Injured Indiana Pacers shooting guard Mike Dunleavy might be back sooner than expected, his coach said today.
"Our medical people are very pleased with his progression,"
Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien said. "I’ve changed my view point to a pessimistic one from a standpoint of him being ready in the middle of the season to one that I’m hoping he’ll be ready to go for game one."
The Pacers open the season Oct. 28 at Atlanta.
Dunleavy missed most of last season with a knee injury. After having surgery in March, the Pacers said they didn't expect him back much before January 2010.