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I was looking at the Pacers schedule we've got the Raptors Thursday then the Thunder on saturday. Once we get past them the road looks easier. I see at least 9 wins in that list if our guys play well. Even if we lose the 2 games coming up we should be able to end up 45-37 that's better than most people thought at the beginning of the season.

March 21 Philly (Win)
March 24 NO(Win)
March 26 @BrooklynLoss
March 27 Houston(Win)
March 29 ChicagoLoss
March 31 Orlando
April 2 @Philly
April 3 @Knicks
April 6 Cleveland
April 8 @Toronto
April 10 Brooklyn
April 12 Knicks
April 13 @Bucks

Those are all teams we're arguably better than minus Cleveland and Toronto, but also throw in a few games we should win but we won't and I'll project is going 8-5 to close out the regular season.


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The key is we have more home than road games left. However, I won't cry if we wind up in the lottery again.

Honestly this team could potentially be better for it if they miss the playoffs. A lottery pick with max cap space. Paul and an emerging Myles Turner. I feel funny rooting for this scenario but. A 7th or 8th seed potential first round out doesnt seem all that appealing to me.

I know that the pacers will not tank, they're gonna go all out and try to win, granted they have their bad games and lose to teams they shouldn't at times. I get the idea of a higher draft pick and the playoff slot might mean an early exit. If we end up in the lottery we might get a better player, the guy I'm looking for is Denzel Valentine. He would make it possible to move either Stuckey or Ellis in a summer trade. Valentine looks ready to play in the NBA and he gives me a little Dremond Green feeling.

SmashMouthRod wrote:Honestly this team could potentially be better for it if they miss the playoffs. A lottery pick with max cap space. Paul and an emerging Myles Turner. I feel funny rooting for this scenario but. A 7th or 8th seed potential first round out doesnt seem all that appealing to me.

Considering the West is down this year, barring a major ping pong ball upset in the lottery, we would be looking at moving from 19 to 14 if we missed the playoffs. I really don't see too much incentive, considering the draft looks jumbled from 8-20 or so, to miss the playoffs, especially when a playoff series would also do wonders for helping Myles Turner and his progress.

Scoot McGroot wrote:Considering the West is down this year, barring a major ping pong ball upset in the lottery, we would be looking at moving from 19 to 14 if we missed the playoffs. I really don't see too much incentive, considering the draft looks jumbled from 8-20 or so, to miss the playoffs, especially when a playoff series would also do wonders for helping Myles Turner and his progress.

I agree on the experience that Turner would get. And honestly I would enjoy watching Paul and Myles in a playoff matchup against someone like Toronto. I would have some hope in the chance of an first round upset. But that major draft upset chance could be the fluke that lands another potential star player like the aforementioned Denzel Valentine or someone as good. I would be concerned about Frank potentially losing his job if they miss the playoffs. But if Indy is 8th we may lose 4-1 to Cleveland. I believe Indy is capable of upsetting Toronto but its not likely. The lottery pick is a chance at a homerun. Imagine pick 10 or 11. A pick that Indy has had some luck with (George (pick 10), Miller (pick 11) and Turner (pick 11)). WIth Max Cap. And all main rotation guys under contract.

SmashMouthRod wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:Considering the West is down this year, barring a major ping pong ball upset in the lottery, we would be looking at moving from 19 to 14 if we missed the playoffs. I really don't see too much incentive, considering the draft looks jumbled from 8-20 or so, to miss the playoffs, especially when a playoff series would also do wonders for helping Myles Turner and his progress.

I agree on the experience that Turner would get. And honestly I would enjoy watching Paul and Myles in a playoff matchup against someone like Toronto. I would have some hope in the chance of an first round upset. But that major draft upset chance could be the fluke that lands another potential star player like the aforementioned Denzel Valentine or someone as good. I would be concerned about Frank potentially losing his job if they miss the playoffs. But if Indy is 8th we may lose 4-1 to Cleveland. I believe Indy is capable of upsetting Toronto but its not likely. The lottery pick is a chance at a homerun. Imagine pick 10 or 11. A pick that Indy has had some luck with (George (pick 10), Miller (pick 11) and Turner (pick 11)). WIth Max Cap. And all main rotation guys under contract.

