Official Indiana Pacers Thread

[HealyMonster]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Just watched the team preview. Pumped!! Also, got hooked up with court side seats whenever I need them. Did some work with the team neurologist this summer so he hooked me up. I'll be court side for some games this season!

Im not sure Ill ever be even 500 miles from the stadium lol, Im jealous man. Def post some pics when you go.


Little disheartened that granger is starting the season injured and out for the first game or 2. I know its nothing major but what the heck. I believe he will end up being in the running for 6th man of the year when all is said and done.

I know some other teams have improved (Nets, Pistons) but even so, I dont think they are up to the Pacers talent level. idk, living in NY market im sick of hearing about the Nets. I work around the corner from their stadium and its ridiculous, it looks like a Giant rusted building, i couldnt believe it, but everyone here geeked out about them and I just think this is the Pacers year.

[dunnyduns]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Excited for the season to tip off against the Magic tonight. Expectations are the highest they have been in awhile, so hopefully the Pacers can avoid injuries and fulfill those expectations. I don't think it's a championship or bust season, but it would certainly be nice to see the Pacers ending the season holding the trophy.

I'm going to probably miss the 1st half because of a Halloween party for the kids and I will be rushing home to see as much of the game as I can or I guess I can wait until the game is over and watch the replay on FSI, but I don't think I will be able to wait.

I'm also glad that the Pacers open up against the Magic as I want to see Victor Oladipo's pro debut. I know that's not Pacer related, but I'm rooting for Victor. He should get a nice ovation from the crowd tonight.

[dunnyduns]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

1st week of the season is in the books and the Pacers are 5-0. It's been a great start to the season and I have been impressed with how the team has played so far.

Paul George looks to have taken that next step into becoming a true franchise player. Hibbert has been a beast on the defensive end protecting the rim. Lance Stephenson also seems to have taken his game to the next level by improving his shot and by staying in control most of the time, although at times he still looks out of control, but that's just the Lance Stephenson way. Finally, the bench is much improved as Luis Scola adds the bench scoring at Power Forward that disappeared last season with Hansbrough. Then, CJ Watson and even Donald Sloan are both huge upgrades over DJ Augustine.

The only negative thing that I have noticed in the 5-0 start is that the Pacers still commit too many turnovers. It's a good thing the Pacers defense is so good to force tough shots and create turnovers to offset the ones they commit on the offensive end, but I hope as the season goes on the turnovers go down. If they can cut the turnovers per game down about 4-5 a game then this team gets even scarier for the rest of the NBA to play.

[moose1234]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Not for me to rain on a 7-0 start but until we have a consistent scorer ( which Paul George isn't ) were still looking up at Miami .. That being said enjoying the ride

[WTF]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Any time we've needed a basket, PG is stepping it up. He quieted a lot of fans last night on numerous occasions.

[z Revis]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Haven't posted in here in awhile... All this talk about not being able to keep Granger, but after tonights game from Lance I'm growing more and more worried about not being able to retain him. The more games he has like tonight, the higher his stock is. And you know teams are willing to overpay out there. We don't even have the option to match like we did with Roy either(although I think Roy is turning out to be worth as much if not more than he's being paid.. such an important piece to this team).

We're at about 65 million right now in salary for next summer without Danny and Lance. The luxury tax is projected to be at 75 million. I'm not an expert on this stuff, but doesn't that technically mean we can offer 10 mil per year for him? Or since we're over the cap we can't offer that? I don't know. I guess if Bird wants him bad enough we can always move players like Copeland(who is getting 3 mil per for nothing right now) to free up more space.

Or maybe pigs begin to fly and Herb Simon is willing to pay the LT? Unlikely, but he's done it before back in like 2000 I believe.

We'll see. Just have to try and enjoy this ride and not worry about it until it's time.

[dunnyduns]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Haven't posted in here in awhile... All this talk about not being able to keep Granger, but after tonights game from Lance I'm growing more and more worried about not being able to retain him. The more games he has like tonight, the higher his stock is. And you know teams are willing to overpay out there. We don't even have the option to match like we did with Roy either(although I think Roy is turning out to be worth as much if not more than he's being paid.. such an important piece to this team).

We're at about 65 million right now in salary for next summer without Danny and Lance. The luxury tax is projected to be at 75 million. I'm not an expert on this stuff, but doesn't that technically mean we can offer 10 mil per year for him? Or since we're over the cap we can't offer that? I don't know. I guess if Bird wants him bad enough we can always move players like Copeland(who is getting 3 mil per for nothing right now) to free up more space.

Or maybe pigs begin to fly and Herb Simon is willing to pay the LT? Unlikely, but he's done it before back in like 2000 I believe.

We'll see. Just have to try and enjoy this ride and not worry about it until it's time.

Even though the Pacers are over the cap next year they can offer Stephenson any contract amount since they own his Bird Rights. The Bird rights also mean the Pacers can offer Stephenson a higher annual raise and a 5th year where everybody else can only offer him a max 4 year contract.

