Is Born Ready Ready For the Big Time?

Lance Stephenson one of the great surprises of last season that went unnoticed to most of the NBA fan base. But many people saw him for the first time in the playoffs against the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. He is the leading scorer in New York high school basketball history, he scored more than Stephon Marbury, Sebastian Telfair, and Elton Brand; that is a pretty good class of players. He was nicknamed Born Ready because everyone thought he was ready for the NBA out of high school. He was heavily recruited getting offers from every team coast to coast and he decided to play at the University of Cincinnati.  He had a decent year averaging about 13 points a game a little underwhelming for how hyped he was coming out of high school. He left after the one year and was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

His first and second year he was almost permanently on the end of the bench and it looked like a waste of a draft pick. Then last year in the summer league he was incredibly impressive nobody could seem to guard him and then Danny Granger went down with an injury it was time for Lance Stephenson to show what he could do for the team. He was the sixth man for a couple of games and then was quickly put into the starting lineup after Gerald Green disappointed with his productivity. He then came in and put together a very successful season averaging 9 points a game and 4 rebounds. Not crazy numbers but definitely solid numbers for a first time starter. He also impressed in the playoffs with some big games against the Knicks and Heat which finally got some people to pay attention to this one time High School Star.

It looks like with the return of Danny Granger that Stephenson will move back to the bench but not some forgotten bench player but as the sixth man brought into the game to change pace. He will need to work on his consistency so he can become a feared sixth man like Jamal Crawford or Kevin Martin. Some nights his jump shot was on point and other games he was a brick layer. With an off-season to practice hopefully he is able to become a knock down three point shooter when he is open and get a more consistent shot off the dribble. But one thing that Stephenson does incredibly well is rebound, after his playoff performances he has put himself into the conversation as the best rebounding guard in the NBA.

I think that Stephenson will be in the running as NBA sixth man of the year and will be one of the main reasons that the Pacers are competing for the top spot in the East and competing for a NBA Finals appearance in June. I think Born Ready is ready for the big time. Do you?

The New Spurs: Indiana Pacers

This year the Indiana Pacers turned heads in the playoffs with reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and taking the Miami Heat to Game 7. They did not win this game but we did learn a lot about the players that are going to be the corner stones for this franchise for years to come. Paul George and Roy Hibbert showed they are ready to take the next step in becoming stars in the NBA. This young team is looking like the San Antonio Spurs when they started their dynasty early in the 2000s.

What has made the San Antonia Spurs so good for so long is continuity. When you think about the Spurs you immediately think Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan, and Greg Popovich. This core has been together for 10 years and won 3 NBA Finals together and made 4 Finals appearances. It shows  that it is possible to stay together and win together, instead of constantly completing blockbuster trades to get big name players. Instead they spend their money getting high character role players that fit their system. Look at Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, and Danny Green none of these players were having success in the NBA they come to the Spurs and they immediately turn into amazing role players for a winning team. Its not that these players just magically get good its that they fit the system that Popovich has put into place and perfected over his 17 year tenure in San Antonio.

The Indiana Pacers are becoming the second coming of the Spurs. They have a young talented core of Paul George, George Hill, and Roy Hibbert. This core is young and has been together for only 2 years and have been able to achieve a lot in this time. This core will also be together for years to come with Hibbert and Hill both signing extensions last off season and Paul George will be signing a big extension at the end of this upcoming season. This team very similarly to the Spurs is most of this team was acquired through the draft or a couple of small trades no big time blockbuster trades. Staying together and winning together. They also have developed a system here in Indiana and as coach Frank Vogel has coined it "smash mouth basketball." This style of basketball consists of tough suffocating defense and then pounding the ball inside. They have the perfect players to execute this with Hibbert and West locking down the post on the offense and defensive side of the ball. George and Hill lock down other players wing players.

