First Thoughts from media day
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Here are five quick impressions following the Pacers’ annual media day Friday afternoon at Bankers Life Fieldhouse:
- Granger: Starting doesn’t matter: Pacers forward Danny Granger, somewhat evasively but surely, indicated that whether he re-assumes a starting role does not matter when he returns this season, setting a tone for the entire Pacers organization about how he envisions winning a championship as the most important priority.
George Hill was in a jocular mood Friday. (Photo by Chris Goff.)
- Humor from Hill: In contrast to the rank seriousness of many, George Hill might have been the goofiest personality on what is a light but tedious day for players. He cracked wise throughout his session with reporters (particularly about how he joked about losing 10 pounds simply by going to the bathroom) and playfully distracted Roy Hibbert from behind the camera as Hibbert posed for pictures. What’s more, Hill pronounced himself by far the best rapper on the team, encouraging people to watch him rap anytime — except when he’s in the shower.
- Unapologetic optimism: Hill wasn’t the only one feeling happy Friday as coach Frank Vogel issued a series of typically peppy forecasts. Vogel couldn’t stop grinning when discussing the revamped bench and the work ethic demonstrated around the Pacers’ practice facilities already. Vogel described the still-rehabbing Granger as looking “great” and, after noting that at no point last season did he feel the Pacers weren’t ready to win, suggested the next couple seasons are more than ever a “go-for-it time in Indiana Pacers history.”
- No wins without West: David West again reiterated that at no time did he feel like putting on another uniform after becoming a free agent in July. But he does feel like achieving the big things that are possible in Indiana requires another giant leap forward: securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. As West put it, his teammates “wake up in the morning with the mindset to do the right thing,” a “crucially important” trait of a winning franchise and one which marks a good group of guys with whom West wouldn’t mind finishing his career.
- Scola accepts his role: Scola expressed content with the fact that, for the first time in his NBA career, he projects to come off the bench. While noting that there are a lot of good players around the league, Scola added that the Pacers have a shot to win a championship and that makes him more eager to “embrace” fewer minutes. With the presence of Ian Mahinmi and Chris Copeland on a deep bench, Scola added that he’d love to spend time at center in order to get on the court as much as possible.
Stay tuned for more coverage of everything media day coming soon on IndySportsLegends.com.
