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08:05 AM ET 01.14 | Pacers coach Frank Vogel insisted Sunday he wasn't trying a send a message by sitting center Roy Hibbert during Saturday's game against the Bobcats. It was more about how well Hibbert's backup, Ian Mahinmi, has been playing lately. "I considered sitting (Hibbert) for that game anyway because he had been dealing with back spasms and were going into a back-to-back (games)," Vogel said. For as well as Hibbert has played protecting the paint defensively, he's struggled defending the pick-and-roll an area that Mahinmi is clearly better than him at. "Ian was great at guarding the pick-and-rolls (against Charlotte)," Vogel said. "Roy was, too. Ian was doing it a little better."

Roy Hibbert, Getty Images

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January 14, 2013 09:07 AM ET

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I got him in my fantasy league, he isn't helping me out.

Bukowski

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January 14, 2013 10:04 AM ET

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Try Teaching Him, Bro.

I Love LA

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January 14, 2013 10:22 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 09:21 AM ET 01.14 by MMAFan

Hibbert just signed his max deal this Summer. He's happy on the bench.

As much as I love the 'A' this is the biggest problem, guaranteed contracts...too many marginally good players get HUGE bucks..

DR_Universal

Charlotte , NC

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January 14, 2013 02:43 PM ET

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Roy is playing at an all defensive level for a team allowing the least amount of points in the league...Is that worth a max contract? No...but that is more the NBA and its broken RFA process that doesn't require compensation be sent to a team losing a player than it is the Pacers making a bad sign.

The NBA punishes teams that draft well in the middle rounds by allowing teams to make "offers" which in this case Portland was putting their former GM they hate in Pritchard in a lose lose situation where it was either let one of the most loved players on the roster and active community members walk in a season they are still regarded as one of the biggest threats to Miami...or do what they did and match the ridiculous offer they wouldn't have made if it included giving up their #1 pick as well just like every other major sport does in their RFA process.

hollabak

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January 14, 2013 02:47 PM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 01:04 PM ET 01.14 by jgb

These gms don't have to give out the contracts....The good ones give them to the right people

Portland put the Pacers in a lose lose situation to get back at Kevin Pritchard....the NBA allowed this because of its broken RFA policy which requires no compensation and allows teams to punish other teams that draft well.