Maybe, but, this year, with the way the eastern and western records are shaping up, unless we go something like 7 games worse than Milwaukee the rest of the way (only 20 or so games left), we're ultimately going to end up in the 12-14 range. So, Skal Labissiere at 11, or possibly Valentine, Ulis, or a Grayson Allen at around 18? I don't see the benefit to moving up. Especially this far before the draft combine, medical tests, workouts, etc.

Plus, the extra 2 home games of tickets could help a bit with the increased salary owed next year, too.

From the mock drafts I'm seeing Valentine is in the mid teens. Nbadraft.net has it's current mock draft putting Valentine at 16th, his being a senior is what's making him drop. Everyone wants these 18-19 yr olds. Upper classmen like Val are seen as a risk or maybe topped out, I see him as ready to play. There are several players who I like a lot in the 2nd round like Gary Payton Jr, I know we have Joe Young who is kinda cut from the same mold, but then there is Jarrod Uthoff and Nigel Hayes who are projected now as mid to late 2nd round.

Considering the schedule moving forward I don't see any way we miss the playoffs short of a full tank.

What a terrible loss against the Nets. We need to be winning these types of games


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glasket wrote:What a terrible loss against the Nets. We need to be winning these types of games


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I was yelling at the TV in the fourth for them to run a freaking play for Monta Ellis. And it never happened. And nobody else stepped up.

But this Nets team is the one that also just took down the Cavs. Not an excuse, but.

boomershadow wrote:

glasket wrote:What a terrible loss against the Nets. We need to be winning these types of games


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I was yelling at the TV in the fourth for them to run a freaking play for Monta Ellis. And it never happened. And nobody else stepped up.

But this Nets team is the one that also just took down the Cavs. Not an excuse, but.

Yeah. Brooklyn may be putting it together a bit and finally using their talent, but it was still an unacceptable and awful collapse late in the 4th.

We can't seem to win close games that Bulls game was tough as well as the Nets game.

And then it got worse

Ugh.

So, I am European and I always want to finish in the best spot we can, that is how sport works here. I'd rather have a first round play-off series that is lost, than drop to the useless 9-10 spaces in the East, the pick-value difference isn't worth it for me. What I see in the Pacers this year is a hell of a lot of inconsistency and still a lack of ability offensively (although it is a lot better than it was). Give Myles some play-off experience, with the core as it is we stand a chance of jumping up a notch or two coming season and contend the East again.

PS - hi guys, not been here for a while!

March 21 Philly (Win)
March 24 NO(Win)
March 26 @Brooklyn (Loss)
March 27 Houston(Win)
March 29 Chicago (Loss)
March 31 Orlando (Loss)
April 2 @Philly (Win)
April 3 @Knicks (Win)
April 6 Cleveland
April 8 @Toronto
April 10 Brooklyn
April 12 Knicks
April 13 @Bucks

The next two games are going to be challenges, putting it lightly.

EuroPacer wrote:So, I am European and I always want to finish in the best spot we can, that is how sport works here. I'd rather have a first round play-off series that is lost, than drop to the useless 9-10 spaces in the East, the pick-value difference isn't worth it for me.

Herb Simon would agree as even a few playoff games makes a big difference in the income statement.

March 21 Philly (Win)
March 24 NO(Win)
March 26 @Brooklyn (Loss)
March 27 Houston(Win)
March 29 Chicago (Loss)
March 31 Orlando (Loss)
April 2 @Philly (Win)
April 3 @Knicks (Win)
April 6 Cleveland (Win)
April 8 @Toronto
April 10 Brooklyn
April 12 Knicks
April 13 @Bucks

LeBron's away, the Pacers will play. Pistons also picked up the W, just .5 games behind.

Magic numbers are one with Chicago to clinch 8 and 3 with Detroit for 7.