Indiana Pacing Toward Playoffs

Out with the old and in with the new, it's said, and more particularly, the Indiana Pacers can subscribe to this. No longer is there an All-Star big man in Jermaine O'Neal to man the middle, but there's a glut of point guards itching to get minutes.

There's also a batch of now-healthy wing players available and the big guys aren't too bad on the new roster, either.

What is most appealing on the roster is the addition of T.J. Ford, who came from Toronto for O'Neal and is currently taking over for in-limbo starting point Jamaal Tinsley, who's held the spot down for the past seven years. It remains to be seen whether Ford will be healthy enough to run the team, but assuming that he further develops a very effective middle range game as a shooter, he should be alright. Jarrett Jack, a former first round pick from the Portland Trail Blazers, will be very steady in supporting Ford off of the bench.

At the shooting guard position, there is a great wealth of size and talent. Mike Dunleavy Jr. will man the starting spot and will be a great asset after having found his stride away from the Golden State Warriors franchise, finally using his 6'10" height and deft shooting as an advantage; in short, he's playing the position probably should have always played. Marquis Daniels is finally healthy and will be able to really be a menace with his shooting, as well as his comfort for playing the point guard position as a tall 1. There's also a rookie stud in Brandon Rush, who was both a high school and college star at Kansas University; he also may be the first guy to force his brother out of a job playing on the same team (Kareem Rush, a guard for the Pacers in 2007-08, is now elsewhere) and will compete for serious minutes at both shooting guard and small forward. The well at two-guard has gotten even deeper with Eddie Jones being added to the mix via trade for former forward Shawne Williams; Jones, going on 37, is still an asset for his three-point shooting and man-to-man defense.

Small forward is no cakewalk for minutes, either. The depth there is full of talent in emerging star Danny Granger, who will be looking to be an All-Star under head coach Jim O'Brien. Versatile in a number of different ways, Granger's ability to be a threat from the perimeter and near the paint makes him a dangerous opponent. Behind Granger are Stephen Graham, a gritty player who can play inside and defend efficiently; and Austin Croshere, returning to reclaim a reserve role that he filled for 10 of his first 11 seasons with Indiana--Croshere can still exploit opponents at either forward position and can spread the floor with his respectable game near the basket and from beyond three.

Jeff Foster will finally be able to move back to his natural power forward position and will most likely start there, considering the Pacers' options at the position. Josh McRoberts, an Indiana native, will be given an opportunity to become a serviceable player after disappointing fans somewhat at Duke University and then scrapping for leftovers with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2007-08 season; he'll likely be the third-string option, unless international veteran (and one-time Pacer) Maceo Baston fails to produce as a primary power backup. Radoslav Nesterovic is aging and his game shows it, but he'll do well in more limited minutes offensively, but the dark horse post contributor and starter looks to be rookie Roy Hibbert, whose length, savvy and shooting touch will provide for some dimension on the team.

The Pacers will compete for the playoffs, but the main objectives will be to find time for the best guys at the wing spots and for team defense to be tightened up.