Now, just because the Pacers can go over the cap and offer an additional year doesn't mean they will. As you stated the Pacers have already stated repeatedly they will not go over the luxury tax, so that leaves only a limited amount of money to resign Stephenson. Throw in the fact that if Paul George makes the All-NBA team again this season his contract goes up around 2-3 million per year because of the Rose Rule and that's even less money to resign Stephenson and stay under the luxury tax. I really think it's going to be very hard for the Pacers to keep Stephenson beyond this season unless Herb Simon opens up the checkbook to pay the luxury tax or the Pacers make some trades to move current players on the roster and receive no contracts back in return to ensure they can resign Stephenson and still stay under the luxury tax.

[z Revis]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Even though the Pacers are over the cap next year they can offer Stephenson any contract amount since they own his Bird Rights. The Bird rights also mean the Pacers can offer Stephenson a higher annual raise and a 5th year where everybody else can only offer him a max 4 year contract.

Now, just because the Pacers can go over the cap and offer an additional year doesn't mean they will. As you stated the Pacers have already stated repeatedly they will not go over the luxury tax, so that leaves only a limited amount of money to resign Stephenson. Throw in the fact that if Paul George makes the All-NBA team again this season his contract goes up around 2-3 million per year because of the Rose Rule and that's even less money to resign Stephenson and stay under the luxury tax. I really think it's going to be very hard for the Pacers to keep Stephenson beyond this season unless Herb Simon opens up the checkbook to pay the luxury tax or the Pacers make some trades to move current players on the roster and receive no contracts back in return to ensure they can resign Stephenson and still stay under the luxury tax.

I'm thinking the same thing. Although one thing of note about PG's contract is that they actually structured his deal so that he won't get the full max even if he makes All NBA. I don't know if you knew that or not.

I think it really all depends on what the LT actually is. If it's 75mil, I think we're OK to resign him since we have Scola's contract which isn't guaranteed and we have a player in Copeland that is getting garbage time minutes for 3 million a year. Would suck losing Scola if we had to let him go, but obviously you'd want Lance over him.

Bad thing is is if we have to let Scola go, our bench goes right back down the drain unless some of our prospects like SHill develop, but I think Hill is more a defender anyway.

Thanks for letting me know about the Bird rights thing. I always wondered what that really meant. Any other benefits of having Bird rights or is that it?

[dunnyduns]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

I'm thinking the same thing. Although one thing of note about PG's contract is that they actually structured his deal so that he won't get the full max even if he makes All NBA. I don't know if you knew that or not.

I think it really all depends on what the LT actually is. If it's 75mil, I think we're OK to resign him since we have Scola's contract which isn't guaranteed and we have a player in Copeland that is getting garbage time minutes for 3 million a year. Would suck losing Scola if we had to let him go, but obviously you'd want Lance over him.

Bad thing is is if we have to let Scola go, our bench goes right back down the drain unless some of our prospects like SHill develop, but I think Hill is more a defender anyway.

Thanks for letting me know about the Bird rights thing. I always wondered what that really meant. Any other benefits of having Bird rights or is that it?

Another thing to point out about next year is that the Pacers have to have 13 players on the roster and right now they have 11 on contract assuming Scola's contract is picked up for next season. Stephenson would make 12, so you have to sit aside at least .5 million for a 13th player and then at .5 million you are basically getting just roster filler, but the good thing is the Pacers really don't need much more than roster filler that low on the depth chart.

It will be very interesting to see how the Pacers plan to keep Stephenson and stay under the luxury although we as Pacers fans probably aren't really excited to see how they will go about doing it as it will probably mean losing a valuable player for next year.

Hopefully though we don't have to worry about what moves the Pacers will make to clear space for Stephenson and Herb Simon just goes ahead and does what's best for the team and pay the luxury tax. Now, that's easy for me to say when it isn't my money, but I have to believe with the excitement around the Pacers in Indiana right now with Indiana being a legitimate championship contender with Stephenson and how Stephenson is fan favorite, Simon will see the benefits of paying the luxury tax to keep Stephenson a Pacer along with the rest of the roster.

[return.specialist]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Isn't Stephenson making like $1.5 this year? How is Copeland making more? Damn. I hope they can keep Stephenson. Been rooting for the Pacers for a few years now (primarily because I was drawn in by Hibbert), but I have developed a certain affinity for Stephenson which has enhanced my appreciation of the team.

[z Revis]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

I know one way the Pacers could sign Stephenson easily... trade 8mil a year George Hill and start Lance at point. He's leading us in assists anyway...

But then of course we'd need a starting 2 guard...

Not that I want to break up our starting 5 though, I just like the idea of Lance running point lol.

[z Revis]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

By the way I really liked how Granger was yelling at PG to get the ball up the court last night. I think it was when Paul was talking to a ref about how he got fouled or something. Just shows that Granger still has that leadership role in him even if this isn't "his team" anymore.

Plus I think Paul needs that. I know his confidence level is super high right now and playing at this level is still new to him, but there's been a lot of times this season where he's showboating or talking to the refs when the ball is still in play.

[return.specialist]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

I agree. I'm not a fan of players jawing at the refs, especially when it compromises a play, though it is a integral component of being a 'star'. So I suppose it's good for him to navigate the terrain now and not during the play-offs.

[return.specialist]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

However, I like Lance better at the 2 spot, I think he's got more opportunities to free lance on the defensive end. But that's just me.

[z Revis]

Re: Official Indiana Pacers Thread

Pacers are sold out tonight for the 11th time this season. Very surprising when you consider the game is going to be starting during the Colts playoff game.

I think the fans are back.