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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Walsh’s experience is just what the Pacers need

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I remember this past summer when a friend called and told me Donnie Walsh has accepted the Pacers offer to return and run the basketball operations for his esteemed colleague Herb Simon.

When I hung up the phone I was somewhat confused, wondering why a man with such impeccable credentials wanted to take on the challenges this team represents when he could live comfortably in a state of well-deserved retirement. Now that this team has begun slowly and shown some kinks in its collective armor, I think it is safe to say the acquisition of Walsh is not only what the Pacers needed, but is clearly their most important move of the off season as well.

He knew full well after placing the nightmare in New York in his rear view mirror that this Pacers team would be a challenge, and were not near the point of seriously contending for a championship.

But his strong ties to this community along with his desire to augment his resume with an NBA title lured him back and now we are going to see just how he intends to make the team better. Sure, while many of you are pointing to the injury suffered by Danny Granger as a big part of the Pacers lethargic start, Walsh knows his front line lacks athleticism and as a result will be patient with head coach Frank Vogel as long as the Pacers are competing each night.

However by nature, he will not tolerate the defensive gaffes that have crippled this team so far this season to continue. Be it lineup changes, personnel changes, or even a coaching change, nothing is off the table with a executive of his caliber.

Too quick to make even subtle changes you say? Think again. Walsh did not take this post looking toward the long haul, but rather with the intention and design to upgrade the roster and put the Pacers immediately in a place in which they could be legit title contenders. To do that he had no choice but to match Portlandā€™s offer to retain Roy Hibbert and he wisely chose George Hill over Eric Gordon. He coordinated an overhaul of the Pacers bench and things on paper appeared to be on the upswing.

Like any executive, he cannot control injuries, and when Granger and Hill had such problems in the preseason, the tone was set for the first few games of the regular campaign which have found your beloved Pacers looking like underachievers at best.

Walsh looked more than just concerned recently when the Pacers struggled to beat Washington at home, a team that had their best two players on the bench that night. That came on the heels of a horrific road trip and with plenty of concern as to when this team would get after it every night on both ends of the court.

Walsh is smart enough to know when a coach is rendered ineffective by his players, and while Vogel is light years away from that assessment, losing games you should win is the key ingredient in such defections. With an owner that is firm on the salary cap and expecting him to make due with the current pieces, Walsh is somewhat stuck with no real trade options on the horizon that could change the makeup of the current roster.

Then again, Walsh probably does not feel major changes at this point are in order. Obviously, winning games and recapturing the momentum this team had in the playoffs last season will certainly help rectify what is ailing the Pacers right now, but there seems to be no great sense of urgency with the players.

Injuries aside, what is causing this group to sputter against opponents they should be defeating handily? That is indeed what a guy like Walsh can sense and correct and exactly why the franchise is lucky to have him. The real question is how much patience will he demonstrate in terms of moving this collective group forward.

I say he will give them more than enough time to get their act together, but he will not allow things to completely falter.

Danny Bridges who thinks Walsh is a no brainer for the Hall of Fame can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.

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