May 8, 2008 - 10:25 am
The Indianapolis Star -
Jim O'Brien claims that his relationship with point guard Jamaal Tinsley is good, but that he isn't sure he can depend on him to run the Pacers, according to The Indianapolis Star.
"To say as a coach we're going to go with him as our point guard despite the injuries, you can't do that," O'Brien said Wednesday. "I would love to see him healthy, but that has not been the track record. It's very, very difficult to depend on him when, physically, he's been undependable. When he's on the court, we know what we're going to get. He's a great assist guy, he runs the fast break great. But based on the track record of physical ailments, how much can you depend on him?"
O'Brien campaigned to keep Tinsley on the team shortly after he was named coach last offseason, but their relationship appeared to sour soon after.
The two deny any personal misunderstanding, but their on-court relationship appears headed for the worst as well.
"It comes down to whether Jamaal is healthy enough to be part of the mix for the future," O'Brien said.