Tracking the Pacers

[oasis05]

2012 the heat defeated the pacers 4-2 in the play offs.
2013 the heat defeat the pacers 4-3 in the play offs.

2014 is the year the pacers get over the hump. A few more bench players is what separates the pacers from a championship.

 

[Tlyons]

2012 the heat defeated the pacers 4-2 in the play offs.
2013 the heat defeat the pacers 4-3 in the play offs.

2014 is the year the pacers get over the hump. A few more bench players is what separates the pacers from a championship.

Is this trolling?

How about Wade's health, Battier's age, Miller's departure, Allen's age.

How about PG's continued improvement, Hibbert as well. See previous post in regards to LS. Pacers younger and getting better.

So yeah, a few bench players is just another reason to add to the list of why the pacers will get over the hump.

Are the Heat getting better?


Edit: Took what you said as sarcasm. I apologize if it wasn't.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Paul George's development from year to year alone could make Indiana a contender to win it all. Does anyone think he has reached his potential? I sure don't.

 

[col63onel]

If they don't mind taking on Gerald Wallace's contract, I think they should make a play for Rondo.

I understand the injury and chemistry risks, but the upside of that team is very interesting.

 

[oasis05]

I'm not sure where this idea came from that the pacers are some sort of white knight. the idea the pacers beat the heat just plays into cavs fan fantasies of LeBron realizing the heat are old and coming here to put us over the top. that's what the pacers love is. I don't care for the pacers, don't think they can beat the heat, and don't think george makes another big jump, nor have any interest in lebron coming back here. the idea of george making another big jump 2 years in a row would put him as a top 10 player in the league. I don't want to see that, and I'd question how often a player makes huge jumps two year in a row. Unless he's durant or LeBron I would expect he'd plateau for a few years. Reminds me of all the bulls talk year ago that all their young talent would continue to blossum. what happened? It plateaued.

 

[EdMonix11]

I'm not sure where this idea came from that the pacers are some sort of white knight. the idea the pacers beat the heat just plays into cavs fan fantasies of LeBron realizing the heat are old and coming here to put us over the top. that's what the pacers love is. I don't care for the pacers, don't think they can beat the heat, and don't think george makes another big jump, nor have any interest in lebron coming back here. the idea of george making another big jump 2 years in a row would put him as a top 10 player in the league. I don't want to see that, and I'd question how often a player makes huge jumps two year in a row. Unless he's durant or LeBron I would expect he'd plateau for a few years. Reminds me of all the bulls talk year ago that all their young talent would continue to blossum. what happened? It plateaued.

What is this psychoanalysis bullshit?

The Pacers have taken Miami deep in a playoff series twice. Their young players (George, Hibbert, & Hill) continue to improve and their best player for the past six years (Danny Granger) hasn't even played. Their starters have outplayed Miami's starters in both series, though Miami's depth has been the deciding factor. Now Indy as spent considerable assets in improving their bench and depth, to a point that it might mitigate Miami's advantage. It's not hard to see the Pacers as a title contender based on their past two playoff performances.

 

[MoFlo]

I'm not sure where this idea came from that the pacers are some sort of white knight. the idea the pacers beat the heat just plays into cavs fan fantasies of LeBron realizing the heat are old and coming here to put us over the top. that's what the pacers love is. I don't care for the pacers, don't think they can beat the heat, and don't think george makes another big jump, nor have any interest in lebron coming back here. the idea of george making another big jump 2 years in a row would put him as a top 10 player in the league. I don't want to see that, and I'd question how often a player makes huge jumps two year in a row. Unless he's durant or LeBron I would expect he'd plateau for a few years. Reminds me of all the bulls talk year ago that all their young talent would continue to blossum. what happened? It plateaued.

Or it plays into the facts that the Pacers have taken the Heat to the limit each of the past 2 seasons and have improved their team, while Miami has remained status quo with Wade on the decline..

 

[Rich]

I'm not sure where this idea came from that the pacers are some sort of white knight. the idea the pacers beat the heat just plays into cavs fan fantasies of LeBron realizing the heat are old and coming here to put us over the top. that's what the pacers love is. I don't care for the pacers, don't think they can beat the heat, and don't think george makes another big jump, nor have any interest in lebron coming back here. the idea of george making another big jump 2 years in a row would put him as a top 10 player in the league. I don't want to see that, and I'd question how often a player makes huge jumps two year in a row. Unless he's durant or LeBron I would expect he'd plateau for a few years. Reminds me of all the bulls talk year ago that all their young talent would continue to blossum. what happened? It plateaued.

Wrong.

