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Not asking if they deserve to be where they are.

Not asking if they're beating who's in front of them. (obviously)

Not asking if luck/injuries are part of the game. (clearly)

Not asking if the series with NY is over yet or not (yes we know it's not over)

Simple question I just want to get a forum pulse on:

Do you believe the Indiana Pacers are the best team in the Eastern Conference this year?

Yes or no?

Right now they are and that’s the only thing that matters.

Yes.

Praxis. I'm talkin bout praxis.

well so far, yes?

Nobody is going to remember the Cavs and Boston's season domination it's ancient history . But peeps will member this pacers team .

They've clearly learned from their mistakes in the postseason last year, let's see if they can keep it up for this series and possibly next.

Depends if you think a healthy Boston team is.

No, but I believe Rick Carlisle is the best coach in the east, and honestly maybe the league.

No I still think it was a healthy Cavs team but the Pacers are probably second. I would say the Celtics if they had a smarter coach and a more varied offensive philosophy

I do think they are the best TEAM.

They are not the most talented and a lot of times in the NBA, talent wins out, but the Pacers have 11 guys(even 12 with Bradley getting good minutes tonight) that they trust to contribute in a positive way.

There isn’t a selfish guy on the team and they all trust each other to where any game it could be someone new making the plays. That’s just rare in today’s NBA.

They only have two wins right now though. It’s a long series and the Knicks have been incredible on the road in the playoffs. The Pacers still have a ways to go.

LakerLegend wrote:Depends if you think a healthy Boston team is.

That's what I'm asking.

Do you believe the Pacers are the best team in the 2025 East. Full stop.

CelticSooner wrote:Right now they are and that’s the only thing that matters.

Do you believe the Pacers are the best team in the East - Full stop.

I asked Chat GPT what their record would be if they played the way they played from Janaury and on from the start of the season.

It said they would have won 58 games. This Pacers teams is playing at that exact caliber if not even better right now.

I think even a Healthy Cavs Pacers go 7 and a health Celtics Pacers go 7. With that being said.

Given the just a few game difference based on total projections, the answer is Yes. They got something psychologically that the Cavs and Celtics didn't have.

They play the hardest and the smartest-- most times, even if you are the "weaker" team that gets you over the top. Impressive showing from the Pacers, there just no words to describe how they doing this well this postseason.

Well they've almost proven they are. They just need to finish the job now and put those bum frauds out of their misery and send all the B list celebrities back to Hollywood.

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Barring injuries, Pacers are the team of East going forward, same way OKC is in the West

CelticSooner wrote:Right now they are and that’s the only thing that matters.

Full stop, /thread on the first reply post.

No, they are obviously not but the best team doesn't win in the playoffs. The last team standing does.

The Pacers have proven they are capable of capitalizing on mistakes and misfortunes of other teams and that's what it takes to win in the playoffs.

Being confident, exploitative and being lucky is better than being the best.

The Pacers so far have been relatively healthy in the playoffs and the teams they faced have not until the Knicks.

And the Knicks are cursed and will never win anything because NY sports are insufferable and deserve only the worst and nothing less.

uncleduck13 wrote:Barring injuries, Pacers are the team of East going forward, same way OKC is in the West

It's difficult to *bar injuries* after the Pacers beat injured opponents. If they can give OKC a real series, then it's an easier case to make.

jbk1234 wrote:

uncleduck13 wrote:Barring injuries, Pacers are the team of East going forward, same way OKC is in the West

It's difficult to *bar injuries* after the Pacers beat injured opponents. If they can give OKC a real series, then it's an easier case to make.

Can't fault the Pacers for injury-prone and soft players-- like half of the Cavs' key players.