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The moment Bird was hired as GM this possibility was the first thing to pop into everyone's head. I heard a few Pacer fans try and temper this idea with the notion that Isiah is a good guy and a good coach. And Jermaine O'neal wouldn't stand for it.Jermaine will play for whomever Larry chooses because Jermaine is getting paid. Period. Isiah is not, nor has he ever been a "good guy" least of all since he has become part of "management". Nice smile? Yeah. Good TV personality? Sure. Good Commentator? I might even give you that. But Good Coach? Compared to Carlisle? Not even close. Predictions:Artest becomes a force and a "serious" candidate for defensive player of the year. If he wasn't already!Jermaine will become the unquestioned first option on offense. Tinsley has been a ninny about deciding who gets the ball in the halfcourt.Having said that, Reggie comes back and averages at least 14 PPG. And shoots a MUCH better percentageTinsley has a good all around year. Remember, Carlisle actually made Chucky Atkins look like a steal for a season and a half.Jonathan Bender sits, pouts, while we get a Croshere sighting. Croshere was everything they hoped Bender would be while Bird coached. I think he shakes off some rust and has a solid season as 6th man.

What do you think? Am I crazy? Or a genius?

posted by lilnemo at 06:38 PM - reply - flag:

Can't wait to hear how Isiah spins this one. If Rick Carlisle were black . . . Well Isiah, we'll always have the CBA to fall back on.

posted by yerfatma at 07:35 PM - reply - flag:

This is incredibly, incredibly awesome.

posted by chmurray at 01:31 AM - reply - flag:

This is incredibly, incredibly, incredibly awesome.

posted by smithers at 08:16 AM - reply - flag:

I just hope this doesn't come back and bite the Pistons in the ass, having Calisle go to a division rival and all...

posted by MeatSaber at 09:06 AM - reply - flag:

I wonder why smithers likes this? (From his profile): Loves: Bird and old-school Celtics... Reggie Miller Hates: Isiah Thomas as a coach, GM or anything besides a player And, somewhat apologetically, I'll say this: There's still nobody in the East that can compete with the top 3/4/5 teams in the West. And if there were, it'd be Jersey (I just don't think Mourning is going to be the factor that gets them over the hump).

posted by Ufez Jones at 09:12 AM - reply - flag:

I'll second the Thomas firing - as a Raptors fan. That dickhead left us high and dry - abandon ship!

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:16 AM - reply - flag:

And in more bad news for Indiana Hoosier alums, Golden State Warriors signed Calbert Cheaney.

posted by msacheson at 10:29 AM - reply - flag:

(offtopic) Ufez, thanks for pointing me to smithers' user page, which in turn pointed me to his blog, aptly named sportsBabel, including these excerpts: Taking Stock: With the increasing electronification of money, and indeed all other signs, it seems inevitably clever that Reebok's new sub-brand bears the same name -- RBK -- as its NYSE ticker symbol. New ABC fall series Threat Matrix: FEAR FEAR FEAR military-industrial- intelligence complex FEAR FEAR FEAR docile bodies FEAR FEAR FEAR (under direct orders from the President) FEAR FEAR FEAR Once again, I think to myself: Al Michaels is way too intelligent for John Madden. Digest(ion) of the Posthuman Athlete: ESPN shifts its product mix towards virtual sport coverage. Capital Idea: In the United States, professional athletes' salaries may legally be amortized by the franchise over the length of the contract, which contributes to a discourse that the athlete is simply a capital asset, or a factor of production necessary to produce goods -- in the case of sport, the information and image-signs necessary to support the sportocracy. However, what is interesting is that these factors of production are embodied by the athletes; they may be rented but never sold, and therefore can never technically be owned, since the embodiment implies non-transferability. A new bookmark in my RSS reader...

posted by dusted at 10:37 AM - reply - flag:

I'd read it, dusted, except I didn't understand any of it. Of course, I also listen to Jim Rome.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:45 AM - reply - flag:

Very comple user of language, that smithers. So we should mock him constantly.

posted by billsaysthis at 11:15 AM - reply - flag:

Jermaine will play for whomever Larry chooses because Jermaine is getting paid. Period. Well, maybe he will, but I think that's kind of glossing over some very duplicitous behavior by Donnie Walsh. Jermaine went down for a lot of years with this team and then they change coaches five weeks later? Having said that, Reggie comes back and averages at least 14 PPG. And shoots a MUCH better percentage And, that's because Carlisle uses his telekinetic powers to guide the ball through the hoop, right? Tinsley has a good all around year. Remember, Carlisle actually made Chucky Atkins look like a steal for a season and a half. Ack. Chucky Atkins made Chucky Atkins look like a steal for a season and a half. Coaches help in this by a) having systems that fit their players well and b) playing them. Atkins actually had the same year in 2000-01, which is pre-Carlisle, that he did in 01-02. That being said: Isiah Thomas sure seems like a jerk to me. But, so does Larry Bird. So does Donnie Walsh. So one jerk hired another jerk to fire another jerk. Meanwhile, a team full of improving young stars is going to try to break through this season.

posted by pastepotpete at 11:22 AM - reply - flag:

