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

[hands11]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/lea ... tings.html

Its been a rough start of the season for them with injuries but now they are getting healthy.

This next 3 games are winnable and if they do that, I think they can still make the playoff this year.

Look at all those other top defensive teams. They will all be in the playoffs.

Top 5-6 defensive teams are playoff teams. They just need a little more offense.

I could even see Paul George returning this team if they can start to close that gap closer to .500%

The team is only net -1.4 in pts. Just a little more offense and they can win some games. The next 8 games until Sat, Jan 17 are a much easier schedule. They could make up a lot of ground and go 7-1 and get to 19-22. That's right there for making the 8th seed.

[Jermainevent]

Playoffs are definitely not out of the question; but the real question remains, does it benefit our franchise to get a 7th or 8th seed? I think having a high draft pick to place alongside Paul George or to use in a trade to net a veteran would be more beneficial long-term. Outside of CJ Miles and Solomon Hill, the rest of our players who will likely be contributors beyond this season already have extensive playoff experience. Now all of this changes if Paul George were able to comeback at 100% by March and the East looked up for grabs.

[Jake0890]

Given how much the Eastern Conference really, really sucks, it's definitely a possibility that the Pacers sneak into the playoffs, most likely between the 6th and 8th seeds. And actually, in the playoffs, PG might return, which could give us a chance to make some serious noise and upset one of the top seeds, I dunno.

Personally, I want the Pacers to make the playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs, we'll be a mid to late lottery seed, and this draft class isn't good enough to provide a ton of talent that late. In fact, unless we get Jahlil Okafor or Muliday, who are the only real franchise changing guys imo, I'd rather be in the playoffs.

[hands11]

Given how much the Eastern Conference really, really sucks, it's definitely a possibility that the Pacers sneak into the playoffs, most likely between the 6th and 8th seeds. And actually, in the playoffs, PG might return, which could give us a chance to make some serious noise and upset one of the top seeds, I dunno.

Personally, I want the Pacers to make the playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs, we'll be a mid to late lottery seed, and this draft class isn't good enough to provide a ton of talent that late. In fact, unless we get Jahlil Okafor or Muliday, who are the only real franchise changing guys imo, I'd rather be in the playoffs.

Actually, the East doesn't suck like you read so often. There are a few new teams on the rise in TOR and WAS. There is CHI who has been on the boarder for years but injured. ATL on the boarder with some younger player finally bringing them more depth. MIA in transition and CLE reloading. Plus young team like MIL with lots of young talent. Even ORL has been building up. And its missing IND who is only not there because of injury.

But there could be an 8th seed open. No guarantees though.

TOR, CHI, ATL, WAS have to top strong and if CLE ever gets a new coach and gets their act together, they will be tough making that a strong top 5 teams.

MIA has to much experience like IND and they still have Wade and Bosh. They will be there and don't count out them making a move to help.

MIL is talented and right on the edge as an up and coming young team like TOR and WAS where in past years.

That 8 teams right there.

I see IND in the MIA mold. They can be there. Also, DET might shock some people now that they made the move they needed.

If that happens, I don't see where the East could be considered weak. Not with PG back on IND.

TOR, CHI, ATL, WAS, MIA, CLE, MIL, IND, DET

Would suck to be TOR winning the conference and have to face IND with Paul back.

[pacers33granger]

Only good I can see coming out of reaching the playoffs is some good experience for Solomon Hill and Lavoy Allen. Everyone else that matters on the team has seen a ton of playoff basketball. I guess it's more money for the team so that helps too. I'm resigned to the fact that we will have a mid first either way, but I'd really like us to get a lotto pick this year, we could really use it.

[hands11]

Only good I can see coming out of reaching the playoffs is some good experience for Solomon Hill and Lavoy Allen. Everyone else that matters on the team has seen a ton of playoff basketball. I guess it's more money for the team so that helps too. I'm resigned to the fact that we will have a mid first either way, but I'd really like us to get a lotto pick this year, we could really use it.

Getting a top lottery pick is a long shot. And if you don't get that, the later positions are all that different.

I think Paul George will come back this season. And I don't think Larry will just lie down.

I think IND will be there.

[pacers33granger]

Only good I can see coming out of reaching the playoffs is some good experience for Solomon Hill and Lavoy Allen. Everyone else that matters on the team has seen a ton of playoff basketball. I guess it's more money for the team so that helps too. I'm resigned to the fact that we will have a mid first either way, but I'd really like us to get a lotto pick this year, we could really use it.

