Pacers G T.J. Ford will miss Wednesday's preseason game
at Orlando with a mild hamstring injury.
A week before the 2009-2010 regular season, the Indiana Pacers have received a bit of good news.
Actually, make that two small bits of good news.
Though neither has been cleared to play, F Tyler Hansbrough and F Mike Dunleavy – each of whom is expected to play a critical role this season – are continuing to progress toward returning, with Dunleavy writing on his blog Tuesday “I expect to get back on the court this week and start progressing my way back up to practicing with the team and eventually playing.”
Dunleavy, a seven-year veteran, isn't expected to practice until November, according to the Indianapolis Star.
“I've really had to develop a lot of patience throughout this process but even more so in the last couple weeks,” Dunleavy wrote on his blog. “I'm at the point where I could definitely play but I'm being held out for precautionary reasons.
Meanwhile, Pacers.com writer Conrad Brunner wrote this week that Hansbrough – the No. 13 overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft – “has been working on-court with coaches after practice for a couple of weeks and is making progress.”
"They want to see how he does after they've upped his workouts," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien told Brunner. "I think (Tuesday) if he has responded well, then maybe they'll get him in the halfcourt but he has to prove his shin can handle what he's been doing."
Also this week, the Pacers released Rod Benson, Demetris Nichols and Lawrence Roberts. The roster is now at the league-mandated 15-player maximum. Dunleavy (knee), Hansbrough (shin), G Travis Diener (foot), C Jeff Foster (back) and G T.J. Ford (hamstring) all are out with injuries for the team's second-to-last preseason game – Wednesday against Orlando – according to the Indianapolis Star.
Mike Wells of the Star also reported that while Ford's injury isn't thought to be serious, Earl Watson likely will start in Ford’s place at Orlando.
The Pacers will play their final 2009-2010 preseason game against San Antonio Spurs at Assembly Hall on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., on Friday.
The Pacers open the 2009-2010 season at Atlanta on Wednesday, October 28.
Comments
Great to hear good news on Dunleavy. He could really help - they're kinda lacking in scoring right now, unless Brandon Rush is going to play like he did last April.
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