Lebron James made the game winner Wednesday night in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers, so we mind as well pay some respect by showing pics of Lebron in high school.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  A special thanks to The Roosevelt's for supplying these images of the King.

Derrick Rose recently said that the current NBA lockout is “not our fault.” That makes sense. He is a player. He is a part of the Player’s Union. Captain Obvious is obvious. Why would he state something that does not need to be said? It’s not just Rose, but for the rest of the players. This generic statement is an easy statement to make. We understand the need to put blame on someone. Someone has to go down. Upon further examination, is the blame truly on the owners? 

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This controversy fell under the radar.

On Friday, the Golden State Warriors were robbed of a last-second possession when the Indiana Pacers’ George Hill imitated David Beckham and foot-trapped the ball while defending Monta Ellis.

Hill’s ‘footie’ skills were a kicked-ball violation, and the Warriors should have had possession out of bounds. The refs missed it, Hill raced down-court with the ball.

Game over. Pacers win. Warriors lose. Click the video and get at us with thoughts in the comment box below.



Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

A deal that would send David West to the Celtics via sign-and-trade is now dead. Boston was unable to find a taker for Jermaine O'Neal. West has agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the Pacers.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: A Celtic legend has stolen a free agent big from his former team.

The Boston Celtics were unable to complete a sign-and-trade for David West because no team was willing to take often-injured Jermaine O’Neal and his handsome salary.

After waiting a few days, West turned his back on the green-and-white and took a two-year, $20 million pact from Larry Bird and the Indiana Pacers.

West would have provided a scorer on the block for the Celtics, and the Pacers, specifically Danny Granger, will benefit from his plethora of post moves.

Look for the Pacers, who finally qualified for the playoffs last year, to take another step in 2012.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

 

Danny Granger is a great player. He's so great that he is a second option on a championship contending team. Granger is a top 5 small forward in the NBA, but he’s not a star. The murderous East leaves no one alive. The Indiana Pacers is no exception. Miami, Chicago, Orlando, Boston, New York, Milwaukee, and to a lesser extent, Philadelphia, all got better. Indiana barely did anything. Granger earned a better destiny than this although he hasn’t complained to anyone yet.  

Ron Artest, Anthony Johnson, David Harrison, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson are charged with misdemeanor assault and battery and were granted separate jury trials.

Artest will start the proceedings on August 1, and will be followed by Johnson, Harrison, O'Neal and Jackson. Judge Lisa Asadoorian announced the schedules Friday during pre-trial hearings with the players and their attorneys at U.S. District Court in Oakland County.

Four Detroit Pistons fans charged in the melee also appeared in court Friday. Bill Paulson and John Ackerman will go to trial on July 11. John Green, who helped spark the brawl by tossing a beverage at Artest, will have his case heard on July 15 along with David Wallace, brother of Pistons center Ben Wallace.

A fan charged with throwing a chair pleaded no contest last month and is expected to be sentenced in May.

The infamous brawl involving spectators and players broke out near the end of the November 19 game between the Pacers and Pistons after an on-court dispute over a foul.

The contest was stopped with 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Indiana was credited with a 97-82 victory. With the Pacers ahead by 15 points, things unraveled when Ben Wallace was fouled by Artest and the Pistons' center took exception to what he deemed a hard foul and gave Artest a two- handed push to the face.

After that, the pushing and shoving continued by the scorers' table as players came off both benches. The Detroit fans then lost control and began throwing cups filled with liquid and ice at Artest, who was surprisingly staying out of harm's way on top of the scorers' table. Artest was hit in the head by a flying cup and immediately raced into the stands and started punching whom he thought was the culprit.

Jackson followed into the crowd, along with several other players, and started swinging away at the unruly fans.

Two days after the disgraceful incident, NBA commissioner David Stern issued harsh penalties, including the suspension of Artest for the remainder of the season. In addition, the NBA issued a revised set of arena guidelines to all teams. The guidelines consisted of policies dealing with security, alcohol sales and fan behavior.

