The phrase most commonly used in stories like these is "full-circle."
As in, "T.J. Ford has come full-circle this season."
Only he's done more than that. He's made several dizzying laps.
He started 25 of the first 31 games but with the team struggling and Coach Jim O'Brien intrigued by rookie A.J. Price, Ford headed to the bench as Earl Watson moved into the lineup and Price into the backup role.
After 18 games on the bench, Ford emerged from exile when Watson missed a couple of games to attend his grandmother's funeral. He scored 31 points with eight assists in 50 minutes in those two appearances, earning a return to the rotation.
And now he's been back in the starting lineup for four games in a row and six out of seven.
"It's been pretty interesting," said Ford. "The biggest thing for me is at the end of the day I'm kind of enjoying it. It may sound crazy but I think I was put in those situations for certain reasons. Maybe that'll help me in the long run in my career. Maybe that'll help me when I'm done playing basketball. Only time will tell.
"I think it made me stronger. I do feel that at some point of my life the things I went through this season are going to help me whether it's next year or three, five, 10 years from now, I'm really going to look back and reflect on all the things that I went through and how I was able to break through it."
Ford has played his best basketball of the season in this latest go-around, averaging 11.9 points, 4.9 assists and shooting .471 overall and .368 from the 3-point line in the 14 games since he returned to action.
His comfort level seems higher and he appears to be playing much more freely.
"I think we have a better understanding," said O'Brien. "In the first 25 games, in order for a point guard to play well, he needs people around him playing at a high level. For instance, you don't want to underestimate how important it is that Brandon (Rush) is playing well and what that means to a backcourt mate like T.J.
"I mean, in the beginning of the year, T.J. was penetrating and they were sagging everything because Brandon wasn't shooting the basketball well. Since that period of time, Brandon's shooting over 40 percent so it opens the court. Unless the court is open for everybody, our point guards and Danny (Granger), it becomes a nightmare."
There was one other twist to the Ford saga. Just four games after he returned to the rotation in Feburary, he was very nearly traded to Charlotte in a package deal that fell through just before the NBA deadline on Feb. 18. He learned of the possible trade on the way to the aiport to depart on a four-game road trip. When he was about to board the team plane, he got the news it didn't happen.
"At the end of the day, it's kind of difficult," he said. "You go from not playing to playing a few games and then it's getting close to the trade deadline and you wonder if things are going to happen not knowing what to expect.
"Once the trade deadline is over, there's nothing you can do. You can't get out of the situation. Both parties have to continue through the process and move forward and I think that's what myself and the Pacers have done. We're trying to play well and enjoy the things that we get to do for joy – and that's play basketball."
Just what exactly next season might hold for Ford is anyone's guess. As he's learned this year, it's not a good idea to make plans too far into the future.
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