The Pacers have also done a great job of adding great role players to fill in specific needs like David West and Lance Stephenson. I know you will say David West isn't a role player but he isn't part of the main core that's going to be with the Pacers for a very long time. After David West tore his ACL many teams stayed away from him but the Pacers took the gamble and it paid off. He has taken this team from just another playoff team to a contender. He has also done a great job of being a veteran presence inside the locker room for all the young players the Pacers have on the roster. Lance Stephenson or Born Ready was incredibly hyped coming out of high school but until last season hadn't really lived up to this hype but last season he was able to have a break out year and really contribute all season long. He is as of now one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA and one of the most dangerous players in the fast break. If he is smart he will work on his jump shot and become a Manu Ginobli type sixth man for this team.

This team was able to take a big jump in going from a relatively unknown team to a contender.  The Pacers will be near the top of the NBA next year and for many more years to come.

Are the Brooklyn Nets Good?

The Brooklyn Nets probably made the biggest move during the draft and many people are beginning to wonder if they are now the second best team in the East behind Miami. Did everyone forget how hyped the Lakers were before last season? A team full of big names but these names were not able to play together. Will the Brooklyn Nets be like this?

The Brooklyn Nets traded to get Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry for Marshawn Brooks, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph, and 3 years of first round draft picks. Trading away the future like this seems silly but the Nets owner will pay whatever it is to bring in new players with no care about the luxury tax. The Nets this off season have also brought in Shaun Livingston and Andrei Kirelinko.

When looking at this starting lineup on paper many would say it is the best in the NBA, but I disagree with this assumption. Deron William is an elite guard, but he is a scorer not a facilitator. Joe Johnson is a one on one player who happens to play on a team. Paul Pierce is just a scorer, he has however lost a step or two, still effective but not what he once was, Kevin Garnett a rim protector and great mid ranger shooter, Brook Lopez is scoring center but a weak defender and poor rebound-er for his size.

This team has a lot of scorers which is good. But the Nets have too many scorers and no facilitators. Williams, Johnson, and Pierce all need the ball to be effective. It is the job of newly retired first year head coach Jason Kidd has to figure out how to get three scorers who need the ball to score enough shots to keep them happy. Deron Williams has been a nightmare to coaches forcing Jerry Sloan to retire, because he couldn't deal with him. A team with a lot of ego's need a coach that is able to handle all of them and it is yet to be seen if Coach Kidd will be able to do it.

The age factor cannot be overlooked Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are not the same men that took the Celtics to 2 NBA Finals. I know Paul Pierce said he has 10 more years left in him, there is a difference between playing for a long time and playing effectively ask Juan Howard. The Nets will also struggle to guard other teams because of age and players who just don't play defense. Garnett is a great defender but is nowhere near what he used to be, a good defender but not elite anymore. Paul Pierce has not only lost a step offensively, but he will struggle to guard the elite small forwards like Paul George, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and Lebron James. Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez have never been known as strong defenders and it will not change soon. Last year the Nets would put Gerald Wallace on every teams best offensive player there is no player like this on this new Nets team.

This team also lacks depth, the Nets have Andray Blatche and Andrei Kirelinko but other than that there is no real play-makers coming off the bench. Putting all those minutes on those players over an 82 game season will catch up with them if comes in the form of injuries or just fatigue.

Overall, I think the Nets will be between 3-5 seed in the East come playoff time because the rest of the Eastern Conference is very weak, but that is a story for another article. It will be very interesting to watch this new star studded team next year and what they are able to do against the rest of the league.

Early Look at Indianapolis Colts Backfield

The Indianapolis Colts haven't had a good running game since Joseph Addai early career. Since then it has been an all passing offense under Peyton Manning and now Andrew Luck. It has been successful but who knows what this team could have done with a good running game to go along with these great passing attacks. This year there is potential for the Colts to have a very good running game barring any serious injuries. Many teams have 2 talented running backs leading there team, the Colts have the potential to be featuring a three headed attack coming out of the backfield featuring Vick Ballard, Donald Brown, and Ahmad Bradshaw.

Vick Ballard
A relative unknown last year really came in and turned heads as the Colts feature back when Donald Brown fell out of the rotation because of injury. He was able to navigate very well between the tackles to pick up yards and make the play action fake more of a threat. He also did a very good job receiving out of the back field too giving Luck the option as a drop down if the coverage was good down field. This year he will be the number one back but he should definitely not be too comfortable because the backs behind him will be breathing down his neck all season.