Getting a top lottery pick is a long shot. And if you don't get that, the later positions are all that different.

I think Paul George will come back this season. And I don't think Larry will just lie down.

I think IND will be there.

Larry certainly will still be shooting for the playoffs. I'd be pretty disappointed if he let George come back for the playoffs though. Would love to see him back in action, but I'd be very worried about him not being in game shape and playing postseason basketball to get into it.

I don't expect us to get a top lotto pick at all, but so far it seems like there may be a good sized difference in the 8-10 range and the 14-16 range.

[hands11]

Only good I can see coming out of reaching the playoffs is some good experience for Solomon Hill and Lavoy Allen. Everyone else that matters on the team has seen a ton of playoff basketball. I guess it's more money for the team so that helps too. I'm resigned to the fact that we will have a mid first either way, but I'd really like us to get a lotto pick this year, we could really use it.

Getting a top lottery pick is a long shot. And if you don't get that, the later positions are all that different.

I think Paul George will come back this season. And I don't think Larry will just lie down.

I think IND will be there.

Larry certainly will still be shooting for the playoffs. I'd be pretty disappointed if he let George come back for the playoffs though. Would love to see him back in action, but I'd be very worried about him not being in game shape and playing postseason basketball to get into it.

I don't expect us to get a top lotto pick at all, but so far it seems like there may be a good sized difference in the 8-10 range and the 14-16 range.

Yeah, but they aren't really a 8-10. They are more a MIA level team. Thats 13th. I don't there is much difference between that and 15th

[Jake0890]

Given how much the Eastern Conference really, really sucks, it's definitely a possibility that the Pacers sneak into the playoffs, most likely between the 6th and 8th seeds. And actually, in the playoffs, PG might return, which could give us a chance to make some serious noise and upset one of the top seeds, I dunno.

Personally, I want the Pacers to make the playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs, we'll be a mid to late lottery seed, and this draft class isn't good enough to provide a ton of talent that late. In fact, unless we get Jahlil Okafor or Muliday, who are the only real franchise changing guys imo, I'd rather be in the playoffs.

Actually, the East doesn't suck like you read so often. There are a few new teams on the rise in TOR and WAS. There is CHI who has been on the boarder for years but injured. ATL on the boarder with some younger player finally bringing them more depth. MIA in transition and CLE reloading. Plus young team like MIL with lots of young talent. Even ORL has been building up. And its missing IND who is only not there because of injury.

But there could be an 8th seed open. No guarantees though.

TOR, CHI, ATL, WAS have to top strong and if CLE ever gets a new coach and gets their act together, they will be tough making that a strong top 5 teams.

MIA has to much experience like IND and they still have Wade and Bosh. They will be there and don't count out them making a move to help.

MIL is talented and right on the edge as an up and coming young team like TOR and WAS where in past years.

That 8 teams right there.

I see IND in the MIA mold. They can be there. Also, DET might shock some people now that they made the move they needed.

If that happens, I don't see where the East could be considered weak. Not with PG back on IND.

TOR, CHI, ATL, WAS, MIA, CLE, MIL, IND, DET

Would suck to be TOR winning the conference and have to face IND with Paul back.

No, the East sucks THAT bad. In fact, it doesn't get said enough. The talent disparity is completely undeniable at this point.

The West has 9 .500+ teams, the East has 6. The 8th seed in the west would be the 6th seed in the East. And hell, the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER aren't even in the top 8 of the West right now. I won't deny that Toronto, Atlanta, and Washington are good, but they're taking advantage of massively depleted divisions. Toronto plays Brooklyn, New York, Boston, and Philly in their division. Washington gets a tough matchup with Atlanta, then gets to play Orlando, Charlotte, and Miami. Every single division in the West has 3, if not 4, tough teams. And then if you take it on a team by team basis, the top 7 teams in the West, GSW, POR, MEM, HOU, DAL, LAC, and SAS would ALL be favored over the top 4 seeds in the East TOR, ATL, WAS, CHI, if they were to play in the playoffs.

If the Pacers were in the West, they'd be getting smoked night in, night out. As it stands, they're 12-21 in the East. In the West, they'd be looking at the worst record in the league, probably close to Minnesota's 5-25 record.

It's not even close man, the reason the Pacers are in the playoff conversation is because they play in the Leastern Conference.

[boomershadow]

I don't understand those who say "what good is it to make the playoffs as a 7-8th seed?" Do they often win? Well, of course not. But they have, and you don't even get the chance to win if you don't show up. And when you stop trying to win, that is indeed bad.

