 27-25 in Game One, 43-22 in Game Two (that number is a bit inflated because of Collison's injury), and 32-20 in Game Three. I maintain that the bench goes as Brewer goes, and Thibs has been weary of playing Brewer. Although he did come up with two clutch free throws and a couple big rebounds to end the game as something positive to build on.

Kyle Korver has really saved the Bulls. 13 points, 4-4 threes in Game One, 5 points and one huge three in Game Two, and 12 points and three threes in Game Three. The Pacers have been trapping Rose as he crosses half court, usually forcing him to give the ball up to Noah at the top of the key. Indiana's defense was really active today and deflected a bunch of interior passes that the Bulls normally execute. Anyway, with the trap on late in the 4th quarter, Korver will get some open looks. As strange as it is to say, he's been just as valuable as Rose in closing games this series.

The Pacers have given it a valiant effort but are probably going to be swept. Things have looked picture perfect for them at times, but ultimately they're going to fall well short. Kind of like this Jeff Foster jumper.