FKIM01

I'm enjoying the debate. Here's my prediction...the Pacers will be a better team without him this year than they were with him last year. Bold? Maybe...and maybe very wrong but I really like the chemistry I'm seeing in this year's group. If only they had Frank Vogel to coach them...THAT, I agree, was a monumental mistake on Bird's part.

I don't think Vic has the personality where he has to be THE alpha male. I think he'd be glad to share the spotlight with Turner and that would healthy for the team. Frankly, that's why his numbers weren't bigger in OKC, IMO. Westbrook is just a ball-dominant guard.

...but it was a terrible trade...Vic isn't near the player that George is...yet.

Interesting how Oladipo keeps looking like an elite talent while all the "experts" say he's not...

Was that mostly due to Westbrook's ball dominance? It does appear that he fits better with the Pacers and has a better chance to blossom. I could see him putting up a stat line similar to what George puts up this year, albeit for a less-talented team that relies much more heavily on Vic than OKC does on George.

If George leaves OKC after this year, does that change your opinion? Let's even say he gets OKC deep in the playoffs...was it worth what OKC gave up to get him for one season? I don't know...just have opinions, but I'm curious if that scenario changes your opinion any? Oladipo is probably not ready to carry the Pacers like Paul George might have but after watching him last night, I don't feel like he's as overpaid as the "experts" thought he was.

I thought that trade was better thank the "experts" believed at the time and I would not be at all surprised to see Vic earn every penny of his "expensive" contract. I tried to tell myself that I was just being an IU homer but I just love Vic the person as much as I love Vic the player. That may end up being a great example of a true win-win trade, even though I suspect the Pacers may end up looking like they got the better end of it yet. No doubt it will take awhile to prove out since PG is better regarded today, but I doubt the Pacers miss his attitude.

Vic had a rough game...whew. Nice dunk though.

This, running a clean program, and identifying underappreciated talent are the three things I appreciate about CTC and what he brought to Indiana. Of the eight players he put in the league, Bryant, Vonleh and Zeller were the only three I thought had strong NBA potential. Anunoby and Oladipo, and to a lesser extent, WIlliams and Ferrell (mostly due to compensating for and overcoming a lack of height) are bona-fide success stories for CTC. I hope Blackmon finds success as well, but I'm less convinced he sticks. He's going to have to play defense and be a better teammate.