That said, I would surprised if we make the playoffs. Happy, but surprised.

[Jermainevent]

I don't understand those who say "what good is it to make the playoffs as a 7-8th seed?" Do they often win? Well, of course not. But they have, and you don't even get the chance to win if you don't show up. And when you stop trying to win, that is indeed bad.

That said, I would surprised if we make the playoffs. Happy, but surprised.

A lot of it depends on if Paul George will be available for the playoffs, and most are under the assumption he will not be ready to go by April. Even if George were to return to the team then, he'd have quite a bit of rust to knock off. So I think you make the first point for most of the people who are arguing for a high draft pick over barely clawing our way into the playoffs, we have little chance of making it out of the first round. Even if we were somehow able to pull off an upset in the first round against the Raptors or Wizards, we would then have to take on the Bulls, Hawks, or Cavs. Even at full strength that's a pretty daunting task.

Beyond having little chance of actually advancing in the playoffs. we could potentially cost ourselves a high draft pick that could play alongside George for the foreseeable future or the pick could be packaged in a deal for a disgruntled veteran on another team. Additionally. unlike the Pacers team in 2011 that had a bunch playoff virgins who needed to get their feet wet, our current squad's main components all have pretty extensive playoff experience outside of Solo and Lavoy.

I hate losing, however, if it's between getting bounced in the first round or the 10th pick, I'll take the pick.

[hands11]

Given how much the Eastern Conference really, really sucks, it's definitely a possibility that the Pacers sneak into the playoffs, most likely between the 6th and 8th seeds. And actually, in the playoffs, PG might return, which could give us a chance to make some serious noise and upset one of the top seeds, I dunno.

Personally, I want the Pacers to make the playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs, we'll be a mid to late lottery seed, and this draft class isn't good enough to provide a ton of talent that late. In fact, unless we get Jahlil Okafor or Muliday, who are the only real franchise changing guys imo, I'd rather be in the playoffs.

Actually, the East doesn't suck like you read so often. There are a few new teams on the rise in TOR and WAS. There is CHI who has been on the boarder for years but injured. ATL on the boarder with some younger player finally bringing them more depth. MIA in transition and CLE reloading. Plus young team like MIL with lots of young talent. Even ORL has been building up. And its missing IND who is only not there because of injury.

But there could be an 8th seed open. No guarantees though.

TOR, CHI, ATL, WAS have to top strong and if CLE ever gets a new coach and gets their act together, they will be tough making that a strong top 5 teams.

MIA has to much experience like IND and they still have Wade and Bosh. They will be there and don't count out them making a move to help.

MIL is talented and right on the edge as an up and coming young team like TOR and WAS where in past years.

That 8 teams right there.

I see IND in the MIA mold. They can be there. Also, DET might shock some people now that they made the move they needed.

If that happens, I don't see where the East could be considered weak. Not with PG back on IND.

TOR, CHI, ATL, WAS, MIA, CLE, MIL, IND, DET

Would suck to be TOR winning the conference and have to face IND with Paul back.

No, the East sucks THAT bad. In fact, it doesn't get said enough. The talent disparity is completely undeniable at this point.

The West has 9 .500+ teams, the East has 6. The 8th seed in the west would be the 6th seed in the East. And hell, the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER aren't even in the top 8 of the West right now. I won't deny that Toronto, Atlanta, and Washington are good, but they're taking advantage of massively depleted divisions. Toronto plays Brooklyn, New York, Boston, and Philly in their division. Washington gets a tough matchup with Atlanta, then gets to play Orlando, Charlotte, and Miami. Every single division in the West has 3, if not 4, tough teams. And then if you take it on a team by team basis, the top 7 teams in the West, GSW, POR, MEM, HOU, DAL, LAC, and SAS would ALL be favored over the top 4 seeds in the East TOR, ATL, WAS, CHI, if they were to play in the playoffs.

If the Pacers were in the West, they'd be getting smoked night in, night out. As it stands, they're 12-21 in the East. In the West, they'd be looking at the worst record in the league, probably close to Minnesota's 5-25 record.

It's not even close man, the reason the Pacers are in the playoff conversation is because they play in the Leastern Conference.

First, yes.. the West is deeper and has been for several years. My point was, the gap is no widening, actually its narrowing and I question how strong they really are at the top. As for the records, we will see. Its still early in the season. The best of the West has not dominated the best of the East. Actually, the two sides haven't played each other all that much and as much as they have, I would have to add it up but it looks like the top East team have won more. Most the East teams that the West has played have been the bad ones. The PHI, NY, DET teams. If you look at the schedules for the team, you will see that.

