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How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 11:12 pm
by libertines24
Just one scorer away? Maybe a Jennings?



What do you all think? Are they ready now?

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 2:48 am
by Wizop
Danny Granger of old just might do it. I'm not giving up on this year yet though.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 3:33 am
by Scoot McGroot
libertines24 wrote:Just one scorer away? Maybe a Jennings?



What do you all think? Are they ready now?


Jennings? We'd like to improve, not implode.

Probably a scoring wing away. We will see soon.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 9:17 am
by Grang33r
Paul George needs to become more selfish, essp in the fourth quarter. We don't have that "closer" at end of games.

Pacers are a young team. Only one current player on the roster that is over 27 years of age (West, 32). They will all get better with time and with more experience.

I also think the perfect season for the Pacers could be 2014-15. Spurs will be in a somewhat rebuild. Who knows how Derrick Rose's knee will be by then. LeBrun James could end up leaving Miami. Indiana will be 2 years older and if they make the right moves until then, essp if they can hit on a draft pick that can have an impact, they could do some real damage. But i do think, despite what Bill Simmons says, we are legit contenders not only now, but next season as well.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 4:11 pm
by Scoot McGroot
Ultimately, I think either continued growth offensively from Lance and/or a healthy and offensively resurgent Granger would be huge for this roster.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 10:10 pm
by mrbochin
Knick fan in here coming in peace, I think your team just need a GOOD PG, that will make you the best time in the League IMO, in the beginning of the season, I said to friends of mind, that I love (as basketball fan) what they were doing in Indiana, they laugh at me saying that the team we should worry about was the Bulls, time has giving me the reason...and actually today, we were talking again about and we all agree that all you need is a PG to distribuite you offense and it will take you to another level, your team is the most balance team in NBA in my opinion, together with Memphis.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 3:13 am
by Wizop
we may need depth at point guard but George Hill fits our needs perfectly. he's not the drive and dish type of point guard but that really isn't needed with Hibbert and West. we play inside out and George is just fine making a post entry pass and hitting his share of threes of the post man is doubled and kicks the ball back out. neither Hibbert nor West have the speed to race to the rim after setting a screen so we don't need a point guard who can pass off the drive. Hill also defends his position well and can move to 2 and defend that position too.

now Stephenson is terrific driving particularly on the break where he is a locomotive - a little Lebron. he's fallen to the floor a lot recently though and that isn't normal. I think he's hiding an injury and hope that problem is gone next fall.

our biggest need is someone who can play Paul George's role on offense and defense when Paul needs a rest. last year roles were reversed and Granger played the starters role and Paul was learning to cover for him. if Danny comes back 90% of his old self, that hole will be filled.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 3:09 pm
by Boneman2
I agree that Granger is exactly what we're missing. I think we insert him and our defense becomes even better while our offense improves tremendously. Imagine having two elite small forwards against ATL and NYC, we're talking 5 possibly 4 games max.

Point guard seems to be a need, but not really, not with Paul George able to distribute like he does. It allows George Hill to act as a combo-guard, which he is.

Ultimately, minus Miami I think the Pacers are a contender right now.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 10:53 pm
by BurningBridges
A healthy Danny Granger and a 3 point specialist.

Getting JJ Reddick might fill the offensive gap

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 12:59 am
by Jake0890
3 point specialist and a healthy Danny Granger. We passed on Delfino and Korver, and that was a mistake. And we need Danny healthy for as much cap as he takes up without producing.

All that said, I'm not going to say we can't contend right now.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 3:01 am
by MillerTheKiller
We're 8 wins away, that's how close we are.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 3:22 am
by Zeno
Not saying it is the only thing, but with your team's defense maybe you could hide a Jose Calderon off the bench who would be good to control turnovers. He's a very good shooter and pick and roll player as well.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 4:08 am
by PR07
A LeBron James injury away.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 5:25 am
by Grang33r
PR07 wrote:A LeBron James injury away.


How about D-Wade?

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 12:31 pm
by Wizop
Zeno wrote:Not saying it is the only thing, but with your team's defense maybe you could hide a Jose Calderon off the bench who would be good to control turnovers. He's a very good shooter and pick and roll player as well.


I'd court Jose long before I'd look at guys like Korver who are three point specialists who can't defend. you can argue that Gerald Green is a three point specialist and without being able to defend or pass he just hasn't fit in.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 12:56 pm
by Jake0890
Wizop wrote:
Zeno wrote:Not saying it is the only thing, but with your team's defense maybe you could hide a Jose Calderon off the bench who would be good to control turnovers. He's a very good shooter and pick and roll player as well.


I'd court Jose long before I'd look at guys like Korver who are three point specialists who can't defend. you can argue that Gerald Green is a three point specialist and without being able to defend or pass he just hasn't fit in.


I don't think Gerald Green is a 3 point specialist by any means. He's a dunk specialist, if there is such a thing. We lack a real great shooter though, and that's what we need. You've seen what Korver and Bellinelli has done for the Bulls, and they shoot the lights out against us every game.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 6:18 pm
by jovencane
This series will tell

ousted in 4-5 games = NOT contender

ousted in 6-7 games = possibly a contender

win (lol) = definitely a contender

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 6:37 pm
by Boneman2
jovencane wrote:This series will tell

ousted in 4-5 games = NOT contender

ousted in 6-7 games = possibly a contender

win (lol) = definitely a contender


If that is the criteria, then based off of last year we are the second option.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 6:38 pm
by Scoot McGroot
jovencane wrote:This series will tell

ousted in 4-5 games = NOT contender

ousted in 6-7 games = possibly a contender

win (lol) = definitely a contender


Ha! Kind of.

It's such a young roster that even a quick out to the Heat shouldn't cause us to make any drastic changes. Some continued growth from everyone and an improved Lance and healthy Granger could make a tremendous difference.

Re: How close are the Pacers to being a championship team?

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 6:49 pm
by Wizop
Korver or Reddick hold no attraction for me. Bellinelli does although you have to wonder if OJ can be a similar player soon. Green certainly has had the green light to shoot threes although if you want to say that he's only a three point specialist in his dreams I won't argue.