INDIANA PACERS

2009-10 record: 32-50, 10th place in Eastern Conference

GUARDS
Indy has their point guard in DARREN COLLISON. He’ a Jim O’Brien type of guy, able to defend and a creator on the offensive end . . . They don’t seem prepared to give up on BRANDON RUSH, but he did little more than stand outside and hoist threes in his first year as a starter . . . How bad has Indy’s player evaluation been? They seemed surprised that DAHNTAY JONES is terrible offensively . . . LANCE STEPHENSON is a below-the-rim player who won’t be able to bulldoze his way to the basket in the NBA . . . A.J. PRICE has a long way to go after breaking his kneecap . . . T.J. FORD has been bothered by a hamstring injury during the preseason. Football odds.

FORWARDS
DANNY GRANGER seems to coast sometimes. If he starts attacking the basket like he should, look out. He should grab more rebounds with Troy Murphy gone . . . He was still having inner ear issues this summer, so TYLER HANSBROUGH’s role is up in the air. He could claim the starting four spot if he shows some ability to play against length . . . It looks like his balky knee has ended MIKE DUNLEAVY’s days as a starter . . . JAMES POSEY will provide some veteran guidance and corner threes . . . PAUL GEORGE has some upside because of his versatility, but can a guy who lost 37 games in two seasons in the WAC be competitive enough? Football spreads.

CENTERS
ROY HIBBERT has improved his conditioning and is avoiding foul trouble. He’s not a perfect fit in O’Brien’s system, but it’s at a point where the rest of Indy’s frontcourt is so feeble that they can’t afford not to play him . . . It’s time to get giddy over the return of JEFF FOSTER. He could end up starting a handful of games once Troy Murphy is dealt. Football lines.

Sportsbook.com Odds to Win NBA Championship: 200-to-1

2009-10 TEAM STATISTICS
Offense – 100.8 points per game (16th in the NBA)
Defense – 103.8 points per game (23rd in the NBA)