The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

[Autoproxy]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

A) You have to stay healthy or have the depth to get through it... Pacers don't have the depth

B) Pacers ONLY problem is not injuries... they also have not gotten consistent play from their backcourt in ages and their most all-around talented player is nuttier than a fruitcake.... those are both problems.

C) The Pacers are the 3rd best team in the East... I don't think anyone would argue that they are any lower... many would say higher.... but they are not Top 4 in the league.

D) Pacer fans want to automatically ranks themselves above the Pistons for some reason... beat them first...

I don't know how it's possible to say that the Pacers don't have depth...they were missing their second best player virtually the whole season, their best player for about half, their starting point guard for a good chunk, their starting two-guard for over a third of the season, and promising talented player in Bender for the whole season. And, oh yeah, they were competitive almost every single game AND made the playoffs as the 6th seed. They showed that depth, and toughness, is what they do have.

I personally agree that the Pacers SHOULD be the best team in the East, and their tough season this past year will make them tougher for the playoffs...as long as Artest fits in and the team gets along. However...stranger things have happened.

As for best teams in the league...Seattle will be worse, Phoenix will probably be worse as teams adjust to them following the offseason (plus...if Amare is the PF and Kurt Thomas the center now...that's a whole different team...especially if Joe Johnson signs with the Hawks and the Suns don't match)...so the elite teams there are San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. SA's better...Houston isn't...Dallas probably isn't. So even if you rank Indy 3rd in the East, you might still rank them 4th in the league, unless you think Dallas is somehow better.

[poster]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

...smh @ wht u jes said...The better team does not always wins a playoff series...its not a fact. Yes the Pistons are better than the Pacers WITHOUT Artest, but tlast year the Pistons beat the Pacers 4-2 WITH Artest...This year same thing WITHOUT Artest...My final statement..The Healthiest Team Always Wins In A Series...

You are not really making sense here, not bashing you for it but I dont know how to debate your point. The last time they had Artest, Detroit beat them in a series and were the better team. I don't know how much clearer it could be, but whatever.

[cdubdiggity]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

Wht im sayin is a lineup of Tinsley, Jackson, Artest, Oneal with Foster or Davis is better than a line up of Billups Hamilton Prince And The "Wallace Brothers" ... But like u said im not goin to use injuries as a cop out. BUT Indiana when they were healthy did completely scrape Detroit in the Palace last year....

[WazzuRC]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

Wht im sayin is a lineup of Tinsley, Jackson, Artest, Oneal with Foster or Davis is better than a line up of Billups Hamilton Prince And The "Wallace Brothers" ... But like u said im not goin to use injuries as a cop out. BUT Indiana when they were healthy did completely scrape Detroit in the Palace last year....

And your point?! They still lost the PLAYOFF series. The Suns got "scraped" by the Lakers last year in the regular season, does that make them a better team?!

[cdubdiggity]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

...was I debating with u?

[poster]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

Wht im sayin is a lineup of Tinsley, Jackson, Artest, Oneal with Foster or Davis is better than a line up of Billups Hamilton Prince And The "Wallace Brothers" ... But like u said im not goin to use injuries as a cop out. BUT Indiana when they were healthy did completely scrape Detroit in the Palace last year....

Paper champions are built in the regular season. So you can have the regular season bs. I prefer my teams to play for trophies and rings. You're lineup assumption is your opinion, but its not true. How many more times does Chauncey have to abuse Tinsley before it gets through your head that he couldnt hold his jock any day of the week? Anyways respond and be done with it cause we will just continue to disagree, just try to bring some ammo next time you want to discuss hoops because your weapon is always empty.

[Sarah]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

You say these bad things about Artest, but watch how he plays this season, he is already by far the best on ball defender in the league, and i have him even with Ben Wallace in terms of who the best defender in the entire league is. Then when you put his outstanding offense that he displayed last year before his suspension, where he was averaging 20 some points a game, i think that he has a shot to win the mvp this year, where most people think that is a crazy statement, but he can just take over games. They are definitely the best team in the east this year in my mind with all of there players being healthy and with the additions of the rookies from last year they will be tough to keep out of the finals.

