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Hey posters,

First of all, I'm sorry that OUR Pacers weren't able to make the playoffs. You know I'm in the same boat, so I definitely identify with you. I am looking to put together NBA Summits for the fourteen Lottery teams as the playoffs get underway...that should keep things interesting for all parties...

I put together a ton of these on the NFL forums heading into next weekend's draft and they have been wildly successful. I hope for the same here, and I know the population of these boards will lend itself to many responses.

Editor Chris Reina and I have put together these seven question for you all to answer, with the best answers making it into posted pieces on our main page. The only thing that I ask is that you please limit your responses to two sentences per question. Please try your best to heed that request, it makes the Summits easier to read and quicker to put together.

Thanks gang, and best of luck in the Lottery.

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
2. Where were the team

ok let's roll

1.) Health aside. This team needs a lot of help defensively. We are without a point guard on the roster that can stop dribble penetration.

2.)The continuing emergence of "Hollywood" Granger. He breaks out more each year, all-star status is attainable next season.

3.)Has got to be Dunleavy. Despite some defensive limitations, he has solidified himself as an NBA starter.

4.)Ike Diogu. No explaination other than he must have ran over Obie's dog on the first day of training camp or something.

5.)I am not very confident in the front office at all. I feel like there is too much pressure to make a big move(s). I am afraid Bird will be too eager sometimes the best move is to hold off.

6.)Biggest need a shot blocking Center. There needs to be a final line of defense to protect our weak perimeter defense. And PG, but no one outside of Rose and Bayless suits us.

7.)DeAndre Thomas, just kidding, DeAndre Jordan. McGee would be the second choice.

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs? IF we aren't including health, then I would say defense. We really need some better defenders everywhere but SF.

2. Where were the team

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

Made sure that everyone was healthy, let people rest when necessary. We sort of messed up taking care of our players. We really need to take care of the health of our team.

2. Where were the team

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Stay healthy (JO and Tinsley) and play consistently on the defensive end

2. Where were the team

1) Played in the west... (J/k). They needed to play better individual and team defense. It was all the players fault on defense, not just one.

2) The three point shot.

3) Mike D. There was a lot of questions about him coming from Golden State. However, this year he really showed a lot of promise.

4) JO. I love the guy (I live in Detroit and yet still wear his jersey all the time). However, I really didn't expect him to break down again. He was extremely ineffective (due to the face that he couldn't play).

5) I am somewhat confident. It seems like the organization is trying and forever reason, the ball hasn't bounced in their favor (lately).

6) Like most others I would like to see a pg that can play defense and shot the three (these are rare) and a shot blocking, physically big center (also rare). The same 2 things almost every team is looking for.

7) I'd like to see the pacers get back into the end of the first round and select the PG Chalmers. With our actual first pick draft a big C; Brook Lopez, McGee, or Jordan.

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Figuring out a consistent starting line up is the first thing. If the line up rotates very often, then it is not a winning team.

[color=blue]2. Where were the team

FYI...I'm going to be putting these together soon.

Not sure if anything else wants to contribute...

I will. Please give me til mid-sunday. I will try to do it tonight.... i'm not at my house right now and can't focus on a long post.

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
The Pacers were plagued by snowballs the entire season. When one hitch arose, it snowballed into a ridiculous sequence of poor plays to bar us from victory. We rarely carried good momentum, only bad.

2. Where were the team

I'm in a similar boat as Grang33r. By tonight I will post something longer.

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

They could have had better luck with injuries. Of course, at this point in their careers, it should almost be expected that JO and Tinsley will miss a chunk of games every season. Really, this team wasnt supposed to make the playoffs, and wasnt good enough to make the playoffs. The only reason we were really close was because the Eastern Conference as a whole was pathetic this year. Still, if we could close games out better, even with the injuries, we probably would have snuck in.

2. Where were the team

Thanks for waiting for me.... here it goes-

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

Stayed healthy. Although, still that would have been a false playoff birth. In the East, top 6 teams matter and nobody else really counts. For us to be healthy, i think we would have been the 7th seed at best, and still looking at a very painful first round exit. How to get into the top 6? Better guard play. We have no true PG. Tinsley is horrible and injured. Diener shouldn't have been playing the type of minutes that he was.

2. Where were the team

PacerPerspective wrote:1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

Not much--it just wasn't a very good team. In the East, we would have made the playoffs anyway if JO had been healthy and effective.

PacerPerspective wrote:2. Where were the team