12/27/2005
What's down with the Pacers?
Me feels that losing Ron Artest is taking its toll on the Indiana Pacers.
It's starting to sink in. Dropping their last two with defending champion San Antonio at the road next in the schedule. Running fourth in Central with a 15-10 record. Seven and a half games behind league-leading Detroit. This is not the same team that was predicted to have a three-way tie at the top of East along with the Pistons and Miami Heat.
Losing the DPOY plus 18 points, three steals, give or take six rebounds, and on a good day, some assists here and there. Those aren't just ideal fantasy statlines, but the intangibles should be taken into consideration as well.
Danny Granger is doing good as replacement in the 3-position, but Stephen Jackson is no Artest. When the Pacers routed Cleveland during Thanksgiving, Artest was guarding LeBron straight. In their loss against the Cavs on Christmas eve morning, it took a plethora of defenders to contain King James. 14 points on 4-16 shooting. Not bad coming from a combined effort of Fred Jones, Jackson, and Austin Croshere.
However, it freed up Drew Gooden and Damon Jones in the process. Gooden's 21-point and 10-point output augurs well for my fantasy teams, but not at the expense of the Pacers!
It's starting to sink in. Dropping their last two with defending champion San Antonio at the road next in the schedule. Running fourth in Central with a 15-10 record. Seven and a half games behind league-leading Detroit. This is not the same team that was predicted to have a three-way tie at the top of East along with the Pistons and Miami Heat.
Losing the DPOY plus 18 points, three steals, give or take six rebounds, and on a good day, some assists here and there. Those aren't just ideal fantasy statlines, but the intangibles should be taken into consideration as well.
Danny Granger is doing good as replacement in the 3-position, but Stephen Jackson is no Artest. When the Pacers routed Cleveland during Thanksgiving, Artest was guarding LeBron straight. In their loss against the Cavs on Christmas eve morning, it took a plethora of defenders to contain King James. 14 points on 4-16 shooting. Not bad coming from a combined effort of Fred Jones, Jackson, and Austin Croshere.
However, it freed up Drew Gooden and Damon Jones in the process. Gooden's 21-point and 10-point output augurs well for my fantasy teams, but not at the expense of the Pacers!
// posted by Unknown @ 17:14 
