A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style. Â
Indiana Pacers
Sheriff Larry Bird is cleaning up the Pacers and former franchise face Jermaine O’Neal is gone. Bird also deleted Jamal Tinsley from the teams Facebook group and pays him to stay away from the team. TJ Ford with a healthy back and a pass first mentality could put up good numbers and Dunleavy, Murphy and Nesterovic help round out a huge Pacers line up. But the main ingredient to this hoosier pie is Danny Granger and his ability to create off the dribble and make his own shots.
Can the Pacers under the watch of Larry Bird improve on last years results? Â
Projected Starters:Â PGÂ – TJ Ford /Â SGÂ – Mike Dunleavy /Â SFÂ – Danny Granger /Â PFÂ – Troy Murphy /Â CÂ – Â Rasho Nesterovic
Additions:Â Â T.J. Ford, Jarrett Jack, Eddie Jones, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, Josh McRoberts, Â Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert
Losses: Jermaine O’Neal, Shawne Williams, Ike Diogu, Kareem Rush, Flip Murray, Andre Owens, Jerryd Bayless, Nathan Jawai
Projected Wins: 38+
Team Theme Song:Â Â Dr. Dre – The Watcher
Larry Bird is just going to sit back and observe the show this year. Â Maybe he’ll make a move later, maybe he won’t. He’s just watching.
Overall
With O’Neal gone, the Indiana Pacers have no real inside banger and this will hurt! The outside game is still alive and very well though. This team might squeak into the playoffs but,  the first round is the ceiling on this bunch. Both  Danny Granger and versatile Mike Dunleavy will grow, TJ Ford will learn why Jose Calderon is better and Larry Bird will really begin to shape his vision for the future.
This isn’t a team on the verge of anything but, a foundation will slowly emerge soon and Pacer fans need to give it time.