“First, it’s about winning,” Ford told HOOPSWORLD. “I want to be on a team where it’s about winning and they’re heading in the right direction. Definitely, it’s a team that’s going to be in the playoffs and go further than just the first round. I just want to be part of a team. Whether that means playing 10, 15, 20, 30 or 35 minutes, I just want to be one of the factors that helps the team win.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: T.J. Ford is telling anyone and everyone he’ll sign as a free agent with the best team, and money and minutes do not matter.

Lets be real: money and minutes always matter. Especially in the ultra-competitive world of professional sports.

Of course, Ford isn’t in a position to be picky after spending the past few years chained to the Indiana Pacers’ bench behind a plethora of table-setters.

He’ll go where he gets an offer. The team may be good or bad. Either way, the money will be low by NBA standards -perhaps the equivalent of a veteran’s minimum contract.

However, if the team is competitive then Ford, a marginal talent, won’t be seeing much, if any, playing time.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"I haven't stopped working out really since May," Griffin said. "It's been every day, sneaking it in whenever I can." Griffin says it's frustrating for him to think that the NBA games may be interrupted after his first season playing in the league. Griffin missed all of the 2009-10 season with a broken kneecap after he had been the No. 1 draft pick out of Oklahoma. "Now my first three seasons, I could play 82 games," Griffin said. "So, we'll see what happens."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Last year was overwhelmingly positive for the NBA.
 
The sporting world was galvanized by Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James joining forces and becoming the ‘Heatles’ in Miami.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd’s hard work was rewarded with an NBA championship, guaranteeing both immediate entry into the Hall of Fame when they retire.

Derrick Rose won the MVP award, leading the Chicago Bulls to the league’s best regular season record and a place in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder took another step winning two playoff series before falling to Nowitzki and Kidd’s Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.

The Memphis Grizzlies made the playoffs and upset the San Antonio Spurs. After years of futility, the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers were relevant and entertaining.

There are other storylines I’m missing.

For instance, high on this list is the emergence of Blake Griffin, whose aerial antics reminded the world there’s a professional basketball squad in Los Angeles not called the Lakers.

(And this squad, the Clippers, can compete and delight despite being owned by the twisted and incompetent Donald Sterling.)

Suppose there’s a lockout. One that wipes out the entire season. Griffin, who missed 2009 with injury, will have played just eighty-two games in his first three seasons.

Fans would have to wait a year to see Griffin assault the rim. Fans would have to wonder what Griffin would do to defend his crown at the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest. And fans, the purists, would have to wait a year to see Griffin’s above average passing and skill-set develop.

This is tragic. And just another thing Commissioner David Stern, the owners, Union Head Billy Hunter, and the players are risking with their posturing and rhetoric.

I hope they know what they’re doing. Griffin missing another year should be a last resort.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Indiana Pacers swing Paul George recently put a dunk of epic proportion on the Internet.

Click the link, watch George’s aerial antics, and get at HoopsVibe News with thoughts in the comment box below.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

After interviewing Rick Adelman and Don Nelson over the weekend, the Timberwolves intend to interview Larry Brown and possibly one or two others in this first phase to replace fired coach Kurt Rambis.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It makes some sense -more than hiring Don Nelson, at least.

Larry Brown is best when spreading his ‘Play The Right Way’ mantra amongst a young, impressionable group. After all, Brown considers himself a teacher of the game, and clearly he suffers for his students.

Well, the Minnesota Timberwolves are young and impressionable. They've won just 32 games since 2009, so Brown’s message would, at least initially, hold weight.

The on-court dynamic would be fine -for a while. The off-court end of things sounds dicey.

Yes, Wolves GM David Kahn has known Brown since their days at UCLA. In fact, Kahn considers Brown a mentor, who guided him as a young, impressionable reporter on the west coast.

This is a problem. Brown, to be effective on the sideline, needs a strong counterweight in the front office, who can laugh off his idiosyncrasies, worrying, and perfectionist nature.

There was the legendary Donnie Walsh in Indiana. There was the enthusiastic Pat Croce in Philadelphia. And there was Joe Dumars, who at the time still possessed his magical touch in Detroit.

