The Pacers need to quit messing with 2nd year center Roy Hibbert and give him at least 30 minutes every single night. He has played in 52 games (43 starts) this season for the Pacers and he is averaging 24.1 minutes, 11.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game. Hibbert is a legit center and the Pacers need to start taking advantage of that.

I know that the Pacers want to trade T.J. Ford. But, he is the best point guard on the roster (without a doubt) and they are being really stupid in not playing him. In his last two games, Ford has averaged 24.5 minutes, 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 72.2% shooting from the floor. The most impressive thing about Ford’s last two games is that he wasn’t rusty after sitting for 18 games in a row while healthy. Ford has now played in 33 games (25 starts) for the Pacers this season and he is averaging 24.9 minutes, 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. The way to showcase a player you want to trade is by giving him the most minutes possible and Larry Bird should know that. If nothing else the Pacers should play Ford to make him earn the $8,5000,000 bucks he is making this season.

Back-up shooting guard Luther Head comes into a game with one goal which is putting the ball in the basket. He has played in 34 games (10 starts) for the Pacers this season and he is averaging 18.8 minutes, 8.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Head is not a great long range shooter anymore but he does give the Pacers a needed injection of offense whenever he comes onto the court making him an asset.

Rumors are swirling that the Pacers might trade starting power forward Troy Murphy in the next month. To borrow a line from Lee Corso I would say, “Not so fast my friend”. Murphy has played in 26 games (24 starts) this season for the Pacers and he is averaging 31.3 minutes, 14.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Murphy is not only a great rebounder but he’s a good shooter from everywhere on the basketball court. He is hitting 50.2% of his shots from the floor, 40.7% from three point range and 80.4% from the free throw line this year. The Pacers will have a very hard time replacing Troy Murphy if they do indeed trade him because he is a very solid all-around player.

For some reason the Pacers have been cutting Roy Hibbert’s minutes. He needs to be playing because of his rebounding and defense which have both been solid this season. Hibbert has played in 29 games (26 starts) this season for the Pacers and he is averaging 22.6 minutes, 9.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game. The Pacers aren’t going anywhere this season so it makes no sense not to get minutes to the younger players giving them the time needed to develop.