OT: Paul George injured in USA Basketball

[ATLHawksfan21]

Ok pacers will suck. Point noted

Hopefully they can at least hang around and fight for a 7 or 8 seed. Landing in the top 4 in a newly deeper East just seems like a lot to ask. It will be interesting to see how this year pans out for Hibbert. This year will probably define the path of Hibbert's career in the future.

[PandaKidd]

Im just saying i would not be surprised if the pecking order changes based on what we are all assuming.

I would not be surprised if the Bulls are an elite team that wins 60 games. I wont be surprised if they are hobbled by injuries and make the 5th seed either.

Pacers, they now remind me a lot of the Hawks. Lots of good role players, no superstars. Obviously I think the Hawks are better, but , by how much? Does a system make them 20-30 games better?

We will see.

[ATLHawksfan21]

Im just saying i would not be surprised if the pecking order changes based on what we are all assuming.

I would not be surprised if the Bulls are an elite team that wins 60 games. I wont be surprised if they are hobbled by injuries and make the 5th seed either.

Pacers, they now remind me a lot of the Hawks. Lots of good role players, no superstars. Obviously I think the Hawks are better, but , by how much? Does a system make them 20-30 games better?

We will see.

The Bulls definitely have a wide range of where they could finish due to the unknowns surrounding Rose.

I think it isn't just our system that makes us better than the current Pacers squad. We also have more talent in the starting lineup along with a deeper bench. I would be surprised and very disappointed if the Pacers hung around us in the standings this season.

[Jamaaliver]

It's official. PG is out for the entire season.

Read on Twitter

This confirms that Indiana has ruled George out for the season. The exception requires medical prognosis of a player’s absence for the entire year.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2014/08/george-miss-season.html

With Marion reportedly favoring the Cavs, might be the blessing the franchise needs that they tank for a single year.

I'm actually a little jealous.

[ATLHawksfan21]

It's official. PG is out for the entire season.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/497182578810818560[/tweet]

This confirms that Indiana has ruled George out for the season. The exception requires medical prognosis of a player’s absence for the entire year.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2014/08/george-miss-season.html

With Marion reportedly favoring the Cavs, might be the blessing the franchise needs that they tank for a single year.

I'm actually a little jealous.

You are jealous of a franchise who lost their second best player to free agency and their franchise player to a horrific looking leg injury?

They still wont be bad enough to get a top 5 pick unless they get that cleveland luck.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Jamaaliver]

You are jealous of a franchise who lost their second best player to free agency and their franchise player to...injury?

Didn't the same thing just happen to us in 2013?

The difference is that fate is forcing Indy to rebuild. No bailing water, limping into the playoffs in the first round with a losing record. They'll be forced to be bad for a year and come back with a healthy P George and a top 10 pick in 2015.

It's worth noting that the last time Indy had a top ten pick, they selected one of the top young talents in the league today.

I'd kill to have a top 10 player plus a top ten draft pick coming back at the same time. In my 18 years of Hawks fandom, we've never had both.

Their franchise is coming off two straight division titles, two straight Conference Championship appearances and a #1 seed in the playoffs. In my 18 years of Hawks fandom, we've never had either.

I AM jealous. Indy, the last two seasons, was clearly ahead of us in the pecking order. Two seasons from now I suspect they'll be there again

[PandaKidd]

Not sure how bad they will be, I still think they could be an 8th seed or better. the east is REALLY REALLY bad.

[Jamaaliver]

Not sure how bad they will be, I still think they could be an 8th seed or better. the east is REALLY REALLY bad.

That's an interesting assessment. I had viewed the East as getting MORE competitive with Lebron moving back to CLE.

There is no longer a surefire dominant team, but Miami is still competitive, CLE is a contender, CHI is a contender, DET should be competitive, CHArlotte is likely improved, we'll be better with AL, NY should be better with a new coach and a real offensive scheme.

Of the top 11 teams in the East, almost everyone improved or at least stayed the same...except Indy.

Vogel's a solid coach (his record & accomplishments are very impressive), but that team was a bottom scoring team last season with PG and Stephenson on board. It'll be very difficult to fill that gap with no incoming talent to replace them.

