Pacers News

Injured Pacers' players know what is expected
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October 12
Indianapolis Star
 
"The mental aspect of the game won't be a problem for Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Travis Diener because the Indiana Pacers trio already know coach Jim O'Brien's offensive and defensive systems. It's the physical part that could be an issue. Dunleavy, Murphy and Diener, all out with injuries, work on their cardio, but there's no better conditioning than playing the game. "Our medical team and conditioning people have worked really hard in making sure that they stay in shape, but nothing can take the place of playing full-court basketball five-on-five," O'Brien said. "It'll take a while and we're hoping to have them back in enough time to get them 100 percent conditioned in enough time ..."
Pacers trade Williams to Mavs
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October 11
Indianapolis Star
 
"Larry Bird was at a crossroad with Shawne Williams. The Indiana Pacers president liked his potential, but he just drafted Brandon Rush, and Williams had hurt himself by being involved in several off-the-court incidents during his first two seasons. Friday, Bird sent Williams to Dallas for swingman Eddie Jones, two future second-round draft picks and about $1.8 million in cash. The Pacers will have Dallas' second-round pick next year and then have the option for its 2010 or 2011 pick. The Pacers also signed center Jeff Foster to a two-year contract extension Friday. "I was very reluctant to (trade Williams) because of the talent, but when it came down to it, we felt we could get a couple of ..."
Dallas Mavericks acquire Shawne Williams from Indiana
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October 11
Dallas Morning News
 
"In an effort to get younger and more athletic, the Mavericks on Friday traded for Indiana's Shawne Williams, betting that the 6-9 forward can put a troubled start to his NBA career behind him. Coach Rick Carlisle has made it clear to Williams, 22, that anything resembling the periodic run-ins with the law that he had in Indiana will be dealt with in no-nonsense fashion by the coach, owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson. "I talked to him about that [Friday] and he assured me that those things are in the past," Carlisle said. "I told him that was good to hear. "This is serious business in Dallas. We're bringing him in as a piece to help us win a ..."
Sources: Pacers trade Williams to Dallas
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October 10
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers have traded swingman Shawne Williams to Dallas, two people with knowledge of the situation said today. The Pacers will receive two second-round picks and cash. Williams averaged 6.7 points in two seasons with the Pacers, but several off-court incidents put the franchise in a bad light and made him expendable. In February, a man wanted for murder in Memphis, Tenn., was arrested after leaving Williams' home. The suspect, Gary Ian Bohannon, 20, was driving Williams' truck when police pulled him over. Before last season, team president Larry Bird suspended Williams for three games after the player was arrested following a traffic stop."
Pacers get image consultant
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October 10
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers have hired Calvin Hill as a consultant to help the team with its image reshaping. Hill, a former NFL running back and father of Phoenix Suns guard Grant Hill, will work with Sam Perkins, the Pacers vice president of player relations. Hill has played a vital part as a consultant in helping the Dallas Cowboys clean up their image. "He's been very active in the Dallas turnaround with the trouble they had," Perkins said. "He's doing well with (cornerback) 'Pacman' Jones and those guys. He's very resourceful. He knows a lot of people that I may not know as far as people coming in and talking to the players." A 'face for radio'Pacers coach Jim O'Brien might have a second ..."
Ford tries to drive Pacers
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October 10
Indianapolis Star
 
"Even though it was the opening of the preseason, T.J. Ford looked like he was ready to play. The Indiana Pacers point guard scored seven points in the first quarter, one fewer than the other four starters combined. "I'm preparing like it's a real game for me, mentally trying to focus, trying to get good shots, trying to get my team off to a good start," Ford said after the Pacers' 105-71 loss to New Orleans on Wednesday night at Pepsi Coliseum, the home of the original ABA Pacers. "We had a lot of different combinations, some guys not used to playing with others and that's part of it when you have a lot of new people on the team." Ford, acquired in the Jermaine O'Neal deal with Toronto, ..."
O'Brien doesn't make excuses for Pacers
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October 10
Indianapolis Star
 
"A day later, Jim O'Brien was still dumbfounded by his team's poor offensive showing in its preseason opener. The Indiana Pacers coach didn't expect perfection. But he didn't expect 71 points, either. It was their lowest point total since he arrived before last season. He expected players to execute what they worked on in their first 12 practices. Pushing the ball. Filling the lanes on the fast break. Limiting turnovers. O'Brien saw very little of that during a 34-point loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday. "I thought they would be able to do that in their sleep," O'Brien said after putting his team through a lengthy film session. "I'm still scratching my head literally and ..."
Leonard back on sideline tonight
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October 9
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers are throwing an extra wrinkle into to- night's preseason opener at the Pepsi Coliseum. Longtime Pacers coach Bob "Slick" Leonard will coach the first quarter against the New Orleans Hornets. "Awesome," Pacers center Jeff Foster said. "Does he have to wear polyester?" Leonard spent 12 years pacing the sidelines in colorful, polyester suits for the Pacers. He won a franchise-record 529 games and three ABA championships. He is entering his 24th season as the team's radio analyst. Give Pacers coach Jim O'Brien an assist for making it happen. "He's used to winning in that building and since there's a little bit of nostalgia going back to the Pepsi Coliseum, we thought it ..."
Ex-Pacers have fond memories of Coliseum
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October 8
Indianapolis Star
 
"Bill Byrd's memories remain as vivid as ever. Sitting a couple of rows from the end of the court for a few dollars. Billy Keller going 9-for-11 from 3-point range. Darnell Hillman's Afro waving in the air as he took off on a breakaway Being close enough to hear Mel Daniels and Zelmo Beaty under the basket. Coach Bob "Slick'' Leonard's wild wardrobe. Those images are from the early days of the Indiana Pacers and their first home court, Pepsi Coliseum on the Indiana Fairgrounds. The Pacers called it home from Oct. 14, 1967, through the 1973-74 season. "There's just something about basketball in Indiana that resonates with a lot of us," said Byrd, a Manual High School graduate who began ..."
2 starters ruled out
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October 7
Indianapolis Star
 
"Injured starters Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy will not play in the preseason opener against New Orleans at the Pepsi Coli