Hooped Up

The Indiana Pacers select 13th overall in the 2009 NBA draft. Listen to who Fantasy Sports Girl Kristen thinks the Pacers are picking and then check out her selections vitals, strengths, 08-09 stats and draft demo reel after the jump.

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Jamaal Tinsley has been on the shelve for way to long and I think of his situation as a mid-west Marbury one. Sure he screwed up, but at the end of the day it’s a business and devaluing your own roster pieces makes no sense at all. Then again, it’s hard to argue with Larry Bird about anything.

The Heat – which has auditioned several potential second-round point guards (France’s Rodrique Beaubois , Arkansas/Ukraine’s Patrick Beverley , BC’s Tyrese Rice, Gonzaga’s Jeremy Pargo) — will watch for Jamaal Tinsley’s July 27 grievance hearing. He could be set free in late summer if an arbitrator forces the Pacers to play him (which they won’t) or buy him out.

The Heat need a quality point guard like K-Fed needs a reality cheque, so waiting for a very, very, very, very fresh legged Jamaal Tinsley makes a lot of sense. So does K-Fed being broke, especially K-Fed being broke.

Via Miami Herald

Danny Granger told a storybook tale of how he learned he’d been selected the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

The Indiana Pacers star offered a picturesque image of riding in a gondola in Venice, Italy, with one hand in the water and wind blowing through his hair.

Much of that was indeed a story — he was in Venice, but in his hotel room instead of a boat when he heard the news. Upon coming clean at a news conference on Tuesday, those in the room broke into laughter.

“I can honestly say it really did come as a surprise,” he said. “I really had it out of my mind for a while. I was on vacation, enjoying Italy, and all of a sudden, I’m winning the award.”

He edged New Jersey Nets guard Devin Harris 364-339 in voting from a panel of 121 journalists. Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant was third with 83 points.

Press Release

The Indiana Pacers don’t believe quick fixes and knee-jerk reactions are the way back to the playoffs, so they are giving Jim O’Brien the rare chance to keep guiding an NBA team after back-to-back losing seasons. In the past five years, just nine other coaches have received the chance O’Brien has been given. During that span, only four — Mike Woodson, Byron Scott, Mike Dunleavy and Bernie Bickerstaff — have lasted through at least three consecutive full losing campaigns. Pacers president Larry Bird plans to stick with O’Brien, and history shows his patience might pay off. 

AP

The injured right knee of Mike Dunleavy, could keep him out for half of next season too.

“The last thing Indiana Pacers coach Jim O’Brien claims to be is a doctor. One thing O’Brien believes, though, is swingman Mike Dunleavy will be out until at least January as he rehabilitates his injured right knee. “Nothing that I’ve heard has Michael coming back anytime before January,” O’Brien said. “It’s not even on my radar, Michael Dunleavy coming back. I have to approach next year like he’s not coming back because you have to build a team.” Dunleavy had surgery to remove a bone spur from his right patellar tendon and then had the tendon repaired last month in Colorado. He said there is no timetable on his return.”

The Pacers just can’t seem to catch a break. But on the bright side, if Dunleavy can’t make it back until 2010 Danny Granger should have an awesome season - again. 

Via Indianapolis Star

TJ Ford and Jarrett Jack got into a spat last night and the two had to be separated by teammates in the 3rd quarter of an eventual 94 - 92 loss to the Mavs.

“We had a situation where Jarrett and T.J. had a dispute on the court,” O’Brien said. “I subbed for them and didn’t want to carry it over. I asked Jarrett to take the rest of the night off. That was my decision.” Jack had already left the locker room by the time the media arrived. “I think it was the heat of the moment,” Ford said. “At the end of the day you really don’t want the fans to see that going on, especially during the game when you have kids. I want to apologize for my actions and what took place.”

Thus far, no reports have surfaced if this tiff will effect their Facebook friendship.

Via Indianapolis Star Blog

I can’t picture the Pacers playing anywhere else but Indiana or the Kings calling somewhere else home other than Sacramento, but given these economic times anything can happen.

“According to an NBA executive, there is growing concern inside the Kings organization that if their arena issue isn’t resolved, they could end up moving to Anaheim. Anaheim has been hoping to get an NBA team for years, has filled its arena for Lakers exhibition games and Clippers regular-season games, and could attract fans from as far south as San Diego. The Lakers and Clippers, however, could challenge for territorial rights fees, and it could be hard for the Kings to find a spot on television in LA, too. The financially strapped Pacers, who reportedly have lost $200 million since 1983, also could be on the move eventually. San Jose, Kansas City, Seattle, and Las Vegas are potential future NBA homes.”

Boston Globe

According to the Indy Star, All-Star Danny Granger will be out of the Pacers line up for three weeks with a partial tendon tear in the sole of his right foot. The injury happened Wednesday night in a  94 - 103 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats in the second quarter.

Granger now joins Mike Dunleavy on the sidelines, who could miss the rest of the season due to his ongoing right knee problems.

The NBA 08-09 All-Star rosters have been officially revealed and I can’t help to notice that a certain Canadian is missing from the All-Star proceedings and I say BOOO NBA, BOOO!!! I am however liking the Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Bosh selection though.

Either way, the All-Star game should be a video game style affair none the less as per usual. 

Below are your East and West reserves.

West Conference Reserves
Shaquille O’Neal, Pau Gasol, David West, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups and Brandon Roy.

Eastern Conference Reserves 
Jameer Nelson ,Rashard Lewis, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Devin Harris and Danny Granger.

Via Yahoo!

This kinda flopping would get Amare Stoudemire a red card in any soccer league, unless Tim Donaghy moves to soccer! I can’t believe Vlade Divac let Stoudemire graduate from the “Vlade Divac Big Man Flop Institute” with this piss poor execution! Divac must have been crushing cigarette packs as he rolling over with disgust on his living room floor watching this footage. 

Amare went down like he got a headbutt to the chest, a flare thrown at him and had fireworks launched at him (crazy) at the same time ..yes, freakin’ fireworks!!!

My condolences go out to Jeff Foster’s family; at least he went out playing the game he loved…What?  You mean he survived that dunk…and he’s alive…HOLY SH#T!!!

Via Bens Suns Blog