Saras is a Pacer

[Indy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2115697

I finally got a computer where I am in Winnipeg, and this is the first thing I saw.

We got him.

YEEEAH baby. Suck on this shit Cleveland.

[baller status]

YEEEAH baby. Suck on this shit Cleveland.

-YA cleveland! suck on it!

i dont really see how the pacers will work this out-4 pgs... who will they cut? and will tinsley like the reduced minutes?

[Riot]

Tinsley only plays in about 30 games a year so it really shouldn't be that much of a problem.

[Indy]

Suck on this shit Cleveland.

Wow... I don't think I have ever said anything like this in my life... sorry I'm excited

To be honest Tim_Duncan, I don't care if Tinsley will like it or not. Carlisle will play the guy who he thinks will give the team a better chance to win. As of right now, Tinsley is the man, Saras is number 2, AJ is number 3.

That remains that way untill Saras can prove himself. I think this move means Dale Davis and James Jones will most likely not be re-signed, but AJ can be traded along with Croshere and Bender for a pretty good Center or a guy to give us more depth at the power forward position.

Without a doubt this move made us even stronger.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Tinsley only plays in about 30 games a year so it really shouldn't be that much of a problem.

I moved my jaw bones on that and my upper lip.

It will be interesting to see how all this works out with the Pacers, I don't see how Saras can just take AJ's spot like that when he was a solid backup for them last season. IMO, Saras has to prove himself all in all before he can automatically get in front of a veteran who hasn't been doing such a bad job.

[Kemp]

Good to see the Pacers added a good PG who is a very good 3 point shooter. Saras is probably be the sixth man.

[baller status]

if im not mistaken, croshere has a huge ass contract that no teams want and bender has yet to prove that he can play let alone withstand injuries. although i agree that this move made the pacers slightly better... they are still behind the heat, pistons, and nets as of right now imo. and cleveland may be better too...

[Indy]

There's no doubt about that mafia, AJ is a great backup, and a solid vet.

If he leaves, I will be sad to see him go. But I think you have to be pretty naive to say this move doesn't put us in the drivers seat of the east.

The Pistons are losing Larry Brown, the Heat are losing Kenyon Dooling and on the verge of losing Damon Jones, and Shaq isn't getting any younger.

On the flip side, we got back Ron Artest a DPOY, we got a top 5-10 player in the draft in Danny Granger, and we add the best player in Europe.

I'm thrilled. Before this summer, I never used the word thrilled. With the additions of Granger and now Sarunas, I can't stop using it

if im not mistaken, croshere has a huge ass contract that no teams want and bender has yet to prove that he can play let alone withstand injuries. although i agree that this move made the pacers slightly better... they are still behind the heat, pistons, and nets as of right now imo. and cleveland may be better too...

You're right Cro has a huge contract. I misworded myself. I would be for releasing Croshere and Bender and trading AJ and Gill.

although i agree that this move made the pacers slightly better... they are still behind the heat, pistons, and nets as of right now imo. and cleveland may be better too...

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Well since "you" own the the Pacers franchise, and "I" own the Grizzlies franchise and "your" team is doing real well right now and "my" team is doing ok and if "you're" rich and if "I'm" rich, then "we" shouldn't have nothing to complain about.

[Indy]

Well since "you" own the the Pacers franchise, and "I" own the Grizzlies franchise and "your" team is doing real well right now and "my" team is doing ok and if "you're" rich and if "I'm" rich, then "we" shouldn't have nothing to complain about.

Not to make this thread stray from the talk of Sarunas, but I have something to say on the "we" thing.

If you can say we when referring to the country you live in, why not the sports team you follow? I don't make any decisions on what the US government does, but if I were to say "The reason we invaded Iraq was... blah blah blah" nobody thinks twice. If I say "we signed Saras" everyone gets their panties in a bunch.

I think its the exact same thing.

Anyways, don't let this thread stray and end up in GT.

Saras brings us a perimiter threat, if nothing else. Even if he doesn't pan out, and ends up not being quick enough, and being too horrible of a defender to be succesful in the NBA, there's no doubt he fills a perimiter void. He will knock down threes no question, and we needed someone like that. Jax and Artest are good outside shooters, but they aren't really spot up shooters, they are more of scorers.

