Pollard gives Pacers physical presence
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, September 19
Updated: September 19
10:56 AM ET
Just because you didn't know that Scot Pollard was born and bred in Utah before prepping in San Diego and playing college ball at Kansas, doesn't mean that he hasn't been, is, and always will be an Eastern Conference kind of guy.
In 305 games over six seasons, he's never scored more than 23 points in a game or even taken more than 15 shots. In fact, in the 5,776 minutes that he's played, he's actually had more rebounds (1,696) than points (1,693). He is bumps and bruises and doesn't mind at all if he's got to come off the bench to get them.
Which, if you've been following Jermaine O'Neal's career, may be exactly what the Pacers need.
In his final season in Portland, O'Neal averaged 3.9 points per game. In his first season in Indiana, he averaged 12.9, then 19 the following season and 20.8 last year. In between, he's become Most Improved Player of the Year, an all-star and Dream Team member. He is the best big man in the Eastern Conference. Next year, he should be taking more shots and scoring more points than ever before in his career.
Jermaine O'Neal
Forward-Center
Indiana Pacers
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
77 20.8 10.3 2.0 .484 .731
But as a matter of financial security, the Pacers had to dump all-star center Brad Miller in order to re-sign O'Neal to his multi-year, multi, multi million dollar contract extension. In return, they got Pollard and Hedo Turkoglu from the Sacramento Kings.
Now, Pacer fans are going to miss Miller's scoring, but aside from the goatee, a few tattoos and the fact that he once broke Shaquille O'Neal's hand on a foul that was never called, that is all they're going to miss.
Pollard is a better defender and a better rebounder while O'Neal is going to more than make up for his offensive shortcomings in the paint.
Over his career, Miller averaged 6.9 rebounds per game and 0.5 blocks per game in 24.7 minutes.
Over his career, Pollard has averaged 5.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game in only 18.9 minutes.
Scot Pollard
Forward-Center
Indiana Pacers
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
23 4.5 4.6 0.3 .460 .605
Give him another six minutes a game, and Pollard's power numbers would easily surpass those of Miller's. Give him starter's minutes and you'll see that he's not much of liability on the offensive end, either.
Last year, Pollard was limited to only 23 games due to a stress fracture in his lower back. But the season prior to that, he averaged 6.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the field in 23.5 minutes per game.
Compare those numbers to Miller's playoff stats last year when the Pacers were eliminated in six games in the first round. Sure, Miller was hobbled by a sore foot, but here they are: 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0 blocks on 45 percent shooting from the field in 22.5 minutes per game.
But as similar as those numbers are there is one big, fat difference between these two players. Pollard is currently working off a six-year contract that will have paid him a total of $30.7 million by 2006. Miller's new deal with Sacramento will pay him $68 million over seven seasons ending in 2010.
Obviously, the Pacers are going to live and die on the shoulders of O'Neal. But don't be surprised if it's Pollard's banging down low in the paint that allows O'Neal to become an even better player than he already is even if nobody else knows that the new guy once helped his college team reach four straight Sweet Sixteens.
-----------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, September 19
Updated: September 19
8:58 AM ET
Anderson
Indiana Pacers: If three point guards weren't enough for the Pacers before, then adding another veteran to the position should do the trick. The Indianapolis Star is reporting that the team has signed Kenny Anderson to a one-year deal believed to be worth the veteran's minimum. "He likes the Pacers and he likes (coach) Rick Carlisle," Anderson's agent, Jeff Wechsler, said. "He has great respect for him and what he's accomplished as a coach." He will join Jamaal Tinsley, Anthony Johnson and Jamison Brewer in the backcourt.
Dallas Mavericks: Raja Bell wants to play for the Mavs. The problem, though, is that so do the 14 guys already on the team with guaranteed contracts. "We're waiting to hear what they have to say," Bell's agent, Herb Rudoy, said in the Star Telegram. "We have offers on the table from a couple teams. I suspect we have to do something in the next few days and make a decision." Bell averaged 3.1 points per game for Dallas last year.
Orlando Magic: Grant Hill wants to make it very clear that this possible new gig with ESPN behind the studio desk as an analyst is just a temporary thing. "If this works out -- and it's only in the early, exploratory stages -- it would be with the understanding that his playing career was still the priority," said agent Lon Babby in the Orlando Sentinel. "This is, in no way, a sign that he isn't coming back. It has nothing to do with that." The deal has not been approved by either ESPN or the Magic yet.