This trio knew when to listen and when to ignore Brown. Not surprisingly, this formula worked in Indiana, Philadelphia, and Detroit.

Kahn is already a disaster. He would misread, misquote, and mishandle Brown, which, in turn, would have a negative impact on those young, impressionable, and talented players.

The nomad sideline boss isn’t right for the Wolves. But this is about Kahn's inadequacies, not Brown's.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"I changed my name because I got tired of Ron Artest, he's a [expletive]," said Metta World Peace. "And when fans get mad at me, they can't say, 'I hate World Peace."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Metta World Peace is tired of Ron Artest. Well, Laker-nation is tiring of 'Hollywood Ron' and wants more 'Ron-Ron'.

It's impossible to knock Artest for being a happier, healthier person. And it's equally difficult to knock his work as an advocate for mental health. More people, not just athletes, should follow Artest and get involved with causes in their community.

Let's be clear: Artest’s health should always be priority one.

However, the rap videos, stand-up act, and appearances on late-night talk shows seem to have neutralized his edge on-court. And the Lakers need Artest’s edge.

Again, let`s be clear: the Lakers do not need the Artest who leaped into the stands, smashed cameras, got suspended for various infractions, and ultimately walked on the Indiana Pacers.

They do need the former Defensive Player of the Year. They do need the two-guard who stood up to Kobe Bryant in the 2009 playoffs. And they do need his energy and intensity.

The Lakers need less World Peace and more 'Ron-Ron'.  The sooner World Peace accepts this, the better he and his team will be,

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Indiana Pacers have scheduled a press conference for Wednesday that will officially seal Frank Vogel's promotion to full-time coach according to NBA coaching sources.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He’s no longer ‘The Temp’.

Today, the Indiana Pacers promoted former assistant and interim coach Frank Vogel to the full time position of head coach.

This is smart. The Pacers were 20-18 under Vogel after he replaced Jim O’Brien. They also squeaked into the playoffs as an eight-seed, but lost to the Chicago Bulls in five games.

So the Pacers have their coach. They have a nice, young core. They also have considerable cap space.

Things are looking up in the Hoosier state. Like the rest of us, they`re just waiting on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"We have the rules; you have to go straight up," Pacers forward Danny Granger said. "You can't go forward or to the side. Twenty-one free throws, that's a lot of free throws. We have to figure out a way to keep him out of the lane."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Indiana Pacers have to deal with it. Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls’ franchise face and favorite to win the regular season MVP, will get to the line.

Rose will get to the line for two reasons. First, he does a sensational job penetrating and drawing contact. Second, he’s a superstar. Like it or not, refs favor superstars.

This is, after all, the NBA, where league head office protects elite talent like Greenpeace protects endangered species. Right or wrong, the zebras will give Rose the benefit of any doubt. 

Instead of being frustrated at Rose’s 21 free throws in game one, the Pacers should be frustrated at themselves. They blew a fourth quarter lead, and should have stolen home-court advantage with a road win.

The Bulls will settle their nerves. Carlos Boozer will be better. Coach Tom Thibodeau will hit the video room and work out the kinks on defense.

In short, the Bulls will adjust in game two. The Pacers would be wise to forget Rose and do the same.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

"Boston's a different monster," he (Granger) said. "They don't have the best record in the East, but they won championships; they know how to do it. They have four, five guys you have to worry about.

"Chicago, they go as Derrick Rose goes. If you make a concerted effort to stop Derrick Rose, you have a better chance of beating them."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call:  Danny, how about using your inner voice?

Danny Granger, the star swing for the eighth-seeded Indiana Pacers, is entitled to his opinion. He may even be right: the Boston Celtics’ experience might make them a tougher playoff foe than the young Chicago Bulls.

He should’ve kept his thoughts private, though. His silence would have been golden. Or, at least wise.
 
Granger has foolishly provided the first-seeded Bulls with extra motivation. His comments will be posted in the home locker room at the United Centre. The Windy City will be all over him, too; from Wrigley to Soldier Field.