ATL and TOR have beaten the best of the West. And now WAS is about to go up against a few of them.

And those West teams also benefited from OKC, SAS and IND being injured. Heck, they even benefited from SAS being injured. If OKC and SAS had been healthy, they would be two of the top three teams in that conference.

GSW plays TOR FRI.. Lets see how that goes. The only top East team GSW even played was CHI Dec 6 and they did win that.
POR plays ATL on Sat. POR just lost to TOR the other night. POR has split with CHI 1 and 1
HOU just lost to WAS the other night. Actually, if not for the refs letting them back in, it was a blow out.
LAC.. they just lost to both TOR and ATL and MIL and WAS before that.
DAL.. they just beat WAS but lost to ATL before that.

This amazing West has not really been all that amazing. Check their records. See who they have been in the East and when. Again, the West has benefited by OKC and SAS being injured and by playing the worst of the East mostly.

[basketballwacko2]

I think a lot of this depends on where we are at mid Feb. PG might be able to play by 4/1 and maybe not. That broken leg was horrible he's a young guy and in great shape so he is gonna heal but I don't see him back before the season is over. Yes he's walking on it and kinda jogging and shooting little jumpers but, 3-4 more months? I just think he's gonna need until the beginning of next season to get fully healed and in game shape.

As for the team depending on our record by say Feb 15th Larry will make a decision on whether to trade some guys or try to make a run. I know he wants to win, so if it's close he'll either make a deal to acquire a win now guy or just run with the team we have. But if we are say 16 wins 30 loses we might see a major trade to move someone like Roy to acquire future assets. Who would want Roy? It depends on how well he's playing and what the feel is for him opting out of his contract. I expect that he will opt out no matter if he's here or someplace else. So if he does do with then resign him. If we could move him for some quality assets I say do it. I love Allen at the Center, yeah he's a bit under sized but he holds his own, and we'll have Ian back in a few weeks. I'd speculate potential trade partners as Portland, Cleveland, and Boston maybe someone else.

[hands11]

That the first win they needed.

Looks like C.J. Miles is getting it going. Nice addition. I wanted him for the Wizards.

West needs to take more shots though.

Lakers next

[Nuntius]

Top defensive teams always have a chance. The same thing applies to us. If we manage to finally get healthy we can make a push for the playoffs. There is no doubt in my mind that if we were healthy all season long we would be above .500. This obviously isn't the case right now since we were not healthy but we can still make it. We just need to stay healthy.

[8305]

Top defensive teams always have a chance. The same thing applies to us. If we manage to finally get healthy we can make a push for the playoffs. There is no doubt in my mind that if we were healthy all season long we would be above .500. This obviously isn't the case right now since we were not healthy but we can still make it. We just need to stay healthy.

I agree. If we stay healthy I think we are the 6th best team in the east. None of current seeds 6-8 are that far ahead of us.

Is anyone else noticing that for the last week or so CJ Miles is simply killing it? If he continues at any thing close to his current pace that contract looks like a stroke of genius.

[winter_mute_13]

Top defensive teams always have a chance. The same thing applies to us. If we manage to finally get healthy we can make a push for the playoffs. There is no doubt in my mind that if we were healthy all season long we would be above .500. This obviously isn't the case right now since we were not healthy but we can still make it. We just need to stay healthy.

I agree. If we stay healthy I think we are the 6th best team in the east. None of current seeds 6-8 are that far ahead of us.

Is anyone else noticing that for the last week or so CJ Miles is simply killing it? If he continues at any thing close to his current pace that contract looks like a stroke of genius.

It seems to be either feast or famine with CJ. After the atrocious season start, the law of averages seem to be working in his favor now

He takes a lot of what looks like bad shots, but then they keep going in Just have to live with that, I suppose.

[EuroPacer]

I am all for us making the play-offs and predicted it after the PG injury. Not sure we want to be higher than 8th seed though, an upset against "We the North" will do for me

[hands11]

Big game tonight. Pulling for IND to bet the LAL in LA

Keep this train rolling.

DET look to have it rolling. I think they can get there as well.

[pacers33granger]

It seems to be either feast or famine with CJ. After the atrocious season start, the law of averages seem to be working in his favor now

He takes a lot of what looks like bad shots, but then they keep going in Just have to live with that, I suppose.

Yup, I think some of it could be that he had some health issues at the start of the season and I'm sure Vogel is still learning how best to use him. Even though he's had some sucky streaks, he's still probably the best offensive bench player we've had in a long time.