Always Miller Time » NBA Talk http://alwaysmillertime.com An Indiana Pacers Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Wed, 22 May 2013 21:43:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 NBA: Introducing the Starting Five of the Indiana Pacers http://alwaysmillertime.com/2009/10/10/nba-introducing-the-starting-five-of-the-indiana-pacers/ http://alwaysmillertime.com/2009/10/10/nba-introducing-the-starting-five-of-the-indiana-pacers/#comments Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:23:16 +0000 Josh Dhani http://alwaysmillertime.com/?p=155 The NBA preseason has just started for the Indiana Pacers and many of us fans are just anxious for the regular season to start as it does in late October.So I just came across of an idea: Do any of you know the players on this young, hardcore squad? No? Yeah, I was assuming that [...]

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]]> The NBA preseason has just started for the Indiana Pacers and many of us fans are just anxious for the regular season to start as it does in late October.So I just came across of an idea: Do any of you know the players on this young, hardcore squad? No? Yeah, I was assuming that you would say that so I’d like to introduce to you the starting five of this trusty crew.

So…let’s begin.

Point Guard: T.J. Ford

T.J. Ford was just a monster in his debut year as a Pacers just last season when Indy acquired him for Jermaine O’Neal in Toronto. It was a good deal as Ford accumulated 15 points, five assists, and one steal per game during the 2008-09 season.

With Jarrett Jack gone, Ford will be seeing some more minutes during every game from now on with Earl Watson, A.J. Price, Travis Diener, and Luther Head right behind him. The point guard spot looks strong this year, and Ford is the leader of them.
Shooting Guard: Brandon Rush
Brandon Rush truly sparked in his rookie season. Drafted by Portland, the Pacers made a great move in acquiring him for Mr. Bayless. Rush had a stellar year, totaling eight points, one assists, three rebounds, and 0.5 steals per game.

Rush is looking at another good season as he play a role as a full-time starter. Will pressure be put on his back? Nope, looks there will be no need escaping the monkey from his back as being a starter with the acquisition of Dahntay Jones, a defensive stopper, in the offseason.

So look out for B-Rush, things are going to look real good with him this year.

Small Forward: Danny Granger

Danny who? Danny Granger. Man, where did this guy come from. He’s come from a no-one to really big someone. Granger showed he was a superstar last year for the Pacers franchise, and the NBA as a whole. Right now, he’s the best since Reggie Miller in this franchise.

Granger registered 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal per game. Also, don’t forget all the game-winning shots he made during the second-half of the season. So I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve Nash is having nightmares of a 6’8″ 230-pound forward shooting a game-winning three-pointer on him.

With Mike Dunleavy supporting him as his backup, things are really strong here at the small forward spot. Now people, let’s head for to the Big Men.

Power Forward: Troy Murphy

Oh, look here, it’s Mistah Murphy Murph. This man just continues to impress me game-in and game-out. He really changes the power forward spot. This guy can really do it all, hit three’s, make rebounds, post-scorer, and…well anything!

This man here scored 14 points, twelve rebounds, and one block per game last season with the Blue and Gold. Murphy is looking for another big year, and it with Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts suiting him, nothing can be in Indy’s way at power forward.

Center: Roy Hibbert

RIBBERT! Okay, sorry, that’s just a cool nickname I JUST came up with for this big 7’2″ Iron Man. Hibbert had an okay rookie season as he averaged seven points, four rebounds, and one block per game. If only if he can stop making those damn fouls, things will be alright.

Behind Ribbert are Jeff Foster and Solomon Jones. Both are also seven-feet tall in height (oh man, in width, that’d be scary) and they look to be punishing this season. Watch out for the Center spot, these guys look dangerous and these are the athletes you DO NOT want to mess with.

]]> http://alwaysmillertime.com/2009/10/10/nba-introducing-the-starting-five-of-the-indiana-pacers/feed/ 0 NBA Talk: You Better Watch Out For Amare Stoudemire This Season http://alwaysmillertime.com/2009/10/10/nba-talk-you-better-watch-out-for-amare-stoudemire-this-season/ http://alwaysmillertime.com/2009/10/10/nba-talk-you-better-watch-out-for-amare-stoudemire-this-season/#comments Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:07:44 +0000 Josh Dhani http://alwaysmillertime.com/?p=153 Amare Stoudemire, the star power forward on the Phoenix Suns, is forced to wear goggles for the rest of his career. Although that might not suit him throughout his time shooting hoops, he’s ready. Ready? Ready for what? He’s ready for this season. After missing most of the season last year, despite scoring 21 points [...]

NBA Talk: You Better Watch Out For Amare Stoudemire This Season - Always Miller Time - Always Miller Time - An Indiana Pacers Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

]]> Amare Stoudemire, the star power forward on the Phoenix Suns, is forced to wear goggles for the rest of his career. Although that might not suit him throughout his time shooting hoops, he’s ready.

Ready? Ready for what? He’s ready for this season. After missing most of the season last year, despite scoring 21 points and eight rebounds, he’s ready. Amare Stoudemire will be focused this season, and will be a strong competitor.

Two eye surgeries, no big deal to him. Wearing goggles, he can expect worse. Injury machine, heck, that’s done for good with him. He’s reminding the league that he will be dominant on the court.

With Arizona teams already struggling here so far, with the Cardinals being pummeled by almost every NFL team and the Mercury looking to lose in the Finals to the Fever, it’s up to the Suns to show who’s boss in Grand Canyon state.

Stoudemire hasn’t played for more than eight months and played in his first preseason game not too long ago. He’s also showing the league that you can still be assertive even though you had to battle through tough injuries.

“I really enjoy the game of basketball now,” Stoudemire said told Marc Stein in an ESPN report. “I did [before], but now I definitely appreciate it.”

Now here is Amare, playing in an exhibition game against the Warriors on Saturday Night…outdoors. But you think things are easy for the guy.

No, not at all. 6’10,” 250-pound athlete had just recovered from a detached retina in which he had to go through some grueling procedures. These included laying on his stomach for ten straight days, on his stomach.

This certainly must be worst than his injury back in 2005, in which he was rebounding from a microfracture surgery on his left knee.

How is that rehab going for Mr. Stoudemire? Amare recalls on the rehab in just one word: Brutal. No, make that two word: Extremely brutal.

“Hard to deal with, hard to get over, still think about it,” he said. “A lot of folks probably wouldn’t be able to do it. But it makes you enjoy the moment. I’m just ready to play ball. We don’t even talk about the [contract] stuff. I’m just trying to focus on getting myself reacclimated to this team and this system. As far as the season and me being here, I don’t think about it. I’m here now, that’s how I look at it.”

Shaq is gone, so it seems like Amare will be getting a lot of playing time, and I really mean a lot. Stoudemire, Nash, Hill, Lopez and Richardson will be the guys for this season.

But most of those guys mentioned are injured. Can Amare lead his Suns to the playoffs, and most importantly, the Finals? Yes he can. I don’t expect him to give up, not one bit.

Why else would he have number one plastered on his jersey?

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