The Bulls are far more than MVP candidate Derrick Rose. Their team defense is first-rate, and their get-stops mentality gives them a chance in every game –at home or away.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have struggled since trading defensive anchor Kendrick Perkins. It remains to be seen how they’ll handle Perk’s departure come playoffs.

One thing is certain: the Bulls, thanks to Granger’s outer voice, will be ready when their series starts against the Pacers.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’sVery Quick Call: It wasn’t quite eight points in nine seconds like Reggie Miller, but it was close.

Danny Granger drained a massive shot to give Indiana the win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

Click the video below and get at us with thoughts in the comment box below.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Jim O'Brien has been fired as Pacers coach, according to multiple sources.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Indiana Pacers have fired Jim O’Brien according to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.

After a surprising 11-10 start, the Pacers have struggled. However, O’Brien, who is in the final year of his contract, was thought to be safe until the summer.

Assistant coach Frank Vogel is expected to fill-in for O`Brien until a replacement can be found.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Last night, there were two exceptional highlights worthy of Stuart Scott love on ESPN SportsCentre.

First, the Chicago Bulls` Ronnie Brewer dropped a two-handed post-job on Indiana Pacers four-man Josh McRoberts. Out west, Blake Griffin added to his Staples Center legend with a 360 degree lay-up against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Which highlight was better? Watch both clips and get at us with thoughts in the comment box below. 

( Yes, that is an official poster job!) 

(Blake Griffin drops another 360 degree lay-up. Remember his work against the Detroit Pistons?)

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

That's where three key pieces come into play: the expiring contracts of Jeff Foster, Mike Dunleavy, and TJ Ford. The plan had been to let those contracts, totaling $27 million, fall off the books and make the Pacers a significant player in the next two free-agent classes.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It is the ultimate wild card.

On July 1st the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire, and the new financial system the owners and players agree to will be different –very different.

Of course, nobody knows how different. Or, what exactly those differences will be, so teams are modifying their plans for the future.

Case in point: the Indiana Pacers. The Hoosier state planned on letting Mike Dunleavy, TJ Ford, and Jeff Foster’s combined $27 million salaries come off the books and wanted to use their newfound cap space to sign a star free agent.

This big-ticket free agent would then combine with point guard Darren Collison and Danny Granger to form a solid big three.

However, the uncertainty over the CBA is forcing the Pacers to re-think this plan. Like the other 29 teams, they have no idea what the new financial system will be.

So Executive Larry Bird and the Pacers have no choice but to entertain trade offers for Dunleavy, Ford, and/or Foster’s expiring contract. Their thinking is simple: better to get something than be left with nothing at all.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Last night, the Indiana Pacers’ struggles were temporarily forgotten when they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 99-86 and made national highlight packages with a pair of fierce facials.

Facial one: newly acquired table-setter Darren Collison stole the ball, sped to the hoop, and powered over fellow little-man Lou Williams.

Facial two: T.J. Ford, freed from Coach Jim O'Brien's bench, tossed an over-the-shoulder pass to Josh McRoberts, who then welcomed Evan Turner to the NBA by giving  the rookie poster job treatment.

Pacer-nation hasn’t had much to cheer for. Not lately, at least. However, Collison and McRoberts gave the former Eastern Conference power some much-needed shine and publicity.

While Indiana fans undoubtedly loved both dunks, HoopsVibe News wants to know which facial you preferred: Collison or McRoberts?

Watch the above videos, form your opinion, and get at us with that opinion in the comment box below.

--Oly Sandor.

It's been fun -- a little too much fun. I partied hard as hell. I was gone. But the good thing is that I worked out (during that time). Last year at this time I was 270-something (pounds), and this year I'm 255, 258. I'm totally focused. Like this (cranberry and vodka drink in his hand) is probably my second drink in like a month, and usually in the summertime I get (his drinking) in. I get it in every night. But I'm going to come in at about 245, 240 this year, and get back to that Defensive Player of the Year weight.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It sounds like Ron Artest is mixing business and pleasure this summer.

And why wouldn’t he?

After all, the Los Angeles Lakers’ lockdown defender won his first NBA championship in June, saved the purple-and-gold with his clutch play in game seven of the Finals, and delivered the greatest celebratory interview in the history of pro sports.