[PandaKidd]

CLE will be top 1 or 2 for sure.
Chicago

Then there is everyone else. Im not 100% believing in the Wizards , Charlotte. I never will believe a team with Josh Smith and Jennings will do anything but lose.

I still think Indiana/Miami will be competitive, I dont think Indy will be bad enough to get a top 10 pick.
Nets lost a ton of talent, etc

[Jamaaliver]

It's official. PG is out for the entire season.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/497182578810818560[/tweet]

This confirms that Indiana has ruled George out for the season. The exception requires medical prognosis of a player’s absence for the entire year.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2014/08/george-miss-season.html

With Marion reportedly favoring the Cavs, might be the blessing the franchise needs that they tank for a single year.

I'm actually a little jealous.

You are jealous of a franchise who lost their second best player to free agency and their franchise player to a horrific looking leg injury?

They still wont be bad enough to get a top 5 pick unless they get that cleveland luck.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

The Indiana Pacers have "cooled" on the possibility of Paul George returning this season from his offseason injury, according to sources.

George had surgery in August to repair his devestating leg injury suffered in a USA Basketball Showcase.

The Pacers have a 5-8 record to begin the season.Via Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Indy is embracing this as a lost season. OKC seems likely to embrace their unfortunate circumstances as well.

If Indy gets an elite prospect out of this year's draft, or turns that pick into a 2nd banana for PG...their franchise will be all the better for it moving forward. Something I wish we had done last year after Horford's injury.

Any thoughts on trading Teague for Indy's pick if it falls between 4-8 in the draft?

[ATLHawksfan21]

It's official. PG is out for the entire season.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/497182578810818560[/tweet]

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2014/08/george-miss-season.html

With Marion reportedly favoring the Cavs, might be the blessing the franchise needs that they tank for a single year.

I'm actually a little jealous.

You are jealous of a franchise who lost their second best player to free agency and their franchise player to a horrific looking leg injury?

They still wont be bad enough to get a top 5 pick unless they get that cleveland luck.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

The Indiana Pacers have "cooled" on the possibility of Paul George returning this season from his offseason injury, according to sources.

George had surgery in August to repair his devestating leg injury suffered in a USA Basketball Showcase.

The Pacers have a 5-8 record to begin the season.Via Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Indy is embracing this as a lost season. OKC seems likely to embrace their unfortunate circumstances as well.

If Indy gets an elite prospect out of this year's draft, or turns that pick into a 2nd banana for PG...their franchise will be all the better for it moving forward. Something I wish we had done last year after Horford's injury.

Any thoughts on trading Teague for Indy's pick if it falls between 4-8 in the draft?

lol. Is this post real life?? Stretch Armstrong has entered the building folks.

My post looks to be completely accurate thus far. The Pacers are currently 6-8 and the combo of David West and George Hill haven't even stepped on to the court yet this season. They have won 5 of their last 7 and have won @ Mia, @ Chi, @ Dal, vs Char, vs Utah in this span. What part of that screams deep bottom feeder to you?

It seems clear to me that this team's only hope of landing a top pick is by winning the lottery. Guess what happens when you win the lottery. You get a 1-3 pick. This 4-8 scenario seems way out of touch with their current situation.

and no, I do not want to trade Teague. Trade Teague and you might as well dump the whole team because the wheels will fall off right after. That all-star prediction isn't looking so bad right now, is it?

[Hawk Eye]

The debate doesn't matter anyways. I don't see any scenario where Indy would give up that pick for JUST Jeff Teague. It'd have to be something like this..

Jeff Teague + an asset of ours + an asset of ours

For

Indys pick

[MaceCase]

Kinda comical given that Indiana is 8th in the East right now and when including the West there are 11 teams with a worse record. Don't know how that translates into a top 4 pick and it's not like we're not talking about Indiana here. You know, the very same team that for almost a decade preferred battling it out with Milwaukee or whatever upstart neophyte team for the 8th seed rather than tank a season away. They didn't even actively tank the season that they got George yet the feeling is that Larry Bird lost all of his competitive juices all of a sudden?

