Indian Pacers are still a top defensive team and can make the playoffs

[hands11]

They need George Hill healthy.

[hands11]

There ya go. Another win.

GSW up next.

Not something to look forward to but man, if they can get that win that would be huge for them.

Nothing to lose. I loss is not big deal. I win and that would be a great boost of confidence.

[Nuntius]

They need George Hill healthy.

Exactly. We missed George Hill a lot in these last two games. His steady hand would help us a lot down the stretch.

Thankfully, we managed to pull out a win tonight.

[floppymoose]

I picked the Pacers to make the playoffs in the preseason and I haven't given up on that yet, though it is getting to be a long shot.

[EuroPacer]

I picked the Pacers to make the playoffs in the preseason and I haven't given up on that yet, though it is getting to be a long shot.

The chance is still there but the injuries just don't seem to clear properly. I don't know what is going on, these guys were never injured this much before.

[hands11]

It was BOS

It was OT

But it was a win.

You take it and move onto the next game.

Gotta keep getting healthier.

One game out of 8th

Gotta win. DET is coming on strong.

[boomershadow]

As bad as things have looked at times and all the close games we have lost, one game behind 8 ain't that awful.

[Scoot McGroot]

As bad as things have looked at times and all the close games we have lost, one game behind 8 ain't that awful.

And only 2.5 games away op from the 4th pick, too.

[Jake0890]

We've got a pretty easy stretch coming up so I wouldn't be surprised to see us grab a seed.

[boomershadow]

I've changed my mind. If we can't beat the sixers, we might just wanna tank.

[Clutch31]

You guys may have never seen me post here, but i'm around here reading these forums for years. Been a pacerfan since back in de the Smits/Miller era.

I really don't get the pacers frontoffice mindset this season. Why keep trying being competitive this season when the maximum result is probably a low playoff seed and then get knocked out very quick. Why not think long term and tank to get a better draft pick and maybe move a few guys for more draft picks, so you can build around PG, SHill and the new youngsters. That team would be (that's what i think) better for the next coming years then when you do nothing and keep trying to win with the same team that's not gonna win you a championship anyway.

How do you guys see this ?

[Scoot McGroot]

You guys may have never seen me post here, but i'm around here reading these forums for years. Been a pacerfan since back in de the Smits/Miller era.

I really don't get the pacers frontoffice mindset this season. Why keep trying being competitive this season when the maximum result is probably a low playoff seed and then get knocked out very quick. Why not think long term and tank to get a better draft pick and maybe move a few guys for more draft picks, so you can build around PG, SHill and the new youngsters. That team would be (that's what i think) better for the next coming years then when you do nothing and keep trying to win with the same team that's not gonna win you a championship anyway.

How do you guys see this ?

The reasoning to compete and hopefully win some games is this; the more competitive, the more tickets sold. Then, make it to the playoffs and you get 2 or more home games, and the ticket sales that accompany that. Ultimately, making a late playoff seed likely makes the franchise an extra $7m or so, and keeps a stronger ticket base for the next year, too.

Hate it or not, that's likely what it comes down to. And the fact that guys like Bird are just so type A about winning that it hurts to "tank", and with guys like George Hill, Roy Hibbert, CJ Mikes, and especially David West, it's really hard to tank; you'd have to trade almost all of them. After that, it's not a one year quick rebuild, its a massive complete overhaul for 3-5 years.

[Scoot McGroot]

You guys may have never seen me post here, but i'm around here reading these forums for years. Been a pacerfan since back in de the Smits/Miller era.

I really don't get the pacers frontoffice mindset this season. Why keep trying being competitive this season when the maximum result is probably a low playoff seed and then get knocked out very quick. Why not think long term and tank to get a better draft pick and maybe move a few guys for more draft picks, so you can build around PG, SHill and the new youngsters. That team would be (that's what i think) better for the next coming years then when you do nothing and keep trying to win with the same team that's not gonna win you a championship anyway.

How do you guys see this ?

But most importantly, welcome, and if you have good questions like that, don't lurk so much! Share 'em!

[Clutch31]

You guys may have never seen me post here, but i'm around here reading these forums for years. Been a pacerfan since back in de the Smits/Miller era.