To Artest’s credit, he didn’t overdo the partying this off-season, though. His weight is down and he’s determined to arrive at training camp at a spry 245 pounds.

The last time Artest tipped the scale at 245 pounds was 2003-04. That season he terrorized opponents for the Indiana Pacers and won the Defensive Player of the Year award.

If Artest can turn back the clock, if he can find his past Pacer form for the Lakers, then the two-time defending champions will be in line for the three-peat.

And Artest will be partying ‘hard as hell’ in the summer of 2011, too.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Lance Stephenson was charged with pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, police said. Stephenson roughed up Jasmine Williams, 21, in the stairwell of her Brooklyn apartment building at about 5 a.m., according to police.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call:  Lance Stephenson, Indiana's second round pick in the 2010 Draft, hasn't be found guilty of anything; however, an assault charge on a girlfriend is worrying.

Domestic violence is wrong and troubling. Regradless of what happens in the courts, Stephenson and his girlfriend should seek professional help.

On a lesser note, this changes things for Stephenson and the Pacers. The Coney Island native had an excellent summer league and figured prominently into the club's rebuilding plans.

After several off-court incidents involving players, the Pacers have placed a premium on character. Executive Larry Bird traded or released Ron Artest,  Stephen Jackson, and Jamaal Tinsley for various infractions, so he'll surely re-evaluate Stephenson's standing.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.     

The four-team, five-player trade that went down on Wednesday could have actually been a lot bigger, according to a league source.

The Bobcats and Raptors nearly got involved in the fray.

Under one additional wrinkle, Charlotte would have sent Erick Dampier to Indiana, the Pacers would have shipped T.J. Ford to the Raptors and the Bobcats would have acquired Jose Calderon.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Oh, the irony.

In 2008, GM Bryan Colangelo and the Toronto Raptors decided they couldn’t have the two-headed monster of Jose Calderon and T.J. Ford at point guard.

So Ford, and what was left of his $33 million contract, was traded to the Indiana Pacers for Jermaine O’Neal. Calderon was then re-signed to a five-year, $45 million deal, and named the starter.

Two years later, both are struggling. Ford had a mediocre 2009. He spent 2010 chained to the bench. Meanwhile, Calderon has shown his defense and health isn’t good enough to be Toronto`s full-time starter.

Colangelo, who has spent his off-season making band-aid moves, considered swapping the former teammates for each other.

Yes, Calderon to the Bobcats. Erick Dampier to the Pacers. Ford to the Raptors.  

This would work. Calderon’s statuesque defence and pricey big-ticket would come off the books. Ford would back-up Jarrett Jack. Best of all, his big-ticket expires at season’s end.

Maybe this is enough for Colangelo to re-visit the past and re-acquire Ford.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts. Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Four NBA teams have agreed to a five-player trade that will send Trevor Ariza to the New Orlean Hornets and Darren Collison to the Indiana Pacers, two league sources said.

In the proposed deal, the Houston Rockets will send Ariza to the Hornets, who in turn will send Collison and James Posey to the Pacers. The Pacers will send Troy Murphy to the New Jersey Nets. And the Nets will send Courtney Lee to the Rockets.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Four teams with different agendas have connected for an end of summer trade to address their needs before the 2011 season begins.

The winner in this blockbuster is the Indiana Pacers. While they gave up Murphy’s expiring contract and took back an over-the-hill/overpaid Posey, they also got a budding table-setter in Collison.

The second year point guard is lightning quick and excelled when starting for the injured Paul. Look for Collison to star in Indiana next to Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, and Lance Stephenson.

By swapping Ariza for Lee, the Houston Rockets gain cap relief. This summer, the Rockets spent $87 million to re-sign Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry, while also adding Brad Miller.

Ariza, the Rockets' prize free agent signing of 2009, became expendable after the deadline day acquisition of Kevin Martin from the Sacramento Kings.

Murphy will provide depth and experience to a young New Jersey Nets frontcourt. Best of all, his deal comes off the books at year’s end, which makes him an attractive trading chip.