[Jamaaliver]

lol. Is this post real life?? Stretch Armstrong has entered the building folks.

My post looks to be completely accurate thus far. The Pacers are currently 6-8 and the combo of David West and George Hill haven't even stepped on to the court yet this season. They have won 5 of their last 7 and have won @ Mia, @ Chi, @ Dal, vs Char, vs Utah in this span. What part of that screams deep bottom feeder to you?

It seems clear to me that this team's only hope of landing a top pick is by winning the lottery. Guess what happens when you win the lottery. You get a 1-3 pick. This 4-8 scenario seems way out of touch with their current situation.

and no, I do not want to trade Teague. Trade Teague and you might as well dump the whole team because the wheels will fall off right after. That all-star prediction isn't looking so bad right now, is it?

I...respectfully, see the situation slightly different. The top EC team last year is without 2 of their starters in the early part of the season, are discouraging their franchise player from coming back at all this season, has a losing record and is currently not in the playoffs.

I absolutely see a front office willing to let this season pass and coming back stronger next season.
I see a coach, like most, still trying to win games regardless.

[ATLHawksfan21]

lol. Is this post real life?? Stretch Armstrong has entered the building folks.

My post looks to be completely accurate thus far. The Pacers are currently 6-8 and the combo of David West and George Hill haven't even stepped on to the court yet this season. They have won 5 of their last 7 and have won @ Mia, @ Chi, @ Dal, vs Char, vs Utah in this span. What part of that screams deep bottom feeder to you?

It seems clear to me that this team's only hope of landing a top pick is by winning the lottery. Guess what happens when you win the lottery. You get a 1-3 pick. This 4-8 scenario seems way out of touch with their current situation.

and no, I do not want to trade Teague. Trade Teague and you might as well dump the whole team because the wheels will fall off right after. That all-star prediction isn't looking so bad right now, is it?

I...respectfully, see the situation slightly different. The top EC team last year is without 2 of their starters in the early part of the season, are discouraging their franchise player from coming back at all this season, has a losing record and is currently not in the playoffs.

I absolutely see a front office willing to let this season pass and coming back stronger next season.
I see a coach, like most, still trying to win games regardless.

They are 6-9 with more quality wins than we have and West and Hill haven't played a minute yet this season. West will be back on Friday. You need to look farther than just the overall record as it takes time for a complete new group of players to gel. They are 5-3 over the last 8 and are playing much better ball. They are like Chicago. Teams with above average defense can keep the ship a float, when their best player goes down, due to said defense.

Not sure how this equates to them being one of the worst teams in the league.

[Jamaaliver]

...when 6-11 rookie Myles Turner walked off the Bankers Life Fieldhouse floor and applause followed his every move, no one seemed to mind the end of the Indiana Pacers’ supposed spread offense revolution. There was not one care given to the ditched plans from the summer. Only cheers for who the Pacers are now and what Turner can possibly become.

Inserted into the starting five, Turner scored 20 points (making nine of a team-high 17 shots) to go along with six rebounds and one block in 26 minutes.


And of course, the man (teenager) of the hour agreed.

Here


Seeing how excited Pacers Fans are following a stellar game by Myles Turner last night reminded me of a conversation we had after PG first went down...

...fate is forcing Indy to rebuild. No bailing water, limping into the playoffs in the first round with a losing record. They'll be forced to be bad for a year and come back with a healthy P George and a top 10 pick in 2015.

I AM jealous. Indy, the last two seasons, was clearly ahead of us in the pecking order. Two seasons from now I suspect they'll be there again.

If Indy gets an elite prospect out of this year's draft, or turns that pick into a 2nd banana for PG...their franchise will be all the better for it moving forward. Something I wish we had done last year after Horford's injury.

All that to say...a rebuild around a top player in their prime doesn't have to be a years long endeavor. Indy isn't fully back to top status yet, but they have extended their window by acquiring a top young forward in the top 11 and nailing that selection.

That's the model to follow, should we decide to rebuild.