Indiana Pacers 2010 Preview & Predictions

Indiana Pacers 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

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Indiana Pacers 2009-2010 NBA Record: 32-50, 4th in Central Division

Indiana Pacers Betting Trends & Betting Angles:
• 2-7 ATS past 9 visits to Chicago
• 1-6 SU & ATS past 7 at home to Cavaliers
• 8-0 ATS past 8 games vs Detroit
• 15-5 SU past 20 games as favorite
• 3-14 SU past 17 games on no rest
• Covered 6 straight within Central Div
• UNDER is 8-2 past 10 vs Southeast Div

Indiana Pacers 2010 Preview & Prediction

One more season. One more 82-game holding pattern. One more exercise in modest expectations. One last, exasperated gasp of patience. And then, at long last, Larry Bird can shed the contracts that have burdened him throughout most of his run through the land mines in the Pacers’ front office. Then he can work on constructing rather than disassembling and try to prevent a total collapse. The Pacers were a title contender loaded with contracts both lucrative and long-term when Bird took over in 2003. The brawl in November 2004, Ron Artest’s trade demand in December 2005, nightclub incidents involving Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley, and Jermaine O’Neal’s injuries and unwillingness to participate in a rebuilding plan all conspired to force Bird’s hand. He has had to make trades from a position of weakness, with no tools to rebuild beyond mid-first-round draft picks and minimal free agent contracts. That will change after this season when the contracts of Mike Dunleavy, T.J. Ford, Jeff Foster, Josh McRoberts and Solomon Jones expire, along with Tinsleis buyout. So what does that make this season? Basically, another endeavor in developing young talent, with a reasonable hope of making the playoffs for the first time since 2006 if the injury issues of the past few seasons take a break.

Indiana Pacers Coach: Jim O’Brien (4th season)

Indiana Pacers Projected Starters: PG Darren Collison, SG Mike Dunleavy, SF Danny Granger, PF Josh McRoberts, C Roy Hibbert.

Indiana Pacers Key Additions: G Darren Collison, F James Posey.

Indiana Pacers Key Losses: None.

2010 Indiana Pacers Point Guards:

In New Orleans last season, Collison was terrific, earning All-Rookie First-Team honors mostly with his performance when Chris Paul was out. Quick and elusive, Collison gave fits to opposing teams and point guards. He had a triple-double in February, four games of at least 20 points and 10 assists and a ridiculous 16-point, 20-assist night, setting a new Hornets’ rookie record for dimes. In 37 starts, Collison averaged 18.8 points and 9.1 assists.

2010 Indiana Pacers Off Guards:

After signing Dahntay Jones as a free agent from Denver last year, the plan was to have Jones serve as the defensive specialist, with Brandon Rush the outside shooter. It didn’t work out that way. Jones averaged a career-high 10.2 points while shooting 46.1 percent from the field. Though he’s still not much of a three-point threat, the Pacers had to be happy with the return on their investment. In his second pro season, Rush shot the ball reasonably well, but averaged just 9.4 points – not a great number for a two guard who played 30 minutes per game. The Pacers are hoping for more consistency from Rush. Mike Dunleavy was used as a 6-foot-9 shooting guard a couple years ago before he suffered a serious knee injury in February, 2009. Dunleavy came back to play in 67 games last season, but was a long way from his old self, averaging 9.9 points in just 22 minutes per game. The Pacers think second-round draft pick Lance Stephenson has it in him to get minutes. Word is, Stephenson played the point during his years as a New York City playground phenom. In his lone season at Cincinnati, Stephenson was primarily a shooting guard. At the Orlando summer league, the Pacers tried him at the point, where he averaged 14.8 points and 1.5 assists. He’ll play mostly here.

2010 Indiana Pacers Small Forwards:

Danny Granger was sidelined for a month with a torn right plantar fascia and perhaps as a result, his shooting touch was slightly off. He shot a career-low 42.8 percent from the field overall, while his threepoint accuracy dipped to 36.1 after two years above 40 percent. At the same time, he averaged 24.1 points and poured in a career-high 44 in a March win over Utah. During the summer, Granger was a finalist for the Team USA squad that participated in the FIBA World Championships in Turkey. There is probably room to improve defensively, but Larry Bird scoffed at a draft-night rumor that had Granger headed to New Jersey with the No. 10 pick for Devin Harris and No.3, saying he believes Granger is one of the league’s top players and would command more in return. In the meantime, the Pacers used that first-round draft pick to select another small forward, Paul George from Fresno State. He averaged 16.8 points and 7.2 rebounds last year as a sophomore, telling reporters before the draft he’s convinced he can play guard and eventually master a role similar to Tracy McGrady in his prime. Versatile backup James Posey is coming off one of his worst seasons shooting (36.5 percent) and scoring (5.2 points) and will be 34 years old.

2010 Indiana Pacers Power Forwards:

When last season ended, Larry Bird said he felt Troy Murphy was the Pacers’ best overall player, even though Danny Granger was easily the leading scorer. Murphy averaged 14.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and, as usual, provided some toughness under the basket. Murphy had put together two solid years back-to-back and with his expiring contract, he proved to be a hot commodity. Now it seems to be up to Tyler Hansbrough, who had an unfortunate rookie season. An inner ear infection caused persistent dizziness and vertigo that continued into the summer. He played in just 29 games and never really got a chance to show what he might do in the NBA. The Pacers hoped Josh McRoberts was ready to emerge as a solid rotation player after a strong finish to the 2008-09 season. He didn’t deliver, averaging 4.3 points in just 42 games.

2010 Indiana Pacers Centers:

Roy Hibbert finished the season by scoring a season-high 29 points against Washington, creating some hope that the 7-2 center might continue growing into an offensive force. Hibbert injured his right knee in the summer while playing for Jamaica in a game against the Dominican Republic. He had an MRI, but the injury doesn’t appear serious. Jeff Foster played in just 16 games and had back surgery in February, but is expected to be ready to go when training camp begins. Free-agent addition Solomon Jones contributed little and was suspended for a game in March for conduct detrimental to the team.

Indiana Pacers 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Indiana Pacers will finish 3rd in the NBA Central Division .

Indiana Pacers Betting

Indiana Pacers NBA Championship Odds: +20000
Indiana Pacers Eastern Conference Odds: +10000

Indiana Pacers 2009-2010 Betting Stats

Indiana Pacers Straight Up: 32-50
Indiana Pacers ATS: 40-40-2
Indiana Pacers Home ATS: 21-18-2
Indiana Pacers Away ATS: 19-22
Indiana Pacers Record As Favorite: 17-7
Indiana Pacers Record As Dog: 15-42
Indiana Pacers Over/Under: 37-45

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