The loser in this trade has to be the New Orleans Hornets. Yes, Ariza is a fine player. And yes, today they’re a marginally better team.

With this trade, the organization seems to think they have a shot at re-signing Paul. Let’s be real: they have zero shot. None.

Add up small market New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, the oil spill in the Gulf Coast, and owner George Shinn’s thriftiness and the club can’t generate enough revenue to sign a star-studded supporting cast for Paul.

I know this. You know this. Paul knows this.

He’s gone when his contract expires at the end of 2012. There’s no chance of an extension.

Two summers from now, Paul will walk on the Hornets like Kaiser Soze walked on the police station in The Usual Suspects. Unlike the finish of this classic flick, there will be no suspense or surprise when CP3 leaves.

We know what’s coming. This is expected. Like Lindsay Lohan going to jail. Like the sun rising. Or, in my case being from Vancouver, like the rain falling.

So why not trade Paul and rebuild around Collison?

After all, Ariza, while a fine player, won’t appease Paul. He wants LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Miami. He wants Amar’e Stoudemire and (possibly) Carmelo Anthony in New York.

He doesn't want New Orleans. In fact, he won’t re-up with the Hornets regardless of who they sign or trade for.

Rather than face reality, Hornets management is delusional, aiming to please the snooty super model girlfriend (Paul) who is bidding her time until she can break up with them. 

Instead of waiting for the inevitable, the club should trade Paul while his market value is relatively high, get back draft picks, expiring contracts, and blue-chip prospects, and make Collison the starter.  
 
It seems New Orleans’ blunder is Indiana’s victory.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Pacers are attempting to trade T.J. Ford and Mike Dunleavy, according to sources. Ford has been on the market for several months, but the news of an attempt to trade Dunleavy is surprising as Jim O'Brien is known to be high on him.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: It's not if, but when.

The Indiana Pacers will trade Mike Dunleavy and T.J. Ford because both are spare parts with sought-after expiring contracts. 

While there's no suspense about the end result, what the Pacers do with these pieces will reveal much about the club's plans.

If executive Larry Bird deals Dunleavy and/or Ford for cap relief in 2011, the Pacers are turtling until the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (hopefully) levels the playing field for smaller markets.

If Bird deals the small forward and point guard for on-court help, then the Pacers haven't waved the white flag of surrender on 2011.

The real solution for Indiana comes with a re-worked CBA that provides a sound financial structure for all franchises, not just its six have-franchises.

However, getting this CBA is a major if, not a when.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"Speaking of Collison, the Pacers have reached out to New Orleans about the former UCLA point guard."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Indiana and New Orleans are two of the NBA’s smallest markets. Both have limited budgets. Yet, both are desperate to upgrade their roster.

And this is Corporal/Commissioner David Stern’s post recession problem: his league has become increasingly fractured and polarized into have and have-not franchises.

The have franchises – think Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York – will spend their summer trying to land big-ticket free agents.

No expense will be spared. Mayors, politicians, celebrities, rap icons and even a president have tried wooing the game’s elite player to their club of choice 

The have-not franchises – think Indiana, Minnesota, New Orleans, Milwaukee, and Memphis – will spend their summer scheming up creative and cost-effective ways to compete.

With this in mind, a Darren Collison deal would make some sense for the Pacers and Hornets.

Larry Bird’s club has to get better at point guard. TJ Ford – and his $8 million dollar salary – isn’t the answer. And Jamaal Tinsley’s $5 million pact is still on the books, even though he was released years ago.

Collison, a lightning quick table-setter, filled in admirably for injured superstar Chris Paul. Best of all, the UCLA alum has three years remaining on his rookie pact.

Meanwhile, reports that the Hornets and Paul were considering parting ways are false. Team and player are apparently committed to each other and sticking together.

However, New Orleans was always a poorer NBA market. Then Hurricane Katrina hit. Then The Great Recession came. And now there’s the Gulf Coast oil spill.

All contributed to the city’s struggling economy, which means there’s less disposable income for citizens to spend on disposable goods –like NBA tickets and luxury boxes.            
 
