Pacers cumulative game thread

[Pacers Forever]

Per Scott Agness on Twitter

Pacers host the Magic tonight on the second night of a back-to-back.

But… having already secured their playoff spot, Orlando is sitting key guys.

Paolo Banchero, KCP, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner — plus Mo Wagner, Jalen Suggs all out.

So who knows our bench might be able to get another win

[JMaster5K]

Per Scott Agness on Twitter

Pacers host the Magic tonight on the second night of a back-to-back.

But… having already secured their playoff spot, Orlando is sitting key guys.

Paolo Banchero, KCP, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner — plus Mo Wagner, Jalen Suggs all out.

So who knows our bench might be able to get another win

Mosley was an assistant coach under Coach Carlisle in Dallas from 14-15 until he left in 20-21,.... Do you think one picked up the phone & called the other saying,... 'Hey,.. let's play bench on bench tonight?' o0

[Wizop]

I was conflicted in the early minutes of this game. I wanted us to lose but it was hard not to cheer for us. But we were so bad in the second quarter that any tension disappeared.

[boomershadow]

I mean I would rather win, but can't get to the third spot unless the Knicks drop a game to Brooklyn so it is probably irrelevant

[Pacers Forever]

Our subs are playing so bad there’s no chance of winning. Mathurin 4-14 and 1-4 from 3 with 4 turnovers needs to get right. He’s really pi$$ing me off thinking he needs to make contact on every shot below the free throw line. Makes a shot harder constantly. Pull up jumper man ! He’s going to mess around and get traded next season.

McConnell and Bryant played better tonight although Bryant has such a hard time finishing underneath.

Glad to see Quenton Jackson and Enrique Freeman play again.

[Wizop]

It's the Bucks!

Furphy and Walker are coming. If we lose to the Bucks, and that won't surprise me, someone is going.

[Luv those Knicks]

LOL - for all the 'rivalry' with the NYK, I think you'll find a few here that were really impressed with what your team did last summer & the game they bring to the court. Glad to see JB back on the court! Hopefully, he shakes the rust off just in time for the playoffs & things get fun for you. Boston is a monster,... but at least your team can legitimately match up with them.

Tend to root for the Knicks when they aren't playing the Pacers & well,... the playoff berths are already decided, LOL. It would really do my heart good to see a Pacer, NYK ECF,... longshot yeah,... but boy would that be fun! Good Luck to you & NYK. Will be cheering until then.

It feels to me like our best rivalry days go back to Reggie & Ewing, which I think your team came out on top more often than mine, though we won in 99, which was big. You nearly beat us in 94, which was when you started to come into your own. That was still a great rivalry. Last year was disappointing because we were so banged up and the Celtics were better than everyone else, so last year was less interesting to me than the old days.

But all NY's pretty off-season moves aside - landing KAT and Mikal, NYK fans are frustrated. We have a very thin bench, KAT isn't a good defensive center, so we lack toughness and were worst in the league at defending the 3 pt shot. Brunson is an offensive PG on a team of scorers, so the skilled players are there, but the chemistry might not be, and many fans are critical of Thibs as a coach. Lots of questions. The Knicks board is full of fans who don't believe.

Indy finished the season strong. We lost Brunson for 15 games, so there's an asterisk, but we finished it a lot less strong than you did.

But none of that matters if a team puts together a good playoff run, and playoffs are now set.

[Wizop]

There's a series thread on the General Board that's sure to be longer than anything we'd do here, but should we create a new thread here either for this series or the whole playoffs?

[Wizop]

I think it's a mistake to try for win # 50. Our draft position is better at 49.

[Pacers Forever]

I think it's a mistake to try for win # 50. Our draft position is better at 49.

I also wanted the better draft position with a loss, but it’s hard to get professional athletes like our 3rd string to lay down. They fought hard through 2 overtimes to win. 27 point comeback is the biggest in the NBA this season I believe.

Furphy, Freeman, Bradley, Dennis, and Jackson have to be exhausted playing 27-41 minutes today, however I’m sure they’re running on an adrenaline high winning this game.

[Wizop]

Quinn made the point that the two-ways and Furphy were used to playing together on the Ants

[Pacers Forever]

There's a series thread on the General Board that's sure to be longer than anything we'd do here, but should we create a new thread here either for this series or the whole playoffs?

I agree with you that someone should make a NBA playoffs thread here to discuss anything play in and playoff related.

[JMaster5K]

LOL - for all the 'rivalry' with the NYK, I think you'll find a few here that were really impressed with what your team did last summer & the game they bring to the court. Glad to see JB back on the court! Hopefully, he shakes the rust off just in time for the playoffs & things get fun for you. Boston is a monster,... but at least your team can legitimately match up with them.

Tend to root for the Knicks when they aren't playing the Pacers & well,... the playoff berths are already decided, LOL. It would really do my heart good to see a Pacer, NYK ECF,... longshot yeah,... but boy would that be fun! Good Luck to you & NYK. Will be cheering until then.

It feels to me like our best rivalry days go back to Reggie & Ewing, which I think your team came out on top more often than mine, though we won in 99, which was big. You nearly beat us in 94, which was when you started to come into your own. That was still a great rivalry. Last year was disappointing because we were so banged up and the Celtics were better than everyone else, so last year was less interesting to me than the old days.

But all NY's pretty off-season moves aside - landing KAT and Mikal, NYK fans are frustrated. We have a very thin bench, KAT isn't a good defensive center, so we lack toughness and were worst in the league at defending the 3 pt shot. Brunson is an offensive PG on a team of scorers, so the skilled players are there, but the chemistry might not be, and many fans are critical of Thibs as a coach. Lots of questions. The Knicks board is full of fans who don't believe.

Indy finished the season strong. We lost Brunson for 15 games, so there's an asterisk, but we finished it a lot less strong than you did.

