Despite playing a limited role – only 16.0 minutes per game – the Pacers believe that recently-acquired forward Trevor Booker is an important piece of Indiana’s chances come playoff time, reports Mark Montieth of Pacers.com, especially with big man Domantas Sabonis missing six of the team’s last seven games with an ankle injury.
Booker was brought in to back-up Thaddeus Young at power forward, but has filled in admirably for the Pacers while Sabonis has been out.
“He brings a physicality to the floor,” Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. “With these injuries and teams playing smaller fives, we’ve had to play him there some, and he’s done a good job for us. It allows us to make adjustments. He’s a power forward, but he plays bigger than that.”
“He’s a hard-nosed guy who’s going to go out and rebound the basketball,” says Young, the Pacers’ starting power forward who Booker backs up. “He has the ability to score on the block. To make a few jumpers here and there — not consistently, but he gives us the energy and the poise and the passion that we need. When he’s stepping out there with that second unit he does a really good job of carving out space and putting guys in the right place.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Jeff Green has been starting for the Cavaliers lately while the team has been dealing with injuries to Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr., and Tristan Thompson, but Joe Vardon of The Plain Dealer wonders whether he has a place in the lineup once playoff time comes and the bench shortens.
- Despite recently receiving a three-year, $6.2MM contract from the Bulls, guard Sean Kilpatrick still views every game in the NBA as an audition, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “That’s how I looked at things, and that’s how I viewed things since I got into this league, and that’s why I think I’ve had some type of success in that area.” Kilpatrick said.
- It appears as though the Bulls plan on keeping head coach Fred Hoiberg around for a fourth season, Cowley opines in another piece. “I’ve gotten unbelievable support from everybody throughout the year, going back to what I thought was a great offseason and training camp,” Hoiberg said.
- The Rockets’ James Harden is far and away the favorite to win MVP this season, but he wouldn’t get a vote from Cavaliers‘ superstar LeBron James, reports Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Asked who he’d vote for, James unabashedly said himself. “I would vote for me. The body of work, how I’m doing it, what’s been happening with our team all year long, how we’ve got so many injuries and things of that nature, guys in and out, to be able to still keep this thing afloat, I definitely would vote me.”
If the Cavs finish 4th seed and the Pacers 5th seed, the Pacers have won the season series 3-1!!
Here we go again….people always want to mention regular season wins knowing lebron always turns it up in the playoffs.
Not this year pal! Get over it!
Everyone said the Pacers wouldn’t be in the playoffs this year. GO PACERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But the Cavs usually show flashes of being a dominant team. Their defense has been horrific all year and I could see the Pacers picking them apart in a series. It’s stupid to dismiss LeBron in the playoffs because the Cavs could show up, but the Pacers have been showing up all year and know how to play.
LeBron has been playing great. The team stinks without Love. The Pacers have never won a championship (except the ABA). I think no matter what happens, Indianapolis fans will be happy with the season. If you want a history of the NBA, see the ESPN article on the 100 best players of all time. I barely remember some of them.
They really haven’t been the same since Kyrie left. I wish Kevin Love didn’t get hurt so we could see how good the Cavs would’ve been with time to mesh. The Pacers should definitely be happy with how they’ve played this year, Turner and Oladipo will only continue to get better too. I just checked out that list and it’s pretty cool how they elaborate on each player, it reminds me of Bill Simmon’s list of the best NBA players in history in his Book of Basketball. A lot of guys that played back in the day don’t get the respect they deserve and it’s humbling to look back and see the numbers those guys put up and the influence they had on the league.
I grew up watching mist of those guys play. Dang I’m feeling old now.
It’s a privilege that you’ve been able to see those guys play and see the current guys play too! All I know is basketball has always been and always will be great.
LeBron has played in 7 consecutive Finals. During that time, this is the first year the Cavs will finish below the 2 seed. The Cavs have missed KLo and Kyrie this year! That’s why LeBron’s stats are up. That and he is 33 and on a contract year!
That and the Cavs will go back again this year.
Not this year. Get over it! See ESPN list of 100 most influential NBA players. LeBron is no. 2. MJ IS NO. 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Contract year for the greatest in the league:) he would get max anywhere and will smack the sh*t out of the pacers buddy
Thomas, I don’t think you’re seeing things clearly. I just don’t want you to harm yourself or kick the dog when the Cavs win it all this year again. LeBron is the best. I’ve seen all those guys ply in that list and James is the GOAT. Enjoy it while you can. It’ll be another 60 years before you’ll see another. And when you’re sitting in a rocking chair watching some guy play that they’ll call the goat, you’ll tell all your grandchildren, “No. I saw the GOAT and his name is King James!”
And let’s not forget all the other teams had injuries too. And LeBron’s stats got inflated when the Cavs traded half the team AGAIN, and the new players didn’t know the plays.
Well, at least he’s capable of playing defense, unlike James Haren…And yes, the d is missing on purpose…lol..
No player that only plays half the game, should EVER win the MVP…!!
I mean, isn’t that why there’s an offensive player of the year award??
Maybe there should be. I think MVP stands for “Most Valuable Player.”
