The Pacers Core (a clinic in how to build without tanking)

amcoolio · Post #41 » by **amcoolio** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:37 am

Only teams that can build without tanking is LA, New York, and apparently Miami.

I like Indiana and all but they have no shot of going to the finals nevertheless winning a title unless Lebron James signs with them or they barely miss the playoffs next year and win the lottery and hit a homerun on Wiggins.

They are #2 in the conference yet there is no excitement surrounding them and they are near the bottom of the league in attendance. Even we outsell the Pacers and we are the worst team in the league

daschysta · Post #42 » by **daschysta** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:41 am

amcoolio wrote:Only teams that can build without tanking is LA, New York, and apparently Miami.

I like Indiana and all but they have no shot of going to the finals nevertheless winning a title unless Lebron James signs with them or they barely miss the playoffs next year and win the lottery and hit a homerun on Wiggins.

They are #2 in the conference yet there is no excitement surrounding them and they are near the bottom of the league in attendance. Even we outsell the Pacers and we are the worst team in the league

It's been on the upswing, they sold out tonight against the Pistons of all teams.

Post #43 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:41 am

SweetTouch wrote:I believe that was all Larry Legend right

Except for Orlando Johnson, Sam Young and DJ Augustin everything else was Larry Legend.

Thank you, Larry

Post #44 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:43 am

Jake0890 wrote:And we traded Kawhi Leonard for George Hill. We didn't necessarily win that trade.

I believe that this was one of the rare win-win trades.

We didn't need Kawhi Leonard. He is a SF and we have Danny Granger and Paul George (who can play SG but still).

George Hill is exactly the point guard we needed.

Post #45 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:47 am

TheToothFairy wrote:I would have like a Leonard/George tandem better

Leonard is certainly not a SG.

Left Side Drive · Post #46 » by **Left Side Drive** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:48 am

Pacers did a great job. Honestly a respectable way to rebuild a team.

Post #47 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:49 am

durden_tyler wrote:Yes, just the Heat actually.

So yeah, mediocrity.

Yes, you could be worse and in the lottery but without a real superstar you're not winning anything significant.

So, every team outside of LAC / OKC / Spurs / Heat is mediocre?

Post #48 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:52 am

TwentyOne920 wrote:The only team that has them figured out is San Antonio, oddly enough.

We just cannot defend your plays. Orlando beat us handily earlier in the season when they used your playbook.

Do us a favor and don't let any other of your assistant coaches to coach a team in the East :lol:

dike77 · Post #49 » by **dike77** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:55 am

They had the talent AND incredible luck to pick absolute steals with their average picks (Hibbert, Granger, George...)

Post #50 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:57 am

EscapoTHB wrote:when they've overpaid Danny Granger so much money.

Danny Granger got a $60 M contract for 5 years. His average salary was $12 mil per year.

He isn't overpaid. He never got a Rudy Gay / Joe Johnson contract.

Post #51 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:00 am

EscapoTHB wrote:For me, I only want my max contract money going to legit superstars. Otherwise what's the point? You need value for money -- otherwise you'll just be on the treadmill.

Not all max deals are the same. Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant get a lot different max contracts than Paul George, Roy Hibbert and the like.

panthermark · Post #52 » by **panthermark** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:02 am

Considering the lack of lottery picks, the Pacers have done well. If they would have swapped Granger for EG, that would have given them more firepower in the starting line-up.

Post #53 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:02 am

amcoolio wrote:They are #2 in the conference yet there is no excitement surrounding them and they are near the bottom of the league in attendance. Even we outsell the Pacers and we are the worst team in the league

That's a slight on the Indiana fanbase. Not the Pacers team.

By the way, today's game against Detroit was a near sell out.

Post #54 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:03 am

panthermark wrote:Considering the lack of lottery picks, the Pacers have done well. If they would have swapped Granger for EG, that would have given them more firepower in the starting line-up.

If Eric Gordon was ever able to play a full NBA season, I would agree.

At this point, I severely doubt it, unfortunately

Ayt · Post #55 » by **Ayt** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:04 am

durden_tyler wrote:
peja_the_legend wrote:
durden_tyler wrote:Build what? Mediocrity? When did the Pacers become legit contenders?

who is a legit contender besides Heat in the East then?At least they are in about 1000 better position than Wizards who according to tank-lovers should already be contenting since they landed that 1st pick and got their franchise player.

Yes, just the Heat actually.

So yeah, mediocrity.

Yes, you could be worse and in the lottery but without a real superstar you're not winning anything significant.

You don't seem to understand what the word mediocre means.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mediocre

: of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance

They could very well end up as the #2 seed and make it to the ECF. That isn't mediocre.

A team like the Bucks is mediocre.

Goldtop · Post #56 » by **Goldtop** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:20 am

The MVPlaya wrote:Is it really a clinic on how to build a team though? Their franchise player isn't a franchise player and they won't be winning any championships with this core.

Exactly what I was going to say. This "team" is great and very well put together with limited resources. However, I just don't see them ever winning a championship with this model, unless they are able to flip a few of the players in a trade for a true top superstar.

They remind me a lot of Birds other 2 two teams, the 2000 and 2004 teams. He builds these amazing teams, but the lack of superstars prevent them all from winning it all. Its like if you took Ben Wallace off the 2004 Pistons. They'd be a great, great team still, but wouldn't have that superstar to win it all. Pacers need a superstar, either on offense or defense, otherwise its all for naught. Unless the goal is to be just good enough to come up short every year.

carayip · Post #57 » by **carayip** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:22 am

The Pacers are built a lot like a younger version of Grizzlies. I just hope Paul George will turn out better for Pacers than Rudy Gay for the Grizzlies.

They won't be title favorites but they will be a perennial dark horse who can have a Finals appearance or 2 in the next 10 years provided they don't break up the core as quickly as the Grizzlies.

Funny thing is that Jerry West built the Grizzlies and Larry Bird built the Pacers. Both are great bball mind and not into this tanking thing.

OKCThunderUp35 · Post #58 » by **OKCThunderUp35** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:30 am

TwentyOne920 wrote:^ They have as many Finals appearances as OKC (not counting Seattle for this exercise).

How many championships do the Lakers have then? Do the ones from Minny not count?

No Offense · Post #59 » by **No Offense** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:35 am

The question is whether you want to contend or make the playoffs.

Post #60 » by **Nuntius** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:39 am

Goldtop wrote:Pacers need a superstar, either on offense or defense

Paul George and Roy Hibbert have been amazing defenders and are in the top of most defensive ratings this season.

The Pacers could very well have that defensive superstar in the combination of Paul George and Roy Hibbert.

It's not a coincidence that we're the #1 D so far.