Pacers and Pistons Prepare for Tilt at the Palace
By J.M. Poulard
Essentials
- Teams: Indiana Pacers (10-19) at Detroit Pistons (5-23)
- Date: December 26
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Television: FSD
Get in the Game
The new Detroit Pistons era takes shape tonight when Detroit plays its first game since jettisoning Josh Smith. Smith is a very talented player with a questionable agenda as it pertains to his on-court intentions. I believe head coach Stan Van Gundy simply could not trust him to carry out assignments during games, and it led to Smith’s demise.
Van Gundy shielded Smith from criticism after waiving him in what is likely a great ruse on his behalf. Taking shots at former players can make it difficult to lure talented free agents moving forward. Throw dirt at certain guys, and the rest of the league is bound to notice, which is why the Miami Heat did nothing but praise LeBron James in the Christmas head-to-head contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Indiana Pacers know this all too well. They dealt with their own share of issues with Lance Stephenson last season, which led to his departure during the offseason. Sure, Stephenson left as a free agent and signed with the Charlotte Hornets to the tune of three years and $27 million, but it does say something that Indiana wasn’t willing to meet his contractual demands.
Think I’m reaching? Well, here’s what the Indianapolis Star’s Gregg Doyel wrote when rumors surfaced that the Pacers were contemplating bringing him back:
"You can’t bring back Lance Stephenson if you’re the Pacers, because Lance Stephenson is what we call a loser. Hey, he is. Look at the Pacers last season. Look at the Charlotte Hornets this season. He is what he is. You can be mad at that harsh description, and I imagine lots of you will be."
If that loser label seems harsh, just remember that the Pacers are nine games under .500 because of the absences of Paul George (broken leg) and Stephenson, and yet the players have no interest whatsoever in bringing back Lance. According to the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, he’s clashed with teammates in Charlotte, which explains why he’s on the trading block.
Indiana won 56 games with his help last season, and yet, that’s not even enough for them to welcome him back.
Instead, it would rather continue playing through Roy Hibbert and David West, results be damned. To be fair, the tandem meshes well together. West and Hibbert find each other in high-low plays, and they usually lead to good results.
However, the lack of perimeter creativity coupled with the inability to make shots from deep ultimately dooms the Pacers. Remember, the Pacers’ offense was average on great days when it had George and Stephenson. Without them, they’re battling with the Philadelphia 76ers for the league’s last spot in offensive efficiency.
The defense is still good, but it no longer puts teams into chokeholds for a full 48 minutes. As a result, the Pistons will have an opportunity to test Indiana’s perimeter defense. Granted, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond are Detroit’s best players, but it’s entirely possible that West and Hibbert play them to a standstill.
Thus, the onus will be on Detroit’s guards to put pressure on Indiana. If they manage that, the Pistons win at home.
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