Pacers!
- Thread starter StollCpaGoat
- Start date
They are easily the most fun team to watch play in the NBA right now. The shooting and assist rates can literally be overwhelming, at times, and against the best teams too.
Not to make too big of a reach here...but a team about an hour south of them seems to have been built with similar intentions in mind.
Not to make too big of a reach here...but a team about an hour south of them seems to have been built with similar intentions in mind.
They actually do have a stud shooter there. One of the better shooters in the state. But a little further south, big school in Bloomington. Used to be great.
All the pundits were saying that Cleveland, healthy and at full strength, had the far superior roster.
80-39 for a half. What a clinic.
The dirty little secret is that after getting Nesmith and Nembhard back from injury, after Hali got over the hamstring, and after trading for Bryant, the Pacers by every metric have been a top team.
The first two months of the season the Pacers were not healthy and not good. Nesmith and Nembhard, their two very best defenders and clutch players on offense, were both out with injuries, Haliburton was playing but was recovering from injury and didn't play well. Their two backup centers both went down with season-ending achilles injuries in the first week of the season. Cleveland in contrast started 15-0.
Around Jan 1 Nesmith and Nembhard came back, Hali got healthy, and while he maybe isn't a key contributor, trading for Thomas Bryant at least game them backup C minutes. Since Jan 1 the Pacers are near the top in record, offensive efficiency, and defensive efficiency.
Pacers overall since Jan 1, including playoffs: 42-15
Cleveland overall since Jan 1, including playoffs: 40-17
Boston overall since Jan 1, including playoffs: 42-15
Knicks overall since Jan 1, including playoffs: 34-24
80-39 for a half. What a clinic.
The dirty little secret is that after getting Nesmith and Nembhard back from injury, after Hali got over the hamstring, and after trading for Bryant, the Pacers by every metric have been a top team.
The first two months of the season the Pacers were not healthy and not good. Nesmith and Nembhard, their two very best defenders and clutch players on offense, were both out with injuries, Haliburton was playing but was recovering from injury and didn't play well. Their two backup centers both went down with season-ending achilles injuries in the first week of the season. Cleveland in contrast started 15-0.
Around Jan 1 Nesmith and Nembhard came back, Hali got healthy, and while he maybe isn't a key contributor, trading for Thomas Bryant at least game them backup C minutes. Since Jan 1 the Pacers are near the top in record, offensive efficiency, and defensive efficiency.
Pacers overall since Jan 1, including playoffs: 42-15
Cleveland overall since Jan 1, including playoffs: 40-17
Boston overall since Jan 1, including playoffs: 42-15
Knicks overall since Jan 1, including playoffs: 34-24
They are VERY difficult to play against when they're playing well.
there fun as hell to watch and keep proving myself and everyone wrong. they have been very fortunate in playing teams with significant injuries. during the last month of the season it seems like they won 10 games with last minute comebacks. a lot of those were against average teams. they rarely went out and dominated teams like OKC Cleveland and Boston do from time to time.
1st half last night was unreal. who knows how far they can go.
To be honest, this is common when playing the Pacers. Indiana is a very deep and physical team and it wears on guys. Those who are already playing hurt are bound to get exposed. I say that because its less about luck/fortune and more about the style of play. The Celtics said as much after sneaking out of the conference finals last year.
Schwarbs with career 297 and 298... also riding a 46 game on base streak.
Who would of thought he would be the best player from that 2016 Cub team 9 seasons later? Javy is having a nice season this year but otherwise he's been not great. Bryant is snakebit with injuries. Rizzo continued to have nice career but it's done.
A couple of them could still be correct, technically. I wouldn't gloat until the series is over, if I were Dan, or anyone. If Cleveland wins tonight, this is a classic setup for the type of 3-1 comeback that has happened in the past. Cavs did it to the historically good Warriors team a few years ago. Its flipped with this one, so its different, but the mindset will be similar, I'm sure. One game at a time, send it back to Indy, they'll tighten up if we do.
You can look at predictions by ESPN, CBS, NBC Sports, Bleacher report, and many other places and you will see nobody or next to nobody picking the Pacers to beat the Cavs.
So I wouldn't peg it, as Dakich did, as an ESPN/DEI thing.
It more out of widespread laziness, comparing a 64 win team to a 50 win team while not noticing that the 64 win team started amazingly well (15-0), the 50 win team started slow and injured (losing record for 2 months), but then for >4 months they have had THE SAME RECORD, and head-to-head the 50-win team had success against the 64-win team.
No experts bothered to watch the Pacers much. They were not on TV much and do not have as much star power.
So I wouldn't peg it, as Dakich did, as an ESPN/DEI thing.
It more out of widespread laziness, comparing a 64 win team to a 50 win team while not noticing that the 64 win team started amazingly well (15-0), the 50 win team started slow and injured (losing record for 2 months), but then for >4 months they have had THE SAME RECORD, and head-to-head the 50-win team had success against the 64-win team.
No experts bothered to watch the Pacers much. They were not on TV much and do not have as much star power.
Cavaliers' problem is Mitchell's ankle and Garland's toe.
In that first game that Garland came back, Mitchell had a good game but nonetheless there were times I thought he still looked looked a little slow, tentative or something. He wasn't the same.
I think that the 80-39 half with the Cavs at full strength and with Mathurin ejected can minimize (if not put to rest) the injured Cavs argument. Sure they were shorthanded in game 2 and a little shorthanded (no Garland) in game 1. But Nembhard contains Garland pretty well anyway.
garland missed the 1st 2 games, and cavs had 3 of their top 6 out game 2, injuries played a role.
I can’t ****ing stand Dakich. Everything is political with that scrotum head.
And that's all the tweet was, clickbait political BS. I went from listening everyday to not being able to stand him.
As the regular season was winding down I wanted
1) The Pacers to get the #4 seed and have a 2nd round matchup with the Cavs, since I thought they matched up with them way better than with Boston
2) The Knicks or Pistons to upset the Celtics in the 2nd round
Things are going well so far. Hopefully the C's can at least wear down the Knicks a little more.
1) The Pacers to get the #4 seed and have a 2nd round matchup with the Cavs, since I thought they matched up with them way better than with Boston
2) The Knicks or Pistons to upset the Celtics in the 2nd round
Things are going well so far. Hopefully the C's can at least wear down the Knicks a little more.
I want another Pacers-Knicks series because it’s a great rivalry and the games are entertaining.
The only thing I would add is that the Cavs are a young bunch with less playoff experience as compared to the Pacers.
Great closeout win. Loved that 3 by Turner to seal it
I wouldn't mind seeing the Celts vs Knicks go 7 games.