I don't everything on smithers' site either. The about page explains the basics, and reading about the theories of Jean Baudrillard or Umberto Eco will help. I teeter between frustration and enlightenment while trying to read especially Baudrillard, (sometimes I'm sure the translator was on crack) but I think it's just difficult for my little brain to wrap around the ideas.

posted by dusted at 11:29 AM - reply - flag:

I meant to write "I don't understand everything..."

posted by dusted at 11:30 AM - reply - flag:

What he said.

posted by wfrazerjr at 12:07 PM - reply - flag:

doh!

posted by dusted at 12:14 PM - reply - flag:

d'oh. doh is a squashy clay substance (that, like Lego, seems to have become a completely different toy now than it was in, say, 1978).

posted by gspm at 12:47 PM - reply - flag:

that's because Carlisle uses his telekinetic powers I thought I heard that Carlisle was drafted by the Pentagon to help with the upcoming attack on North Korea. Better use of his powers than another conference finals loss anyway. And where is Smithers anyway, now that we're talking behind his back

posted by billsaysthis at 04:33 PM - reply - flag:

Donnie Walsh has always been known for his loyalty (see Reggie Miller, et al), which has made Pacers a reputable organization. Players dig loyalty (see the demise of Krause and the Bulls). Hopefully, Bird's actions yesterday will not sour players, namely O'Neal, toward the Pacers. I, for one, didn't mind Thomas. Of course, if Carlisle comes in and transforms the Pacers into NBA Champions, I won't complain. I'll jump on the Bird-Carlisle wagon.

posted by jacknose at 05:07 PM - reply - flag:

Note to Isaiah: What goes around comes around.

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:43 PM - reply - flag:

Altho, from that article, you don't have to feel sorry for Mr Thomas. He got the $5 mil still remaining on his contract. I need to go talk to my boss ...

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:44 PM - reply - flag:

My, this seems a little messy now that I have read an analysis of the motivations of Bird. This could be bad.

posted by gspm at 04:45 AM - reply - flag:

To contradict my earlier "What goes around comes around" link, here's a more level-headed article.

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:50 PM - reply - flag:

Nice article, gspm. It also made me think of this:

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:59 PM - reply - flag:

And where is Smithers anyway, now that we're talking behind his back Sorry, been away for a bit....ummmm....thanks for having a read of the blog? dusted: haven't checked out Eco yet, but it is on the pile...

posted by smithers at 08:52 AM - reply - flag:

I enjoyed The Name of the Rose, struggled through Foucalt's Pendulum, and I have The Island of the Day Before in my nightstand queue. I don't think I have enough brainpower to read any of his nonfiction, though.

posted by mbd1 at 09:13 AM - reply - flag:

And, that's because Carlisle uses his telekinetic powers to guide the ball through the hoop, right?Actually, I was thinking that Reggie would play better since he's had time to rehab. And lets face it, Isiah never really figured out how to mesh the players who made it to the Finals in '00 with the youngsters.Meanwhile, a team full of improving young stars is going to try to break through this season...with the help of a coach who's taken a squad consisting of role players to the Conference Finals.

Carlisle may be a jerk, but he's yet to leave an entire league, and then an entire franchise in the lurch.

posted by lilnemo at 08:33 PM - reply - flag:

Regarding the Whitlock article: I understand the intent, but it reads like a conspiracy theory. Bird likes Croshere and Carlisle, so... Bird will fire Thomas and demote Jermaine. Does this sound asinine to anyone else? If Croshere plays more it could be to inflate his numbers so as to make him look good to prospective trading teams. Or, Gasp! To actually get value for the investment they made in him. I don't buy that Croshere isn't "as good" as Bender. Harrington? You may have an argument there. He's certainly capable of maintaining his composure better than Artest.As for the Aldridge article, for the record yes I believe a sit down with Isiah was warranted. But comparing Isiah with Flip Saunders? Flip had KG, Wally, and Hudson. Period. Isiah had Jermaine, Reggie, Artest, Brad M., actually most people had Indiana as one of, if not the deepest team in the east. In short, Isiah has had quality players to work with. Flip hasn't. As for trading KG or McGrady for their lack of playoff prowess; it sounds stupid but take notice of how many times ESPN will ask that question the closer we get to the trading deadlines prior to the expiration of their contracts. Not that the teams want to let them go, but if they can't win they'll bolt for the next big contract (no doubt hamstringing their next team). Even Doc Rivers has gotten more out of less talent than Isiah had. But we don't talk about Doc possibly being fired. Because Doc and Flip have done more with less. KG and McGrady have done more with less. Period.

posted by lilnemo at 09:30 PM - reply - flag:

This begs the question: If both Indy and Minny have early exits again this year... Who blinks first on a straight up sign and trade of KG for Jermaine?My bets on Indy being more willing to give up Jermaine. Not because Larry loves Austin! But because of KG's sheer versatility, passion, and intensity. Jermaine often makes the game look easy, true. But some games you don't get the impression that he's all there (simply my opinion).What do you think?

posted by lilnemo at 09:34 PM - reply - flag:

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

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