But none of that matters if a team puts together a good playoff run, and playoffs are now set.

Yeah,... I hope we can get back to the days when we shouted humorous (and sometimes nearly offensive) insults at each other,... then all went out for a beer & a laugh after the game. Remember those days fondly,... there were a few from both teams that took it a bit too far,... but with the vast majority (from both teams), it was a lot of fun!

Honestly,... with all the moves you made going into this last year,... and the trade for KAT not coming until Oct., I thought NYK would be good, but there would be chemistry issues just because the team was so new to each other? (I didn't factor in injuries.) I do like the trade for KAT,... IMO, the NYK needed a truly offensive center, because with Bridges & OG, added to Hart, they should have had not good, but great defense on the wings & were going to need the rim pressure on offense? with 2 defensive near elite wings around him, KAT would have less things to read on defense & would probably do well?

With Randle,... who was effectively playing a small ball 5 on offense,... & Mitch as the actual 5,... it left NYK effectively playing 4 on 5, as both were best suited to playing from the mid-post in? with modern D, they could almost be guarded by 1 player in the paint,... & let the other 4 defenders switch on the perimeter & drop under when needed? I'm pretty sure Thibs saw that a LOT last year? On D, it left NTK vulnerable from the wings,... in a conference with Brown & Tatum on the same team,...

I like the make up of NYK,... I didn't like that they lost DD,.. He really is good. Just hope he can find a place where they don't trade him out in 18-24 months, so that he can build some consistency & show it? but otherwise, I like the lineup,... like OG at the 4? He's got the length & the build, just hasn't really done it till now,.. but in Thibs O & D, he should be a good fit?

Bridges is listed as playing the 3, but he and Hart both switched up 2 & 3 (sometimes on the same play?). Both are best suited to playing the 3. Bridges should really play the 3, where he's much more comfortable,... less ball handling (which can run through OG on the opposite wing if needed?), and a bit more time to read the floor? I believe, Mikal got caught thinking too much on both ends of the floor this year? New offense, new defense,.. and he was seeing everything from a different part of the floor? IF that's true,... a full summer, after this year should be enough to get him back to speed?

Think Wright will prove to be a steal moving into the playoffs?

Again,.. IMHO, I think the NYK need a good starting level, defender/shooter at the 2? That would let Hart move back to the bench, where he can destroy other teams 2nd units with time at both the 2 & 3 where he is more comfortable? with Wright, Payne, Hart, Precious all coming off the bench, NYK could also use a bench, big wing to fill out the 2nd unit defense (but frankly, what team in the EC doesn't need one at this point?)

Having said all that (sorry,.. I type way too much!),... I still think they match up well with Boston? OG has proven that he can play Tatum. Leaves Bridges & Hart on Brown, JB is a bit mis-matched against either Jrue or White, but he can guard up court & off-ball to limit his exposure, Wright - at least in his earlier career, had good success, well, as much as anybody, guarding Jrue or White on ball? Pritchard - Payne? Craig - PJ? Hauser - Shamet? I mean, it's not perfect,... NYK does give away parts here & there,... but it better than most.

again, IMO,... I thought NYK would be good this year,... but I didn't think they would really 'gel' until next year? Frankly, I was a bit surprised with that 9 game win streak in Dec, that set up the rest of the season? Expectations are always so high in NY,... but I thought the Knicks made some real progress this year & look to be a lot more dangerous going into next season.

[granger05]

I think it's a mistake to try for win # 50. Our draft position is better at 49.

I was happy to see them get a 50th win for the first time in a long time. That's a portion of the draft that's pretty flat so if you're pick 21 rather than pick 26, I think it's kind of up to the way your draft board looks more than anything.

[Wizop]

I think it's a mistake to try for win # 50. Our draft position is better at 49.

I was happy to see them get a 50th win for the first time in a long time. That's a portion of the draft that's pretty flat so if you're pick 21 rather than pick 26, I think it's kind of up to the way your draft board looks more than anything.

If Tankahon is close, my targets are going 17 to 20

https://www.tankathon.com/mock_draft

[JMaster5K]

I think it's a mistake to try for win # 50. Our draft position is better at 49.

I was happy to see them get a 50th win for the first time in a long time. That's a portion of the draft that's pretty flat so if you're pick 21 rather than pick 26, I think it's kind of up to the way your draft board looks more than anything.

If Tankahon is close, my targets are going 17 to 20

https://www.tankathon.com/mock_draft

Over the last few years,... Tankathon has been a good place to put the potential draftees into tiers, but they haven't been that good at matching players to team needs, or predicting where guys actually fall in the draft. (If that makes any sense?) There are guys on Tankathon's mock from 20 to the end of the first that will end up in round 2,... and a player or two mocked in the second that will end up in the first (usually the mid first)?

So, it's likely that somebody they list 17-20,... at least one of them would be around at 23?....

[Wizop]

So, it's likely that somebody they list 17-20,... at least one of them would be around at 23?....

I think you are right that tankathon just ranks the players and isn't predictive. I hope you're right that one of the bigs they have above our pick falls to us.

[JMaster5K]

So, it's likely that somebody they list 17-20,... at least one of them would be around at 23?....

I think you are right that tankathon just ranks the players and isn't predictive. I hope you're right that one of the bigs they have above our pick falls to us.

They say on the site, that they take team needs into consideration,... but I've only seen their rankings change based on stats? something like a math model? Where sites like NBADraftRoom, seem to be much more accurate when it comes to actual draft predictions?.....

[JMaster5K]

A bit of respect for our coaches here from D-Wade. Do his comments about JJ Barea remind you of anyone?.... o0 LOLOL - Coach does have a 'type' when it comes to his players!

https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopscat/video/7244251818161655083