Donald Brown
Has been fighting the injury bug since being drafted. He put together a good year in 2012 which made many think last year was going to prove to the fans he was in fact worth being drafted in the first round. Unfortunately, last year was filled again with more injuries. This next season could be one of his last chances to prove he can stay healthy and contribute to a good NFL team. Could be a great change of pace back behind Ballard providing a lot of speed once he makes it to the second level of the defense.

Ahmad Bradshaw
When healthy is the best back out of the three but after having knee surgery last year we shall see what he is able to bring to the table. If his knee is able to stay healthy and with splitting reps with the other two talented backs on this team it will allow him to produce and also get a rest a luxury he did not have on the Giants. If he is able to stay healthy and return to pre-injury form has the potential to be the starter by years end and be leading what could be one of the best and most surprising running attacks in the NFL.

What Summer League Means for Pacers Bench

Summer league basketball is in full swing. It may not be the most entertaining basketball but it is basketball. The Pacers players that need to show up and play well have. These players are Orlando Johnson, Solomon Hill, and Mason Plumlee.  

Orlando Johnson 

A player who could see a lot of time at the back up 2 has had a similar performance that Lance Stephenson had last year. If he makes the same impact that could be great addition for this team. He has been able to get where wants off the dribble. Instead of just taking a quick three off a pass he is looking to attack the basket and get his teammates involved which is what you want to see coming from a talented second year guard.  

Solomon Hill 

This draft pick had many people wondering why they drafted him so high, but so far in the summer league he has been turning heads. He has been very consistent in the scoring and rebounding department. Very similar to what he did in college. In the second game against Philadelphia he went for 22 points with a combination of outside shots and a little mid-range game. It looks like he is going to be able to contribute right away as a wing player for the Pacers. Because as anyone who watches a lot of NBA basketball there is always room for a talented wing player. 

Mason Plumlee 

With Tyler Hansbrough recently signed with the Raptors and it doesn't look like we are going to get any big name back ups, so it looks like our man Plumlee is going to be our back up power forward. Before you immediately get your pitch forks out, you have to watch him in summer league. He has been forcing his will on the defensive end leading the summer league in blocks. He is also an athletic 7-footer something that Hansbrough isn't and can never become. His job off the bench rebound, protect the rim, and finish around the basket. Seem easy but Hansbrough last season wasn't able to do any of these with a consistent basis last year. 

Pacers Sign Chris Copeland

In the midst of all this Dwight Howard drama the Pacers were able to make their third free agent signing. Sources are saying that the Pacers and Copeland agreed to a 2-year deal. Copeland was a 29 year old Rookie last year, playing overseas for the majority of his career. He played for the Knicks last season and had a decent season as a back up. He is a very capable scorer and can flat out shoot! Something our bench was missing last year. The only negative with his game is he is not great on the defensive side of the ball. But neither was Lance Stephenson but look what an off season with this coaching staff can do. He is a 6'8" tweener his signing could mean we are getting closer to a possible trade of Granger or Green or both.  

Keep Checking in for the latest Pacers signings and analysis

Newest Pacer CJ Watson

Who is CJ Watson?

Earlier today sources have reported that CJ Watson has verbally agreed to a 2-year deal with the Pacers. This is not a big name that people will immediately recognize but he is definitely a good pick up. He played early in his career at Golden State and had some productive years before then going to Chicago where he backed up Derrick Rose, and last year he was at Brooklyn and had a decent year on a very dysfunctional Nets team. 

What Does CJ Brings to the Table?

He is an experienced point guard and understands how to come off the bench and contribute. He has been doing this his whole career and has done it quite well. He brings strong defense which this team is really becoming known for. He also brings a decent offensive game to the table. Is he going to get you 15 points a night? No, but will he be a threat? Absolutely, he is more of a lane penetrator than Augistin is and can make the open three if one isn’t working for him he can go to the other. Unlike Augistin who unless his three pointer was dropping he was ineffective.

Overall: What's the Verdict?

Nice pick up nothing more than that. He should be an upgrade from Augistin. He is not the missing piece that wins Game 7 for the Pacers however.

Keep watching checking out Twitter to find the latest buzz in free agency.