Amundson adds depth, hustle to frontcourt

The depth, aggression and energy level of the Pacers’ frontcourt, already one of the strengths of the team, will receive another boost when Lou Amundson joins the team later this week.

A 6-9, 225-pound forward, Amundson was acquired from Golden State Monday in exchange for Brandon Rush.

Coach Frank Vogel said he envisions Amundson “giving us depth at the big spot and adding to our toughness.”

“We’ve got some killers on our front line,” he said. “You put (Jeff) Pendergraph and Jeff Foster and (Tyler) Hansbrough and Amundson in here and you’ve got some of the best hustle guys in the entire league.”

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West gives fans glimpse of future

Within a festive atmosphere, the Pacers did some serious work, taking advantage of the dwindling opportunities for even a simulation of live game action.

As the highlight of the Pacers 2011 FanJam presented by CNO Financial Group, the franchise’s annual free event that attracted more than, 5,000 fans to Conseco Fieldhouse, the Pacers conducted to 12-minute scrimmages with officials under game conditions Sunday afternoon.

The event marked the unofficial debut of power forward David West, who made his first public on-court appearance since signing with the Pacers last Tuesday. West played well, scoring 13 points.

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Hansbrough, George look good in loss

When your first preseason game also happens to be your next-to-last, it’s difficult to know exactly what to expect — and even harder to evaluate.

This much can be stated with both safety and certainty: when you go one-third of the game without a basket, good things are not going to happen — no matter what time of year.

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Hill makes Pacers debut vs. Bulls

Despite his relatively brief tenure as a member of the Pacers, George Hill has picked up on this percolating thing with Chicago.

Though his debut in the uniform of his hometown team comes Friday night in Conseco Fieldhouse is unofficial, being a preseason game, the opponent makes it something of an event for Hill and his new teammates.

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D-League prospects seek opportunity

Due to a combination of unusual circumstances, the NBA suddenly has become a land of opportunity for D-League players.

Whether that turns out to be the case with the Pacers and their four training camp imports — forwards Jarrid Famous, Tyren Johnson, Darnell Lazare and Matt Rogers — remains to be seen but it appears their chances are much better than usual.

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No-nonsense West perfect fit for Pacers

In one fell swoop, not only did the Pacers land the perfect power forward for their team, they put a serious dent into the theory that premium free agents might view Indiana as just another flyover franchise.

The addition of David West not only stabilizes the frontcourt rotation but the entire starting lineup. In addition to being a consistently productive scorer and rebounder, West brings a no-nonsense professionalism, a reasoned voice of experience and undeniable leadership to a locker room.

If the Pacers were looking for a guy to set the right example for their young players, they couldn’t have found anyone better. After signing West to a reported two-year contract Tuesday morning, the Pacers introduced him to the local media in a press conference at Conseco Fieldhouse.

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Players eager to get West in mix

Darren Collison admitted it was a challenge to let his teammates exactly what to expect from David West. As much as he has been appreciated from afar, the veteran power forward is one of those guys whose greatest admirers are teammates.

“It was hard for me to explain to anybody else because once you start playing with him you understand who he is and what he brings to the table,” said Collison, who spent the 2009-10 season with West in New Orleans.

“He just makes the game so much easier for myself and for others. I think everybody is going to enjoy playing with him. He’s extremely competitive and he knows the game. His knowledge of the game is by far one of the best in the league and I think we’re going to be pretty happy with who we got.”

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