NBA Offseason Buzz: Indiana Pacers
Murphy must match career year; Rush in a battle for minutes
It's always scary when a team has a definitive strength and hopes to improve by becoming more balanced. The Pacers were Suns-lite, fifth in both points scored and allowed last season, but they pared their scoring depth over the summer to improve their defense. Marquis Daniels, Jarrett Jack and Rasho Nesterovic, who averaged a combined 33 points a game, were replaced by Dahntay Jones, Solomon Jones and Earl Watson. With the 76ers and Pistons primed for a slide and the Pacers having finished as the ninth-best team in the East last season, a playoff berth is seemingly within reach. The Pacers may still run, but will they score at the same pace? For now, the race among the Sixers, Pistons and Pacers looks like a battle to determine who will slide the least.
To see which player is taking off, which is crashing to earth and which name you'll need to know for the 2009-10 season, you must be an ESPN Insider.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
2009 NBA OFFSEASON BUZZ
Pacific Division
Northwest Division
Southwest Division
Atlantic Division
Central Division
Southeast Division
Note: For definitions of all of John Hollinger's advanced statistics, click here.
- Rumors: Amare, Butler, could be on the move
- Bucher/Broussard: Next-best in West is ...
- Hollinger: Overrated and underrated storylines
- Thorpe: Rookie Watch: Midseason awards
- NBA Draft Blog: International prospects
