The Pacers finally saw enough of head coach Jim O’Brien as they fired him this morning. The Pacers were only 17-27 (38.6%) so far this season and that’s just not good enough to get the job done. The Pacers were 121-169 (41.7%) in O’Brien’s four years in charge. The Pacers tired of O’Brien’s handling of the younger players, especially Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert. The Pacers have elevated 37-year old Frank Vogel to O’Brien’s old spot on an interim basis for the rest of this year. Vogel has never been a head coach in the NBA but he has been an assistant coach for 8 years. He could get the full time gig if he can get the Pacers to fight for a playoff spot the rest of the way while using some of the younger players.

The Pacers were outrebounded 46-39 and they were outscored 33-17 in the 4th quarter last night which were the big reasons for the loss last night in Chicago. Josh McRoberts led the way for the Pacers last night with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots in 27 minutes on the floor. Danny Granger also had a solid game with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 blocked shot. Mike Dunleavy (13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals), A.J. Price (12 points) and Darren Collison (11 points) also pitched in for the Pacers last night. The Pacers are now 17-27 on the season.

The Pacers shot an incredible 62.5% from the floor last night and 54.5% (12 of 22) from three point range as they blew out the Nets. Mike Dunleavy led the way for the Pacers last night with 30 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot. Roy Hibbert was solid too with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots. Danny Granger (18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot) and Paul George (15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot on 6 of 7 shooting from the floor) also pitched in for the Pacers last night. The Pacers are now 17-26 on the year.

25-year old power forward Tyler Hansbrough is having a good month for the Pacers. He has played in 10 games so far in January and he is averaging 23.0 minutes, 12.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He is shooting 50% from the floor so far this month and he is also hitting 85.7% from the free throw line as he has been very efficient. Hansbrough has now played in 32 games (10 starts) for the Pacers this season and he is averaging 16.1 minutes, 7.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. I think Hansbrough is ready for more minutes so the Pacers need to start giving them to him.

The Pacers will be without 25-year old shooting guard Brandon Rush for the next two weeks due to a sprained ankle. Rush has played in 37 games (13 starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 29.1 minutes, 10.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. His main asset is his long range shooting as he has hit 41.7% from behind the three point line so far this year. The Pacers are hoping that 20-year old rookie Paul George will step up with Rush out of action. George has played in 21 games (0 starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 15.7 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game.