I see much more value in Lebron. I can’t stand the guy but he is the best player all around.
Kevin Durant took the torch from LeBron when Golden State obliterated the Cavs last summer.
Lol I see someone is taking notes from Dave Chappelle
Bruh get out of here with that garbage, Durant will never ever reach Lebron’s level. No one will eclipse Lebron until he hangs them up.
Didn’t you watch the Finals last season. It’s a fact Jack. This year it’l be the Rockets and Raptors. Next year it’ll be Boston and Golden State. It’s a fact Jack! See ESPN list of 100 most influential players. LeBron is no. 2. MJ IS NO. ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dionis, if the Pacers play the Cavs, you believe in God. Remember David (Pacers) vs. Goliath (Cavs). David wins!
Don’t bring god into sports bruh.
You need to back track on your comments Bro. You brought it up first. Players in all sports say prayers before, during, and after games. Wade and LeBron even thank God and look to Heaven after plays.
Lol yea but it’s unfair to let’s say ask god for Lebron to win a title as a Lebron fan. I do pray everyday so lebron can win it all and shut up all these haters but we’ll just have to wait and see.
I pray every day. We all pray for something different. Pacer fans don’t pray for championships. I pray to be with God some day. This is only a blog fro basketball fans. The real stuff by the guys who know more than we do is on the list of 100 players who influenced the NBA on the ESPN website. LeBron is 2nd which isn’t bad. But like Magic, Wilt, Kareem, Oscar, Dr. J, and Larry in the top 10, you kids are too young to have ever seen them. Some day down the road you’ll be telling some kids, but you never got to see LeBron play. Doesn’t mean he won’t count.
I don’t think LeBron, Wade and all the athletes praying to God after great plays would say it’s funny.
He’ll be number 1 when he finishes.
You’re not old enough to decide that!
God comes with a capital G. At least where I learned.
Torch? Oh. You mean like play on a team that has 3 all stars on it.
Yuk, Yuk… YUCK. KD is agent zero unless he’s surrounded by a league of all stars. Are you missing this season?
Are you watching every Cavaliers game? LeBron is putting on an exhibition of super powers this season. With only former 5 time all star KLove, who has missed considerable time this season, LeBron is putting up massive numbers all the while winning at will. KD can do no such thing as this. No one ever has done what you’re witnessing, if you’re even watching, what James has done and is doing this season.
LeBron is the King. LeBron is the GOAT. Whether you like the guy or not, he’s making it look like he’s in a league of AAU boys. At 33 no less.
LeBron had 3 All Stars, but he chased Kyrie off. That’s why Cleveland has had such a terrible season and may not get past Indiana in the first round. They stink. Told you George Hill wasn’t worth $20 million. You wouldn’t listen.
I like Wade and IT going off on KLo for same illness as Coach Lue. That’s team chemistry. The Pacers have it. The Cavs don’t.
SEE ESPN LIST OF 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PLAYERS! M.J. IS NO. 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. The ESPN list was done by someone old enough to know the players!
I enjoy debating basketball with you even when we disagree which is most of the time, but there are two big things I dislike about your arguing. One is the age thing, like this generation is too young to know older players. If that’s true then the older generation too can be biased towards those players. And it’s the same the other way around too. If we didn’t see certain players play, we can easily put current NBA players ahead of them for lack of comparison. But youth shouldn’t be the main factor in someone’s knowledge of basketball. If they put in the time to study the game, they can be more knowledgeable than people whose job it is to be around the game. Second is the pedestal you put NBA writers on. Just because they got a degree and write on a reputable news site doesn’t immediately mean their opinions are more valid than everyone else’s. A lot of writers are just putting out content with no quality. At the end of games you see the players interviews with tons of reporters asking a question to get a quote to write an article to get paid. No matter how irrelevant of a question, or how vague an answer, you can bet the article will be out the next morning. And I get that it’s their job, but these are people just doing their job, and some people suck at their job. A lot of NBA writers actually. So basically other than your outright dismissal of someone’s opinions based on age or writing credentials, I like to debate with you.
The only reason LeBron is putting up those numbers is he doesn’t have Kyrie and hasn’t had KLo. Kyrie told Jimmy Butler last summer not to come to Cavs because they had a mess. He wasn’t lieing!
I’m older than the morons that put up that list.
Kyrie left in his own accord not bc if James as you would have it.
8th year in a row coming up.
George Hill isn’t worth 20 million. He’s with 49 million for what he’s done for the cavaliers. Cavs D has significantly improved since he came aboard and is actually the PG the Cavs needed.
Hill, Hood, Clarkson and Nance is quite a haul for the guys they dumped. You know it, ESPN’s list of 100 knows it and deep down you know it.
Stop with the hatred and start witnessing.
Lebron is far and away the MVP this year. I have Harden 6th-8th again…LeBron, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Kyrie, Oladipo, LaMarcus Aldridge, Russell Westbrook, Giannis, Harden, Kevin Durant, Embiid, Beal, DeRozan, KAT, Chris Paul top 15
Is that in order? Why is Giannis so far down, the man is a beast
It was between him, Westbrook, and Aldridge for me in those 3 spots
Many felt Harden was slighted by Russell Westbrook last year. You can say whatever you like. When it’s said and done, the “experts” will far and away vote Harden!
