Slam Dunk Central

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From the 3-point stats the Pacers have so far this young season (in two games - the Pacers have made 20-of-44 3-pointers), one would think that the Pacers’ shooters are undisciplined.? Pacers head coach Jim O’Brien may beg to differ with you.? According to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star, early on in training camp, O’Brien’s message to his players was this: don’t pass up open shots.? So what if they passed an open shot up?? O’Brien yanks them.

O’Brien told the Star, “I’ll yank them.? They immediately knew we wanted them to take open shots.? You get open and you’re a shooter, shoot the basketball.? It’s hard to get into the situation where if you pass up an open shot early in the shot clock, all of a sudden you’re at the end of the shot clock and you’re struggling to get a decent shot.? In the NBA, I think from my standpoint, you have to take the first open look that you can get, but make sure it’s an open look.”

As you’d imagine, the Pacers are ecstatic at that news; ask forward Danny Granger.? He told the Star, “I’ve never been in a position like this before.? It’s great to hear a coach say he’ll never take you out for missing too many shots.? Now if you’re not playing defense, that’s a different story.? He’ll take you out quick if you’re not defending.”? So don’t expect the recent version of the Phoenix Suns by what O’Brien has said.? In his case, it is just this - take a good, open shot.? A simple philosophy that should pay dividends as the season progresses.