The game that interests me the most tonight is the one between the Pacers and the Wizards.
There is a sense of retrbution with the Pacers attitude during preseason and comments made by the players, coach O'Brien and Bird in the leadup to their home opener. This is the first season since 2001 where they will not have two of their troublemakers in Artest and Jackson, they are starting with a clean slate and Bird is seemingly proactive in cleaning up the Pacers checkered off court image of the past.
In terms of the roster, on face value it looks weak especially considering the big moves made by many of the other Eastern Conference teams. Outside both O'Neal and Tinsley this team has been built largely around role players. However O'Brien has a history of turning around struggling clubs, Sixers and Celtics a case in point and his style of coaching which places emphasis more on a free flowing style departing from the half court game the Pacers have been using for much of this decade should suit Tinsley to a tee well so he says,
“I don’t think that he has necessarily played the type of offensive basketball that has allowed him to play at his best, i’m anxious to get him out there, anxious to get him in the flow the way I envision our offense being.”
Whilst the Wizards may have the more talented roster, what are they doing laying points on the road? Their record last season was built largely off their dominant play at the Verizon, especially before the All Star break. Also with the offensive lisence handed to him, I don't expect the Arenas-Tinsely matchup to be as one sided as the one last season where Arenas torched him, Tinsley will slash to the basket at every opportunity IMO thereby forcing Arenas to work hard on defense.
Whilst I think the Pacers will still struggle to make the playoffs, don't think they will be as bad as what many think. Possibly be vying for the 8th spot come season's end. Retirbution starts tonight in an up and down type game IMO:
Pacers +2.5 over Wizards (2)
o203 Pacers v Wizards (1)
I created a thread over on the other site outlining why betting on Seattle "OVER" early in the season could be a very fruitful exercise given the style of coaching on the sidelines for them this season. The total of 217 has been set as such for a reason. I'll see if I can dig it up and post it in here.
There is a sense of retrbution with the Pacers attitude during preseason and comments made by the players, coach O'Brien and Bird in the leadup to their home opener. This is the first season since 2001 where they will not have two of their troublemakers in Artest and Jackson, they are starting with a clean slate and Bird is seemingly proactive in cleaning up the Pacers checkered off court image of the past.
In terms of the roster, on face value it looks weak especially considering the big moves made by many of the other Eastern Conference teams. Outside both O'Neal and Tinsley this team has been built largely around role players. However O'Brien has a history of turning around struggling clubs, Sixers and Celtics a case in point and his style of coaching which places emphasis more on a free flowing style departing from the half court game the Pacers have been using for much of this decade should suit Tinsley to a tee well so he says,
“I don’t think that he has necessarily played the type of offensive basketball that has allowed him to play at his best, i’m anxious to get him out there, anxious to get him in the flow the way I envision our offense being.”
Whilst the Wizards may have the more talented roster, what are they doing laying points on the road? Their record last season was built largely off their dominant play at the Verizon, especially before the All Star break. Also with the offensive lisence handed to him, I don't expect the Arenas-Tinsely matchup to be as one sided as the one last season where Arenas torched him, Tinsley will slash to the basket at every opportunity IMO thereby forcing Arenas to work hard on defense.
Whilst I think the Pacers will still struggle to make the playoffs, don't think they will be as bad as what many think. Possibly be vying for the 8th spot come season's end. Retirbution starts tonight in an up and down type game IMO:
Pacers +2.5 over Wizards (2)
o203 Pacers v Wizards (1)
I created a thread over on the other site outlining why betting on Seattle "OVER" early in the season could be a very fruitful exercise given the style of coaching on the sidelines for them this season. The total of 217 has been set as such for a reason. I'll see if I can dig it up and post it in here.
