Re: Assists

[W <titans@ihug.com.au>]

> First, Jalen Rose has been playing the point for Thomas, for how
> long, I don't know, maybe all year.  Maybe it's had a small effect on
> his assist numbers.  Maybe he shouldn't be consider just a "forward",
> I don't know.

Actually, Rose has been the point guard for the majority of the season.

I remember one classic complaint by their fans on their list about Isiah Thomas'
coaching was that Travis Best was carrying injuries with him and that they had a
healthy Tyus Edney on the injured list who had played rather well and given the
Pacers the lift required when he was given the chance earlier in the year.

Anyways, finally after about five or six games where Best was obviously not at
his best (no pun intended) and couldn't play even solid minutes for them and
Rose struggling (he does have problems at the point, his off-the-ball movement
and other facets where he is superb cannot be used nearly as much as if he
wasn't the point guard) a reporter asked about Tyus Edney. Thomas' answer was
that "Jalen Rose was suffice as the point guard and I want to test Jonathan
Bender by giving him some experience playing in the backcourt." The Pacers were
(and still are) struggling and were still fighting for the playoff spot some
fifty-five, sixty games into the season and Thomas was testing a younger player?

So he has been playing mostly point guard most of the season, except when Best
or Edney have been on the court with him, of course.

W