Can Indiana turn the season around?Or is Indy Lottery Bound?

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Can Indiana turn the season around?Or is Indy Lottery Bound?

Postby LouisvilleLip on Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:34 pm

Its been a season of ups and downs for the Pacers. If the playoffs were to start today the team once seen as title contenders wouldn't even make the playoffs.

The season started off on a bad note when Reggie, Johnson, Foster, Jermaine were all injured coming into game 1. Even injured this team somehow managed to pull together a 6-2 record entering a game vs the world champion Pistons on there home floor. No Miller, Johnson, Foster, Pollard, Bender, this team was extremely short handed. They came out the gates strong and never looked back. This was the best Pacer team I had seen in a very long time, a lot better than the team that showed up in the eastern conference finals. Of course Tinsley and O'neal were near 100% compared to the ECF last season which proved to be a huge difference.

But during the final seconds of a blowout game the season flashed before the Pacers eyes. You guys know what happened, no need to tell the story again as well as Sterns decision.

Due to suspensions, and injuries this team struggled to just put together a team. The night after the brawl they put out a 8 man team but played only 5 of them. This pattern continued and they lost a lot of ground on the standings.

Here's all the games missed so far:

Jermaine O'Neal: 16
Ron Artest: 36
Jamaal Tinsley: 6 (Doesn't include his 9 minutes tonight)
Stephen Jackson: 30
Reggie Miller: 16
Fred Jones: 2
Austin Croshere: 8
Jeff Foster: 17
David Harrison: 11
Scot Pollard: 28
Jonathan Bender: 37
Anthony Johnson: 18

Total: 225 Missed Games

225/43 = 5.23

On AVERAGE, the Pacers have missed 5 of their key players every game. Even if it wasn't 5 every game, JO and Artest have barely played in any games together this season.

Jermaine is back, Jackson is back, everyone is seemingly banged up but this team is coming together somehow, but they are not producing wins. The team I see on the floor has 0 chemistry, and is emotionally and physically drained. But I think we all know even without Ron this team is capable of much much more, I think they can still hang with the best teams in the league.

The real question is can they recover in the short time they have, or is this team just lottery bound or setting themselves up for a first round knockout?

In my opinion, I think its just too late and from what I have seen recently this team has nothing left. I rather save the embarrasment of a 1st round knockout and not make the playoffs but come back next season with same team that crushed the Pistons on the 19th and the team who won 61 games the year before.

Just wanted to hear your opinions on this up and down season and what you think they can make of it.
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Postby j.23 on Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:43 pm

i feel bad for reggie, i want the pacers to win it all this year just so reggie can get his ring. he's been loyal to the pacers for so long i want him to retire in a good note (Y)
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Postby LouisvilleLip on Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:51 pm

Me2, Reggie is the guy who made me become a pacer fan. I still think Reggie can be a valuable backup next season and his contract is still good for next as well. If any superstar can handle less shots, less playing time its Reggie, hes the definition of a true pro. I don't think he can possibly hurt this team unless he will not take a bench spot next season but I highly doubt he would refuse so I do believe he will be back but you never know :shruggs:
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Postby Matt on Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:06 pm

i doubt they'll be lottery bound....theres too many terrible teams out there.
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Postby Andrew on Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:46 pm

The 8th spot is within reach and I believe they're capable of climbing higher, though I must admit I'm not too keen on that. ;) It would be great if Reggie could end his career with a ring, but I don't think he'll be forgotten too quickly. It's difficult to bypass a guy who ranks first in a statistical category.
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Postby Drex on Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:47 am

We're just at the mid-point of the season. To be honest, I don't like too much the Pacers, but I recognize that they hace a great team, and are still capable of making the Playoffs.
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Postby thegreatdivide on Thu Feb 03, 2005 2:43 am

maybe if reggie decides that he REALLY wants a championship he could go into cahoots with Malone and Payton...they could coerce MJ to make ANOTHER comeback and together they could buy their own team and make a run for the title next year!
barkley would come out of retirement too hoping that finally he and MJ could retire together after winning a ring.

one could only hope...
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Postby Indy on Thu Feb 03, 2005 2:57 pm

Reggie will never leave the pacers first off. He is a pacers for life and that will never change.

I think he knows he can still contribue and he will be around one more year. I became a pacer fan because of reggie miller, and i still think he can get his ring.

Heres my take on the rest of the season.

The pacers are 20-24, they have 2 games in a row by one point, and a winnable one in denver.

There is a lot of season left the pacers are far from done. they will probably win a few lose some more before the allstar break and then make a run. If they finish win 44 wins and the 6 seed it is a success, and i think this is very possible. They have expirience and will knock off the 3 seed, and i could see them maybe even getting to the eastern conference finals, and who knows. I still believe that even an artestless pacers team, with a great coach with rick carlisle will always be dangerous.
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Postby The GOAT on Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:14 pm

Honestly I've given up on the Pacers fo rthis season. I'm looking ahead at next season with hopeful thoughts (Y)
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Postby Matt on Thu Feb 03, 2005 4:07 pm

wow, Ron Artest really shattered the teams hopes!
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Postby Fresh8 on Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:26 pm

Doesnt that make him a mvp? if without him they are extremely shite???

i have said before artest doesnt deserve a mvp if he were nominated.. i take it back! Good luck to reggie... never really liked him but great player! exteremly grreat player!
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Postby Matt on Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:24 pm

Doesnt that make him a mvp? if without him they are extremely shite???


hahah, well the MVP has to play....look at NOH, they suck because I'm not playing....give me the MVP :mrgreen:
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Postby Alvin on Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:05 pm

i still think indiana has a chance to make it to postseason... the question is what seed they'll be... the 2nd seed is a remote possibility... but most probably they'll make it to 5th seed or better yet 6th seed...
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