Those many were wrong. Westbrook only won b/c he got in that 6 seed. If they were lower, it would have been Lebron or Kawhi, and then there were still like 3 or 4 others in front of Harden
You have a short memory. You need to get the articles back out. Westbrook won because he broke Oscar Robertson’s triple double record. The Cavs had a losing record after the All Star break, even with Kyrie and KLo. They played well in the playoffs until they ran into a mack truck in Golden State. I’m old, but I think Golden State won and KD got the MVP.
You need help Thomas with your hatred of James and the Cavs. He was simple stating MVP and nothing about last year’s finals.
6th to 8th for Harden?! No way, you’re just trying to disrespect Harden at that point. He’s the MVP this year easily.
He isn’t even the best player on his own team
I don’t get to see many west coast games because they are on too late, but everybody who gets a vote says it will be Harden.
Doesn’t mean they’re correct. It’s like Congress. Worst, most corrupt congress since the days of the carpet baggers and they decide on things that aren’t correct.
The issue with harden is simple. He can’t play or doesn’t want to play defense. James is much more than that. James value is much more than the big numbers he puts up every night. Eg last night he put up 42 and tied Jordan’s record for most consecutive double digit games.
James leads the team, he paces the team, he’s first in and last out, he works harder than anyone in the league. Man look at his body!!! James looks like he could be ROY ofnthe year
For the nfl right now regardless of position. He could play both O and D without breaking a sweat.
Then Lebron speaks, the room, auditorium, gym, arena, stadium … no matter where, when or to whom he’s speaking to, they all get quiet so they can hear what the King has to say.
???? Yes he is???? Chris Paul is better than him? Last I checked Harden is putting up what, 32-8-6? Chris Paul was at like 18-8-5 when I checked. Who’s better than Harden? Capela? Ariza? PJ Tucker? Please get a real argument and stop hating on James Harden, your unanimous 2017-18 NBA MVP.
Ok, so it’s 30.7/8.7/5.4 compared to 18.6/8/5.4. If you’re arguing that CP is better defensively so that makes him better all around, you don’t know what the MVP award is based on. Steve Nash is a 2 time MVP. Russell Westbrook is a defensive liability and won last year. Harden at 6-8 in MVP voting is a joke, when he wins the MVP this year you’ll see. Your opinion doesn’t matter when you’re not in control of the vote or the criteria. Giannis doesn’t deserve a higher MVP vote than Harden because he led his team to the 8th seed in the EAST. When you have LaMarcus Aldridge ahead of Harden, I know you’re just being ridiculous. This shouldn’t even be a discussion
Chris Paul is way better, and a better leader. Russell Westbrook is one of the better defensive PGs in the league, although he does gamble a little too often sometimes. Every single one of the people you complained that I named have taken garbage teams to where they’re at, single handedly. Stop d-riding harden, like the rest of the media, long enough to understand that perception isn’t the only reality. I don’t care about counting stats. Harden happens to have improved this year, and his RPM does currently lead the league, but the circumstances in which it’s happening effect my opinion of him, at least in comparison to others, like LeBron. Without LeBron James, Cleveland is by far the worst team in the league
What are the circumstances in which it’s happening? And what’s your criteria for winning MVP? Because for me, leading the league in points, taking your team to a 60+ win season and the #1 seed, while putting up better assist numbers than the HOF point guard they added in the offseason is a big thing. Harden has help and puts up numbers. Dame, Dipo, LeBron, Aldridge, etc., their teams depend on them to score a lot of points and if they don’t, their team probably loses because they lack other options. Harden puts up 30 like every single night consistently and if his shot isn’t falling, which never happens in the regular season, he averages more assists than every single one of those guys. And not once has he had to lean on Chris Paul to bail him out this year, he still runs that team. Usually people base the MVP off of numbers and wins so I’m not sure what you think it should be based on.
And Russ is a terrible defender, he gets torched by a different PG every night. He can’t even guard a pick and roll. He gets his steals but it’s because that’s all he’s looking for. When he puts in effort he’s not a bad defender, but you can say the same exact thing about Harden.
And Chris Paul isn’t a great leader either. He lost everyone in the Clippers locker room by being too hard on them and acting like he knows it all, and only led them to playoff exits. Now that he’s on a team where he doesn’t need to be the alpha he’s happier and playing more efficiently. Because James Harden is a natural leader and doesn’t need to yell at people and throw a tantrum to get his point across.
It’s ok that perception is your reality. Keep letting me know what your overlords Skip Bayless and the ESPN writers think with your copy and pasted comments…my criteria is a totality of a bunch of different aspects that I’ve mentioned here before. I’m not saying others criteria is wrong, b/c its opinion. I just prefer for someones opinion to have legitimate backing to it, and James Harden being MVP has no legitimacy for me, especially in a league where LeBron has done what he has done this year. I don’t think it’s even close. It’s not like I’m disrespecting Harden. I have him pretty high up there like I did last year. Those other guys above him are there b/c of what they have done too