So the Hornets can't generate the revenue to sign high or even medium priced free agents. Their best and only option this summer is trading the young and inexpensive Collison for other young, and inexpensive players.

Enter Indiana.

They've got lockdown defender Dahntay Jones, athletic swing Brandon Rush, and blue-collar bruiser Tyler Hansbrough.

All are young. All are cheap. And all could play a role in The Bayou. Perhaps, Bird, Indiana's head suit, lets New Orleans pick two of these three players.

That said, nothing is imminent between the Pacers and Hornets. Expect them to keep talking. As mentioned, in today’s NBA, their options are limited.      
           
Get at us with thoughts on this deal?

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: It was a momentum swinger.

In game-five of the 2010 NBA Finals, Tony Allen delivered a one-two combo block that sparked the Boston Celtics. Allen, an athletic swing, appeared from the helpside to emphatically deny Los Angeles Lakers post Pau Gasol a left-handed chippie.

The play reminded me of one thing: Tayshaun Prince on Reggie Miller.

Back in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals, Prince preserved a key Detroit Pistons win against the Indiana Pacers by heroically blocking what seemed like a gimme lay-up for clutch closer and superstar Reggie Miller. 

The Piston won the game. And later they won the 2004 NBA Title.

So watch both clips and get at us with your call on the best playoff block ever: Allen on Gasol or Prince on Miller.  

(Allen with the one-two combo block.) 

(Prince with the amazing block on Miller.) 

With only two teams left playing ball, the rumors are starting to fly. Yesterday on his weekly ESPN.com chat, Chad Ford mentioned that one scenario floating out there is San Antonio sending Tony Parker to Indiana for the No. 10 pick, Troy Murphy and Brandon Rush.

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HoopsVibe's Quick Call: After their first round loss to the Phoenix Suns, the San Antonio Spurs are looking to shake things up.

And Tony Parker is the prime candidate to be moved because he has value on-court and on-the-books. After all, Parker can play. The jitterbug point guard still has the 'quicks' to get to the basket at will and can keep opposing defenses honest with his improving range.

Best of all, his $10 million contract expires next July, so whoever acquires him will also get some financial flexibility.

This specific deal with the Indiana Pacers is unlikely since they'd be giving up Rush, an athletic youngster, plus a lottery pick for one year with the Frenchman. Also, Murphy's contract matches Parker's with respect to term and money, killing any potential savings for Larry Bird's squad.

Parker could well be dealt. It won't be to the Pacers, though. By the way, what would Hollywood diva Eva Longoria, who is married to Parker, think of Indiana?

Got thoughts on this rumor? 

"The biggest regret of my life, really, is bailing out on that Pacer team," Artest said. "I mean, outside not going to church every single Sunday, bailing out on that Pacer team is my biggest regret. Every time I see Jermaine, every time I see Steve [Jackson] and Jamaal [Tinsley] ... I get a little bit of a feeling when I see Bird, because he was such a great player and I respect him so much. So I get that feeling when I see Bird. I feel like a coward. I feel like I don't even belong in their presence, really."

"When I saw Jermaine [this season], I felt like I didn't even belong in the same room as him," Artest said. "I felt like a coward. I don't like feeling like a coward, and I feel like a coward. That's the biggest regret of my life. Steve Jackson, Jermaine, Jamaal, even Jeff [Foster] -- a blue-collar guy like him, put his life on the line for us on the court, and I totally disrespected him. And of course Reggie. I was in a position to win a championship, Reggie was in position, and I bailed out on Reggie. I feel like a coward. A big-time coward. It's hard for me to even speak to them, hard for me to see them."

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HoopsVibe's Quick Call: Love him or hate him, Ron Artest is honest and his heart seems to be in the right place.

After all, few athletes in the cut throat, macho world of pro sports would publicly admit to such feelings, especially about an incident that took place years ago with the Indiana Pacers.

Still, it's great Artest understands the impact his actions have on others. And, in some strange way, it's hard not to cheer for him -regardless of what you think about the Los Angeles Lakers.

Got thoughts on Ron-Ron's comments? Get at us in the opinion box below.