Indiana Pacers 2009-2010 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

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Indiana Pacers 2008-2009 NBA Record: 36-46, 4th in Central Division

Indiana Pacers 2008-2009 ATS (Against The Spread): 42-37-3

Indiana Pacers Betting Trends & Betting Angles:

• 0-9 SU, 1-6-2 ATS past 9 at Cleveland

• OVER is 7-2 past 9 vs Pistons

• OVER is 12-4 past 16 Dec road games

• UNDER is 9-3 past 12 Feb home games

• 6-1 ATS past 7 as double-digit dog

• 9-1 SU past 10 games as favorite

• OVER is 11-2-2 past 15 vs Pacific foes

Indiana Pacers 2009-2010 Preview & Prediction

After consecutive 36-win seasons, some observers might say the Pacers needed to make a bigger splash this summer. But their improvement during the second half of last season brings reason for optimism.

Indiana Pacers Coach: Jim O’Brien (3rd season)

Indiana Pacers Returning Players: Guards Travis Diener, T.J. Ford, Brandon Rush; forwards Mike Dunleavy, Danny Granger, Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy; centers Jeff Foster, Roy Hibbert.

Indiana Pacers Key Additions: Forward Tyler Hansbrough (draft), guard Luther Head (free agent), forward Dahntay Jones (free agent), forward Solomon Jones (free agent), guard A.J. Price (draft), guard Earl Watson (free agent).

Indiana Pacers Key Subtractions: Forward Maceo Baston (signed with Pistons), swingman Marquis Daniels (signed with Celtics), forward Stephen Graham (signed with Bobcats), guard Jarrett Jack (signed with Raptors), center Rasho Nesterovic (signed with Raptors), guard Jamaal Tinsley (free agent).

2009-2010 Indiana Pacers Point Guards:

Last year’s point guard platoon of T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack was a little rocky. Jack started 53 games and Ford 49, so they played together at times, too. The two guards had an argument on the court during a March 20 home loss to Dallas. When the disagreement carried into a timeout, Jack was sent to the locker room by coach Jim O’Brien. All was forgotten a day later when Jack scored 31 points in a win at Charlotte.

Whether the platoon worked or not, it’s now over. Jack signed an offer sheet with Toronto that the Pacers declined to match. Instead, they signed veteran Earl Watson to essentially back up Ford.

Ford is coming off an odd season in which he set a career-high in points (14.9) and a career-low in assists (5.3). With plenty of scorers on the floor, those numbers should probably head in the opposite direction.

Second-round draft pick A.J. Price from Connecticut had a bumpy road to the NBA. Before his freshman year of college, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and missed the next two seasons. As a junior, he tore the ACL in his left knee during a first-round NCAA Tournament game.

2009-2010 Indiana Pacers Off Guards:

Mike Dunleavy held down this spot two years ago. At 6-9, he was an unusual fit at ~o guard. Now he’s not expected back until January after needing surgery on March 6 to remove a bone spur and repair the patellar tendon in his right knee.

In the meantime, the Pacers will count on newcomer Dahntay Jones to bring some intangibles to the backcourt. The former
Duke star has never averaged more than 7.5 points during his pro career and even as a regular starter in Denver last year, Jones played just 18 minutes per game.

Brandon Rush, last year’s No.1 draft pick from Kansas, appears capable of supplying the offense to complement Jones’ defense. Given more playing time late last season, Rush averaged 18.3 points and shot a robust 55.3 percent from the field in the final 10 games. If that’s a sign of things to come, the Pacers will be very happy.

2009-2010 Indiana Pacers Small Forwards:

It’s still early, but Danny Granger may have a chance to unseat Reggie Miller someday as the Pacers’ greatest player.

Consider that Granger became the first player in NBA history to raise his scoring average by at least five points in three consecutive seasons, according to the Pacers. He went from 7.5 to 13.9 to 19.6 to 25.8. Last season’s average was the highest by a Pacers player since Billy Knight’s 26.6 in 1976-77.

So Granger already has Miller beat in scoring average and also dropped in more 3-point baskets in his first four seasons (493) than Miller (419).

Following a season that included his first trip to the All-Star Game, Granger became the third Pacer this decade to win the Most Improved Player award, joining Jalen Rose and Jermaine O’Neal.

Of course, while Granger improved last season, the Pacers didn’t, Larry Bird mentioned after the season that he’d like to see Granger assume leadership on the defensive end.

2009-2010 Indiana Pacers Power Forwards:

While the Pacers stumbled and struggled for most of last season, Troy Murphy quietly produced a remarkable season. He became the first player in league history to finish in the top five in both rebounds (second at 11.8) and 3-point percentage (third at .450).

The rebounds were an eye-opener, considering he averaged 6.8 boards during his first two years with the Pacers. At the same time, Murphy’s 14.3 scoring average was his best since the 2004-05 season.

It will help if the Pacers can find a reliable center, so that Murphy doesn’t have to play out of position like he has at times.

Indy native Josh McRoberts showed signs late last season that he might have a future in the NBA and was re-signed. Meanwhile, the entire nation will be curious to see how Tyler Hansbrough’s game translates to the pros. The 6-foot-9 forward
was a four-time All-America selection at North Carolina, as well as the ACC’s all-time leading scorer.

2009-2010 Indiana Pacers Centers:

The Pacers have plenty of candidates to man the post, but no real favorite for the job. Second-year pro Roy Hibbert was a major summer-league surprise, averaging 20.2 points and 9.0 rebounds in Orlando.

Hibbert averaged 7.1 points during his rookie season, but struggled with defense. He picked up 3.1 fouls per game while playing just 14.4 minutes.

Jeff Foster is ready to begin his 11th season with the Pacers. Last year, he ranked 22nd in rebounds per 48 minutes, a drop in production for him.

Free-agent addition Solomon Jones never got much playing time during three seasons in Atlanta, but the Pacers are hoping his long arms will help the interior defense.

Indiana Pacers 2009-2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Indiana Pacers will finish 4th in the NBA Central Division .

Indiana Pacers Betting

Indiana Pacers NBA Championship Odds: +3500

Indiana Pacers Eastern Conference Odds: +10000

Indiana Pacers 2008-2009 Betting Stats

Indiana Pacers Straight Up: 36-46

Indiana Pacers ATS: 42-37-1

Indiana Pacers Home ATS: 20-19-2

Indiana Pacers Away ATS: 22-18-1

Indiana Pacers Record As Favorite: 20-10

Indiana Pacers Record As Dog: 16-36

Indiana Pacers Over/Under: 45-34-3

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