Roy Hibbert is the Next Big Thing

Confession time.  For the past two years, I have been completely down on Roy Hibbert.  I thought he was too slow, too foul prone, and way too poor of a rebounder to ever become a great center.  There were some good things though.  His post-game showed some promise, and he has always been a good shotblocker, but I never saw him as more than simply an above average option at Center, and probably not that for a contending team.

My whole perspective has changed through these first six games of the season though.  Hibbert looks like a completely different player, and for the better.  Over the summer Larry Bird asked his friend Bill Walton to work with him, and Walton must've done something right (credit to Hibbert too for putting the work in).  He's slimmed down, reportedly losing 23 pounds in the offseason, which has given him more mobility and durability on the court.

2010-11 Season Previews: Indiana Pacers

Come on, you KNOW he's pissed the Jazz drafted Hayward.

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  Today we tackle the Indiana Pacers, who finally seem to have a plan other than being mediocre all the time.


2009-10 Record: 32-50
Additions: Darren Collison (Trade), Paul George (Draft), Lance Stephenson (Draft)
Subtractions: Troy Murphy, Earl Watson, Luther Head

Pacers-Hornets-Rockets-Nets Trade Analysis

Yesterday, Chad Ford broke the news that a 4 team trade involving 5 players occurred between the Pacers, Hornets, Rockets, and Nets.  This wasn't a bunch of no-names either as each team either got or traded a significant player on their roster.

Indiana Pacers trade: Troy Murphy

Indiana Pacers receive: Darren Collison, James Posey, approx. $4.2 million trade exception

New Orleans Hornets trade: Darren Collison, James Posey

New Orleans Horents receive: Trevor Ariza

Houston Rockets trade: Trevor Ariza

Houston Rockets receive: Courtney Lee, approximately $6.3 million trade exception

New Jersey Nets trade: Courtney Lee

New Jersey Nets receive: Troy Murphy

My analysis of each teams haul after the jump.

Unsung Heroes: Central Division

Players are often described as being "overrated" or "underrated".  In the NBA, this often translates to overrated players being players that are good, but vastly overpaid for their abilities, or who get more media exposure than some other players, while underrated often means a player who is making a pittance for his current production (funnily enough, underrated players tend to become labeled overrated when they get new, bigger contracts).

I do think there are some underrated players though, players that aren't as widely known for their roles on their team, who don't often get mentioned for their contributions but are indeed integral parts of their team.

Over the next week or so, I'll be looking at each team to find one "underrated" player for each team in the league.  Yesterday, we looked at the Atlantic Divsion.  After the jump, we travel to the Central.