 

[redscoon]

The Pacers are the Grizzlies of the east. Can push any team to the brink with their defense and rebounding, but don't have the offensive prowess and star power to close out a big series. Add a potentially healthy Bulls and the new look Nets to the mix in the East and the Pacers are looking at taking a step back in the form of a 2nd round exit in my opinion.

If Paul George takes another jump from being a top 20 player to a top 5 player or they land a legit PG, that may change.

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

The Pacers are a tough out, no matter which round a team gets them in. But so are the Nets, a healthy Bulls squad, and the Heat. The Eastern Conference looks like far less of a cake walk next year for the Heat - not that it was this year for them. If they can run the gauntlet, then they deserve the slot in the Finals.

I'm still not convinced that the new look Nets will be that much better than they were. I do expect that Miami, Indiana, and Chicago should clear 50 wins, barring major injury. Toronto, Boston, Philly, Orlando, and Charlotte seem to me to be unlikely to make the cut for the postseason. The Wizards are in a similar place with the Cavs - the health of their starting PG will play a huge role in their season. I think the Cavs should be better than the Wizards. I'm also not sold on Detroit, though they have a shot at the postseason.

The most interesting Division fight looks to be between Chicago and Indiana - and Scola could help edge the Pacers into the #2 seed. I think the Knicks took a step back, though I don't think Brooklyn runs away with it. The Hawks will be about what they were. The Wizards and Magic each a bit better.

The Central looks to be the most balanced division. The fight for the #2 seed will happen in the division. It'd be interesting to see Miami in a tougher division.

 

[ice cream man]

Our core should be better than the Pacers core (in time). But the Pacers have a mix of guys that have hit their peak (West), haven't gotten there (Stephenson, George), and are currently playing at their peak (Hibbert, Hill). We have a bunch that haven't hit their peak, and Andy. Also the Pacers have been the deeper team and play way better defense. The cores of both teams aren't going anywhere anytime soon (barring a major blockbuster), so I think Pacers/Cavs could become a pretty big rivalry in the next 2-3 years, and that rivalry could last a long time. Throw the Bulls with a healthy Rose in there too. If LeBron leaves for a WC team, Bulls/Cavs/Pacers could be the best 3 teams in the East in a couple years.

 

[Derek]

I'm not sure where this idea came from that the pacers are some sort of white knight. the idea the pacers beat the heat just plays into cavs fan fantasies of LeBron realizing the heat are old and coming here to put us over the top. that's what the pacers love is. I don't care for the pacers, don't think they can beat the heat, and don't think george makes another big jump, nor have any interest in lebron coming back here. the idea of george making another big jump 2 years in a row would put him as a top 10 player in the league. I don't want to see that, and I'd question how often a player makes huge jumps two year in a row. Unless he's durant or LeBron I would expect he'd plateau for a few years. Reminds me of all the bulls talk year ago that all their young talent would continue to blossum. what happened? It plateaued.

Indiana is a Midwest team that hasn't relied on free agency or stars forcing their way to their city in order to build a team that can contend. That's what we're trying to do and that's why a lot of us enjoy seeing the Pacers succeed.

George doesn't need to to take a big leap, just a little one. The team around him has improved and they were already very close to making the finals last year.

I'm not sure I understand the Bulls comparison, they were taken out by an injury to Rose, you can't anticipate that. The two situations are quite different.

 

[oasis05]

I meant the earlier baby bulls teams when Lebron was just coming into the league. Hit about 50 wins and never improved beyond that. That's what I'm hoping for the pacers.

 

[AZCavs]

The Pacers are the Grizzlies of the east. Can push any team to the brink with their defense and rebounding, but don't have the offensive prowess and star power to close out a big series. Add a potentially healthy Bulls and the new look Nets to the mix in the East and the Pacers are looking at taking a step back in the form of a 2nd round exit in my opinion.

If Paul George takes another jump from being a top 20 player to a top 5 player or they land a legit PG, that may change.

I'd take the Pacers over the Nets without hesitating. Probably over a healthy Bulls squad as well. They've kept last year's squad together (except Hansborough, big deal). Added Scola and Copeland; Granger returns and they drafted Solomon Hill, making their squad even deeper.

I don't buy into the Nets yet. Every time a team builds in the manner Brooklyn does, it doesn't turn out the way most expect. The Bulls? It's Derrick Rose, Noah, Deng and a bunch of low-level role players and a great coach. Indiana is still going to make life rough for them and I believe Indiana takes the Central.

 

[mAo_mAo]

Pacers is a defensive monster of a team. They have size and toughness in all 5 positions. That is a scary team to face in the central division.