I really don't get the pacers frontoffice mindset this season. Why keep trying being competitive this season when the maximum result is probably a low playoff seed and then get knocked out very quick. Why not think long term and tank to get a better draft pick and maybe move a few guys for more draft picks, so you can build around PG, SHill and the new youngsters. That team would be (that's what i think) better for the next coming years then when you do nothing and keep trying to win with the same team that's not gonna win you a championship anyway.

How do you guys see this ?

The reasoning to compete and hopefully win some games is this; the more competitive, the more tickets sold. Then, make it to the playoffs and you get 2 or more home games, and the ticket sales that accompany that. Ultimately, making a late playoff seed likely makes the franchise an extra $7m or so, and keeps a stronger ticket base for the next year, too.

Hate it or not, that's likely what it comes down to. And the fact that guys like Bird are just so type A about winning that it hurts to "tank", and with guys like George Hill, Roy Hibbert, CJ Mikes, and especially David West, it's really hard to tank; you'd have to trade almost all of them. After that, it's not a one year quick rebuild, its a massive complete overhaul for 3-5 years.

Thanks for the welcome and sharing your thoughts on the club's view on this. I understand the economic point and the will to be competitive now, it's just that i would personally look at it more long term. Not the full philly way of doing it, but right now you are in a position with a lot of options. You have a few nice assets who could be away after this offseason if they opt out (Hibbert, West) and you can tank now for a better draft pick. To me giving up one season with very little perspective and a bright future full of young gems sounds better then standing pat.

[pacers33granger]

It sucks that we're in such a small market that we really can't tank. It's risky, but there's a good chance that you can recoup that 7 mil or so in playoff revenue with a cheap rookie.

I wouldn't want to move all of our guys though. I'd want to be extra cautious with injuries (we've had enough) and keep guys out maybe a bit longer than need be and hopefully go into next year fully healthy. Though if we continue to do it just with George Hill that may be enough as our pg play this year has been really bad and it was a weak point before.

[Scoot McGroot]

You guys may have never seen me post here, but i'm around here reading these forums for years. Been a pacerfan since back in de the Smits/Miller era.

I really don't get the pacers frontoffice mindset this season. Why keep trying being competitive this season when the maximum result is probably a low playoff seed and then get knocked out very quick. Why not think long term and tank to get a better draft pick and maybe move a few guys for more draft picks, so you can build around PG, SHill and the new youngsters. That team would be (that's what i think) better for the next coming years then when you do nothing and keep trying to win with the same team that's not gonna win you a championship anyway.

How do you guys see this ?

The reasoning to compete and hopefully win some games is this; the more competitive, the more tickets sold. Then, make it to the playoffs and you get 2 or more home games, and the ticket sales that accompany that. Ultimately, making a late playoff seed likely makes the franchise an extra $7m or so, and keeps a stronger ticket base for the next year, too.

Hate it or not, that's likely what it comes down to. And the fact that guys like Bird are just so type A about winning that it hurts to "tank", and with guys like George Hill, Roy Hibbert, CJ Mikes, and especially David West, it's really hard to tank; you'd have to trade almost all of them. After that, it's not a one year quick rebuild, its a massive complete overhaul for 3-5 years.

Thanks for the welcome and sharing your thoughts on the club's view on this. I understand the economic point and the will to be competitive now, it's just that i would personally look at it more long term. Not the full philly way of doing it, but right now you are in a position with a lot of options. You have a few nice assets who could be away after this offseason if they opt out (Hibbert, West) and you can tank now for a better draft pick. To me giving up one season with very little perspective and a bright future full of young gems sounds better then standing pat.

Bird went through this a couple years back and it absolutely tore him up, and took almost 5 years for the fans to come back. I think even if he recognized that getting a better pick would be nice longer term, it's just really hard to actively do something to get there, knowing that you're going to push the fans away and that it will make it immensely harder to get them back.

Either way, I think we're ending up in the same spot. I don't know if this team can win as long as George Hill is injured. Actively tank or not, we'll likely still end up with a good lottery pick, and probably end up in the same range, anyway.