[frAn]

oh yeah!! he's going to the PACERS!!!

[matmat8]

Saras isn't such a great a shooter.
He can go on strikes but what he really is a leader.
And you know the nba 3pt line is further than the european one...

[Blue Nugget]

Damn,I knew you'd be happy as hell once I read the news on NBA.com. Quite a surprise I must admit,as I had already seen him in either Cleveland or Jazz but didn't think the Pacers had a shot at him anymore.

Oh well,I guess they had to compensate for Reggies departure somehow.

[Fenix]

Saras is a good shooter, the best Pacers will have. Anyhow, Indiana is looking better and better .

[Andrew]

As I've probably said once or twice before, I don't think he'll tear it up in the NBA but I wouldn't be surprised to see him make a good impact wherever he ends up, wherever now being Indiana.

[Rokas[LTU]]

I would be more happy if would play in Clevland. But Pacers is N.2 in Eastern Conference. Yeah, 3pt line is further here, but Šaras've made not one or two three-pointers way further than 3pt line is in Europe. And one of the best his features is that he can make points when team needs it the most...

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

IMO, Saras has to prove himself all in all before he can automatically get in front of a veteran who hasn't been doing such a bad job.

When you give a guy a guaranteed contract for 3 years and 4 MILLION DOLLARS a year, you definitely don't want him as a 3rd string PG. My guess is Jasikevicius ( nobody call him Saras again, grrr... ) will start out as a 6th man and will have taken over at point by December, the latest. Tinsley is going to be keeping th ebench warm for him, down th eline, especially during the 4th quarter.

[J@3]

Some of the posts in this thread are pure torture. I'm tellin' you Indy, get yourself involved with that team SOMEHOW ... apart from being a fan... it'll make your "us" "we"'s alot easier to take

[Rokas[LTU]]

( nobody call him Saras again, grrr... )

[dan_suth]

But I think you have to be pretty naive to say this move doesn't put us in the drivers seat of the east.

The Pistons are losing Larry Brown, the Heat are losing Kenyon Dooling and on the verge of losing Damon Jones, and Shaq isn't getting any younger.

Yes, the Pistons are losing Larry Brown, but they've signed another great coach in Flip Saunders. He may not have the same playoff experience as LB but it's pretty much a guarantee that any coach in the NBA could take this Pistons roster to AT LEAST the second round of the playoffs.

And how can you say losing Keyon Dooling and [possibly] Damon Jones is gonna kill the Heat? Dooling was worthless to the team, all he was good for was watching that ridiculous over-the-backboard shot on Sportscenter a hundred times. Shaq isn't getting any younger.. LOL.. he hasn't gotten any younger ever since he joined the NBA. He is still the most dominant player in the game...

Look, your team is pretty solid, especially now that Sarunas has signed.. but to call us all NAIVE for not believing they are the top team in the East.. yikes

[ballhawk]

Good news.I wonder,how much PT he will get
3pt is further than the european. I think it won't disturb him much.. because he is able to shoot nba 3pt.

[maes]

It's very cool for the Pacers, but i hope people aren't expecting him to come out & replace Reggie Miller. Being a good shooter in Europe is not quite the same as in the NBA.

Guards are taller in the NBA, stereotypically higher jumping, the line is out farther, and most teams use a tight man to man (which is best broken by driving and losing your man, not trying to shoot in his face).

Nocioni was a good 3 point shooter in his league, that shot is virtually gone for him in the NBA (although he did get his shot back that 1 playoff game vs Washington).

I have to believe the Pacers got him for his court vision & passing skills.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Guards are taller in the NBA, stereotypically higher jumping, the line is out farther, and most teams use a tight man to man (which is best broken by driving and losing your man, not trying to shoot in his face).

If you see the speed at which Sarunas releases the ball, you'll understand why that will not be much of a problem.

[Fenix]

I don't see why his athleticism should present a problem for him in the NBA. It's not like he's far behind Nash or something. The most important thing are his skills ((Y)) and if he's a winner ((Y)).

[Rokas[LTU]]

You know what... Last three years Euroleague won teams, where Šaras played...