Hey guys! I missed you all

[Starkiller]

Can't really explain why, but I've been pretty absent from this board, and the Pacers season in general, I guess it's from working a lot of hours this holiday season, but now that I've got more time I'm going to sit down and watch some more games. But I was just wondering if anyone can give me a brief rundown of the season so far? How are we doing? Who's looking good? Bad? What's the goals for the year w/out PG? So on and so forth.

[Jake0890]

Welcome back.

Considering the changes we've had (West missing a lot of games to start the season. Lance in Charlotte, Hill just returning now, Hibbert going down for a few games, and PG done for the year), we've done well. I mean, seriously, we ran a starting lineup of career role players and had A.J. Price playing significant minutes for 10 games. Solomon Hill has shown promise, hitting a buzzer beater layup this season, and PG's injury seems to be just what he needed to prove himself. Lavoy Allen has impressed as well, constantly outplaying Luis Scola, but as expected with Vogel, Scola continues to play. And Cope has been pretty good, his scoring at least, but doesn't get too many minutes recently. Hibbert started off hot, but is now regressing to his last season form, pretty weak most games. West is also showing his age. Watson and Sloan have been neither here nor there. Miles looks like a chucker, really wants to shoot, but can't seem to actually score. Stuckey has played well, a steal for the vet min we're paying him.

I guess in the end, we're playing pretty well without Paul George, but in the end, we're not playing well enough to get a playoff spot. We'll be on the outside looking in this year.

[Starkiller]

I'm of the mindset that I wouldn't mind missing the playoffs this year and possibly make a great draft pick, is anyone else on that bandwagon?

[pacers33granger]

I'm of the mindset that I wouldn't mind missing the playoffs this year and possibly make a great draft pick, is anyone else on that bandwagon?

I have been since the PG injury (though I understand and respect Bird not tanking). I think there's numerous guys who should be in this draft that could be huge for us. I doubt we luck into a top 2 pick, but if we can get the 3rd pick I'd love to get Mudiay since he would fit perfect with George Hill in the backcourt. If not, we'd have a good shot at one of the young bigs and we could trade Ian for something (I think we could use Cauley-Stein very well though it may take him a bit to become an NBA player).

Either way I'm kind of resigned to getting one of our trademark late lotto picks this summer. I just hope to god Bird doesn't use it on another Hansbrough-type.

[Jermainevent]

I'm of the mindset that I wouldn't mind missing the playoffs this year and possibly make a great draft pick, is anyone else on that bandwagon?

I'm with you on that sentiment Starkiller, I think having a top 10 pick to put alongside PG13 would be ideal moving forward. We could even package our top 10 pick with one of our 2016 expiring contracts (West, Hibbertt) to grab a disgruntled star or up and coming talent. I don't like the idea of tanking, but getting swept in the first round by the Raptors, Hawks, or Wizards doesn't provide a lot of benefit as most of our current contributors already have playoff experience. I'd really like to see if we could package together a couple of our 2015 expirings (Scola, Copeland, Stuckey, Watson) to a cash strapped team or a team looking for some veteran leadership for a playoff run for possibly a young piece or two. There's a lot of things that I'm sure our front office is exploring. Hopefully they can make something happen because as currently constituted, I'm not sure if this team's ceiling is much higher than the 4th seed when healthy.

[Scoot McGroot]

I'm of the mindset that I wouldn't mind missing the playoffs this year and possibly make a great draft pick, is anyone else on that bandwagon?

I think the fans are, but Bird and Vogel realistically won't.

[Jake0890]

Jahlil Okafor would be a godsend, the kid is a MONSTER. But we're not bad enough to get him. In fact, right now, we've got the 8th pick, which puts us in more of the range of guys like Willie Cauley-Stein, Caris LeVert, and Montrezl Harrell than anyone else.

[Nuntius]

Welcome back, mate.

[Wizop]

Lavoy Allen has impressed as well, constantly outplaying Luis Scola, but as expected with Vogel, Scola continues to play.

perhaps playing Allen as a four was a possibility before Ian went down, but generally it's been Allen and Scola on the floor together with the second unit and not a question of one or the other. Allen/Scola have rather consistently outplayed West/Hibbert. we've had a ton of games where the second unit has won their time on the floor while the first unit has been way minus. with all of the injuries and illnesses, we are still looking for the best rotation.

[Jake0890]

Lavoy Allen has impressed as well, constantly outplaying Luis Scola, but as expected with Vogel, Scola continues to play.

perhaps playing Allen as a four was a possibility before Ian went down, but generally it's been Allen and Scola on the floor together with the second unit and not a question of one or the other. Allen/Scola have rather consistently outplayed West/Hibbert. we've had a ton of games where the second unit has won their time on the floor while the first unit has been way minus. with all of the injuries and illnesses, we are still looking for the best rotation.

That's true. I'd like to see an Allen Hibbert front court more often, but you're right, the Allen Scott pairing seems to work well a lot. Starters have definitely disappointed this year in comparison to the bench.