Category: Indiana Pacers Blog

Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George had 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win against the Bulls Friday. Video highlights:

Center Andrew Bynum is alive. No longer sitting on the end of the Indiana Pacers bench watching basketball but not playing it, Bynum has finally stepped onto the court. Here’s how he started off:

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on center Andrew Bynum, who for now as a member of the Pacers has merely been an observer. But that could soon change:

Andrew Bynum could make his debut with the Indiana Pacers soon.

On Sunday, Bynum said that he hopes to be “cleared to play next week,” believing that he could be on the floor by Friday, March 14 when the Pacers play in Philadelphia. Pacers coach Frank Vogel said the team planned to re-evaluate Bynum after the road trip.

“We’ll see after (Sunday’s) game goes and then we’ll probably meet about it (Monday),” Vogel said, “and try to come up with a firmer plan.”

Through his career, Bynum, a 7-0 center, has shown flashes of dominance but has also been limited with knee problems.

Indiana Pacers point guard George Hill (bruised left shoulder) missed his fourth game of the season on Saturday night.

Hill was injured with less than 2 minutes remaining in the Pacers’ win over Milwaukee on Thursday night. Hill said that an MRI revealed “previous stuff,” referencing the sprained left shoulder injury from the 2011-12 lockout-shortened season that sidelined him for two games.

“Messing with ‘Psycho T’ (former teammate Tyler Hansbrough) in practice,” Hill said Saturday, recalling that original injury. “Got tangled up with him. I hurt it pretty bad … so I think it’s just a recurred injury that just opened back up just a little bit.”

— Indianapolis Star

Here’s the Indianapolis Star with insight on the Pacers trade of Danny Granger to the Philadelphia 76ers:

Pacers president Larry Bird didn’t begin negotiations on the Evan Turner-Danny Granger trade until 2:30 p.m., 30 minutes before Thursday’s trade deadline.

*Philly was trying to get a first-round pick for Turner and, when that didn’t manifest, Bird said the 76ers reached out to the Pacers.

“They wanted to move him and we were there and we took it. I had to think about it for a while but decided to do it (and) move on.”

*Bird said that rather matter of factly, but it was somewhat hard for him because “Danny’s always been my favorite,” Bird said.

*Bird insists that there was “no shopping around” of Granger but the last-minute proposition with Philly had to be considered.

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on new backup center Andrew Bynum:

As Andrew Bynum appeared from the basketball court on Friday morning to meet with reporters for the first time since becoming an Indiana Pacer, his new teammate George Hill marveled at the scene.

“L.A. media!” Hill joked loud enough to be heard.

Only Bynum did not reply – just as he has ignored the lingering doubts about his desire to play basketball.

“I mean, people have opinions, I don’t respond to it,” Bynum said. “I just go out and play.

“Again, that’s what they’re going to say. All I can do is go play hard and put points by your name, that’s it.”

After the Pacers’ morning shootaround, Bynum, the 7-2 center, remained calm as much smaller members of the media hedged him in. For more than five minutes, Bynum answered a range of questions about his commitment to the game, his desire to join the Pacers and even what went south during his short stay in Cleveland.