No one is saying bad things about Artest. Whatever was said was just a reflection of Artest behavior as a player. No one question his ability, just his behavior. No matter how good a player is, if he has a behavior problem, he could only go so far. For example last season, starting a brawl at the palace was more important to him than his team's need of his ability. He may have just cost IND it's chances to go deeper in the playoffs last year.

But nevermind that, he promised already that he is now mature and is ready to take IND to new heights where Ben and Shaq is waiting for him.

[dieselboy]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

Honestly, I think the Pacers have a chance to make a run at the East.

If healthy, and Artest isn't suspended, they are no worse than the third worst team in the East, no way. So yes, Artest may be a little rusty, and yes, they lost Reggie Miller, but this is loaded.

Next season, they will have everyone healthy at the start, and no one suspended. As for saying the Pacers have no depth? That is far from true. Despite losing Jermaine O'Neal for 40 games, Ron Artest for almost the whole season, Stephen Jackson for 30 games, Reggie Miller for 15 games, Jamal Tinsley for 40 games, and Jeff Foster for 20 games, Rick Carlisle coached them into the 6th spot in the East.

Yes they lost Miller, but they drafted a stud in Danny Granger, and having all those guys back for the full season, is the biggest addition of all.

[DueceDiggla]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

Granger has a knee injury that should not be ignored. It is why everyone passed on him in the draft, and I think he is sitting out of the summer league because of it.

[westwood]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

they took the pistons 6 games without their best player. if they can stay healthy and out of the bleachers theres no reason they cant win the eastern conference.

[dieselboy]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

Granger has a knee injury that should not be ignored. It is why everyone passed on him in the draft, and I think he is sitting out of the summer league because of it.

While that of course doesn't help them, its not a huge blow.

[doveer]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

hmm... original poster... i will go out on a limb and say that you are a Pacers fan. Typical homer... I cannot believe you truly think the Pacers are better or even equal or even a few tiers down from the Heat or Pistons... These guys cannot win and it would take a miracle injury to another team's star player to make him even sniff the Eastern conference finals.

[amra01]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

Pistons deserve more respect, they are the better team by far, Miami is a better team also and Wade is going to get better no Artest could hold him back and I ain't talking about a healthy Shaq cause he is going to eat them alive. Indiana need to prove your words in the field I respect Carlisle I think he is the best coach in the NBA right now but he needs better material.

[HardwoodHeisman]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

I respect Carlisle I think he is the best coach in the NBA right now

[Shaver]

Re: The Pacers..Why People Dont Realize This?

Wht im sayin is a lineup of Tinsley, Jackson, Artest, Oneal with Foster or Davis is better than a line up of Billups Hamilton Prince And The "Wallace Brothers" ... ...

Well...you...and....well.....nobody else!

Backcourt is a clear advantage to the Pistons. The backcourt isn't even a debate. Billups and RIP are clearly superior. When Stephen Jackson plays some defense and Jamal Tinsley can stay healthy more than a quarter at a time, we can reopen talks.

Frontcourt... Offensively you're looking at JO and Artest and Sheed. I would rank them (without making assumptions about what they will be this year):
1) JO
2) Sheed
3) Artest
4) Tay
5) Foster
6) Ben

So, slight advantage to Indy.

Defense. Of course you will disagree:
1) Ben
2) Artest
3) Tay
T-4) JO & Sheed
6) Foster

Advantage Pistons by more than a little

Defensive rebounding is close, but goes to the Pistons. Offensive rebounding is the Pistons by a mile. Don't fool yourself with Fosters 2 good games.

Shot blocking...Pistons
Steals...Pistons

The Pistons have the best Starting 5 in basketball. Period.