2006 Indiana Pacers Preview

Welcome to the 2006 Indiana Pacers NBA Preview page. At the time of publish the preseason games are underway with the regular season to open soon. If you regularly do bet on the NBA use Maddux Sports for NBA Picks and Live NBA Odds to increase your winning percentage this season.

2006 Indiana Pacers Basketball Season Preview

This is a team that hasn’t missed the playoffs since the 1996-97 season. It should be more of the same this year. Unfortunately, they will also probably repeat last season’s playoff performance—a first round elimination.

Point guard Jamaal Tinsley (9.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 40.9 FG%, 63.7 FT%) seems to be injured more times than not and many are wondering if he’s simply a malingerer? Stephen Jackson (16.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 41.1 FG%, 78.6 FT%) can play but has been a vocal malcontent. It’s tough to win with a bad attitude combo no matter how talented they may be.

Jermaine O’Neal (20.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 47.2 FG%, 70.9 FT%) wants to be the club’s power forward but may find himself at center, an area where this team is otherwise lacking. Jeff Foster (5.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 55.2 FG%, 60.4 FT%) could be the logical starter at center, which would give O’Neal what he wants. Danny Granger (7.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 46.2 FG%, 77.7 FT%) enters his sophomore year having shown a lot of promise. The Pacers are expecting even more from him this season.

This is still a team in flux, looking to trade and upgrade. The bench has some talented but overall inexperienced players. It’ll be disastrous if any starters go down.

Coach Rick Carlisle has a 146- 100-record in three seasons with the Pacers. Carlisle, who certainly knows the game, has had his problems with players, including Ron Artest. He’s a coach in search of a solid off-court leader and, with so many new players, a consistent on-court style. In the past, he’s instilled structured play in his teams, but this season he’s got a lot more speed to use and should utilize it.

The Pacers are a club in flux that still has enough talent to make it into the post-season. A lot depends upon the health of 10-year vet Jermaine O’Neal, who only played 51 games last season. If that happens again in 2006-07, Indiana could become a cellar dweller rather than a playoff team.

For more info on the 2006 Pacers basketball team visit the Pacers official website from NBA.com or keep reading up on their division rivals including the Cavs, Bucks, Bulls, and Pistons.