Pacers pick insults a basketball fan

     By Vince Alexander

     I watched the NBA draft last night. Now I know why I’ve never been an Indiana Pacers fan. 

     For the record, the Chicago Bulls is my team. But I’m a lifelong Hoosier, having lived in places like Terre Haute, Vincennes, Fort Wayne, Marion, and now Indianapolis.  From my seat, Indiana is the basketball capitol of the world, specializing in shooters. I know grandpa’s that can still knock down open three-pointers.

     As for the Pacers – they just missed an uncontested layup and insulted my basketball IQ – again – by drafting Miles Plumlee of Duke with the 26^th pick in the first round. Plumlee averaged 6.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 20.5 minutes per game OFF THE BENCH.
     For the novice basketball fans out there, it means that when Duke was blowing out a team, Plumlee was put in the game during “garbage time” and scored three baskets. In a tall man’s sport, this 7-footer could have been picked up by the Pacers as a free agent.  I’m sure he’s a smart, nice guy who tries hard, but he’s not a no. 1 pick in the Developmental League-- let alone the NBA.
     In the Pacer’s defense, they needed a big man to back-up and give them protection for when -- or if something happened to starting center Roy Hibbard. But they passed on Perry Jones III of Baylor, perhaps because of concerns about Jones’ knee. But looking at pictures in my local newspaper, Plumlee is wearing a knee brace in two pictures.  Ask any savvy Hoosier basketball fan, and he will take a sore kneed Jones (13.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg) over a big stiff like Plumlee -- any day.
     Let’s compare the Pacers to the Bulls. The Bulls needed a point guard because All-Star Derek Rose is injured, so they picked a Hoosier, Pike High School’s Marquis Teague, a starter from the national championship Kentucky team. The Bulls drafted Teague in the first round -- three picks after Plumlee.
     I’ll be watching Teague on WGN playing point guard for my Bulls, while Pacers fans will be watching Plumlee sitting the bench in his warm-ups.
     And if I win a free Pacers ticket, I’ll give it away or throw it in the trash.
     Why? It’s because the Pacers continue to insult my basketball intelligence by drafting guys like Plumlee.