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, September 19
Updated: September 19
10:56 AM ET
Just because you didn't know that Scot Pollard was born and bred in Utah before prepping in San Diego and playing college ball at Kansas, doesn't mean that he hasn't been, is, and always will be an Eastern Conference kind of guy.
In 305 games over six seasons, he's never scored more than 23 points in a game or even taken more than 15 shots. In fact, in the 5,776 minutes that he's played, he's actually had more rebounds (1,696) than points (1,693). He is bumps and bruises and doesn't mind at all if he's got to come off the bench to get them.
Which, if you've been following Jermaine O'Neal's career, may be exactly what the Pacers need.
In his final season in Portland, O'Neal averaged 3.9 points per game. In his first season in Indiana, he averaged 12.9, then 19 the following season and 20.8 last year. In between, he's become Most Improved Player of the Year, an all-star and Dream Team member. He is the best big man in the Eastern Conference. Next year, he should be taking more shots and scoring more points than ever before in his career.
Jermaine O'Neal
Forward-Center
Indiana Pacers
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
77 20.8 10.3 2.0 .484 .731
But as a matter of financial security, the Pacers had to dump all-star center Brad Miller in order to re-sign O'Neal to his multi-year, multi, multi million dollar contract extension. In return, they got Pollard and Hedo Turkoglu from the Sacramento Kings.
Now, Pacer fans are going to miss Miller's scoring, but aside from the goatee, a few tattoos and the fact that he once broke Shaquille O'Neal's hand on a foul that was never called, that is all they're going to miss.
Pollard is a better defender and a better rebounder while O'Neal is going to more than make up for his offensive shortcomings in the paint.
Over his career, Miller averaged 6.9 rebounds per game and 0.5 blocks per game in 24.7 minutes.
Over his career, Pollard has averaged 5.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game in only 18.9 minutes.
Scot Pollard
Forward-Center
Indiana Pacers
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
23 4.5 4.6 0.3 .460 .605
Give him another six minutes a game, and Pollard's power numbers would easily surpass those of Miller's. Give him starter's minutes and you'll see that he's not much of liability on the offensive end, either.
Last year, Pollard was limited to only 23 games due to a stress fracture in his lower back. But the season prior to that, he averaged 6.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the field in 23.5 minutes per game.
Compare those numbers to Miller's playoff stats last year when the Pacers were eliminated in six games in the first round. Sure, Miller was hobbled by a sore foot, but here they are: 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0 blocks on 45 percent shooting from the field in 22.5 minutes per game.
But as similar as those numbers are there is one big, fat difference between these two players. Pollard is currently working off a six-year contract that will have paid him a total of $30.7 million by 2006. Miller's new deal with Sacramento will pay him $68 million over seven seasons ending in 2010.
Obviously, the Pacers are going to live and die on the shoulders of O'Neal. But don't be surprised if it's Pollard's banging down low in the paint that allows O'Neal to become an even better player than he already is even if nobody else knows that the new guy once helped his college team reach four straight Sweet Sixteens.
-----------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, September 19
Updated: September 19
8:58 AM ET
Anderson
Indiana Pacers: If three point guards weren't enough for the Pacers before, then adding another veteran to the position should do the trick. The Indianapolis Star is reporting that the team has signed Kenny Anderson to a one-year deal believed to be worth the veteran's minimum. "He likes the Pacers and he likes (coach) Rick Carlisle," Anderson's agent, Jeff Wechsler, said. "He has great respect for him and what he's accomplished as a coach." He will join Jamaal Tinsley, Anthony Johnson and Jamison Brewer in the backcourt.
Dallas Mavericks: Raja Bell wants to play for the Mavs. The problem, though, is that so do the 14 guys already on the team with guaranteed contracts. "We're waiting to hear what they have to say," Bell's agent, Herb Rudoy, said in the Star Telegram. "We have offers on the table from a couple teams. I suspect we have to do something in the next few days and make a decision." Bell averaged 3.1 points per game for Dallas last year.
Orlando Magic: Grant Hill wants to make it very clear that this possible new gig with ESPN behind the studio desk as an analyst is just a temporary thing. "If this works out -- and it's only in the early, exploratory stages -- it would be with the understanding that his playing career was still the priority," said agent Lon Babby in the Orlando Sentinel. "This is, in no way, a sign that he isn't coming back. It has nothing to do with that." The deal has not been approved by either ESPN or the Magic yet.
