Pacers ready to wage assault on the NBA Finals...

[bucsfan67]

The Indiana Pacers open up the 2004 playoffs today, against their Team President's former team, the Boston Celtics...

You can count on Indiana trudge toward the NBA Finals to be about as much of a struggle as most of their games....

But in the long run it will be just as successful...

It wont be pretty, games will be low-scoring (for the most part), defensive struggles, scoring droughts, and thats just the way the Pacers like it......In a year when Reggie Miller has taken a back-seat to emerging stars Ron Artest, and Jermaine O'Neal, and sophmore point gaurd Jamal Tinsley, expect him to see more time in the playoffs, and be much more rested.......And dont fool yourself, even in the twilight of his career, when the Pacers need a clutch shot, u can believe Reggie will be one of the 2 players they turn to, and if they need a 3, its all R-E-G-G-I-E....The guy can still drain it when the game is on the line.....

Conseco Fieldhouse will be rocking today, as we have one of the smaller stadiums, we do have avid fans of our Pacers around here, and people realize this is Reggie's best shot at finally getting a ring.......

A matchup with Detroit is most likely on the Horizon for the Pacers, but the Celtics come first.....And after being bounced by the Celtics in the playoffs most recently, this could prove SWEET REVENGE.....

LETS GO PACERS.!!!!

 

[Dante]

pacers sweep 1st rd IMO

 

[bucsfan67]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dante:
pacers sweep 1st rd IMO<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I knew you had potential kid.....

 

[TheGeneral+]

Reggie Miler is a huge factor that is being over looked and not his play but the other guys play who want to get him a title.

 

[OMNIVOROUS FROG]

The NBA Finals history is littered with teams wanting to win a first ring for certain players. Sir Charles with Suns, then Rockets. Stock and Malone twice. Nique, who never even made the big show. The glove and Malone even took pay cuts to get one. I see it as there are normally outsiders, and Miller is one, and there are the regulars. Last 5, Lakers and Spurs, before that, Rockets and Bulls. That is 13 years, and if you were not lucky enough to get traded to one of these teams, you got squat. See Kenny Smith. Plus being in the Leastern Conference is not how you get a title lately. Only reason Slow Pacers and Motown are even being talked about is because Western Jailblazers opened prison and let out Jermaine and Sheed. Until the Least beats the West, they are still the Least. How many Finals games have the Least won in last 5 years? 5 or 6? What happened last time Pacers made Finals. Sorry, but history repeats itself, as the Finals go in long runs, according to best teams and best talent. Cyclical as East dominated with Bad Boys and Jordan for 8 years with Jordan leaving, Akeem got a couple. Unlike any other sport, NBA teams often repeat. Hardest part is getting one to repeat. Even with a couple of players leaking from the West, the Least is still inferior. Look at the Midwest div to produce this years champ. Best division normally produces the champ. You place any of the top 6 Midwest div teams in the Least, and they are top seed material. If you want to feel good about Indiana basketball watch Hoosiers. Pacers get best record in NBA award, that and 5 bucks will get you a Venti at Starbucks. My point is after all of this incoherent rambling is Pacers fans have to be thinking, what if we make Finals and get swept again? The West is the Best, for now. Best Wishes...OF

 

[bucsfan67]

The Pacers did NOT get swept in the Finals when they played the Lakers, they lost 4-2, and they didnt have Oneal that year.....

And the Pacers are 20-8 against the west, so i would say the 6th best team in the west would have beaten them out for top seed.....

People are just associating the fact that the east has been weak lately, that a team from the East cant win...

If u put the Spurs in the East, and they won a ton of games, does that make the Spurs any less good? NO....

Its just the conference they happen to be in....

The Pacers have the talent, the players, and the heart to beat any team in the west in a 7 game series....

Will they do it? time will tell, but its not a mismatch, by any means.......

 

[NickyDeuces]

The steady trying Pacers didn't lose three games in a row all season. Last season, the Pacers posted two six game losing streaks. Dumping Isiah was a major positive. Boston, which stinks even more this go round, beat Indy 4-2 in last seasons first round. Bigtime payback here. Best of luck!

 

[OMNIVOROUS FROG]

I know, Pacers won 2 games, 2 of the 6 last 5 years. Never used the word mismatch though. Just a current history review. Sounds like tou are more of a Pacer fan than a Buc fan. I am not emotionally tied to any team, in any sport. I am a fan of money, and the West has been where the money is. Until that changes, I like the West, 3-1. And my talent observation holds up well, as when two very talented West players broke out of jail and went East, their two new teams are top two teams. Jailblazers losing them missed playoffs for first time in 22 years. I could pick the Pacers apart like Motown just did but that would appear mean spirited to a fan. My prediction, Pacers inconsistent offense comes back to haunt them against better balanced Motown, especially if Heat melt Pacers for 7 games. Second prediction, West wins title again, 6th year straight, might see a 6 or even a 7 game series. Disclaimer: Crystal ball been known to predict incorrect results, that wil be $40. please. Best Wishes...OF

 

[bucsfan67]

i happen to be a fan of Indiana, sure am....I have a team i root for in about every sport...However that doesnt blind me, i was very aware Tampa wasnt going anywhere last year about 5 games in.....

you can pick the pacers apart all you want, doesnt change the fact that they have the best record, and a very talented team...

the west may very well win the championship, hell that have a 1 in 2 shot at it.....

the reason i stated the pacers won 2 games is because u said us fans were worrying would we get "swept again"? and we didnt get swept...

I dont consider Jermaine O'neal a western conference player since he has been here 4 years......

Thats like saying Sacramento is good because they got Brad Miller, an eastern conference player....

You are right, overall, there is much more talent in the west right now, than in the east.....but that doesnt mean there arent good teams in the east......A western team is gonna have to go through war to get to the finals, where the Pacers might have one tough round....

like i said, we shall see.....

 

[OMNIVOROUS FROG]

Kings stole Miller for career backup Pollard. But with one legged CWebb back, Kings are early exit material. Was just breakin balls on swept comment. Trying to cap props, but +11 or more is not so bad as both games in Indy were 1 point games. Miller has done close to nothing lately, leaning towards Jiri + 1 1/2. I think the Pacers put the clamps on Pierce. Just so hard to take a Pacer in a scoring matchup as they have depth, could blow them out, and just have better balance scoring than the Celtics. Maybe Jiri and +11. Good luck and Best Wishes with the Pacers. OF

 

[bucsfan67]

gl to you too..

As a rule i dont like to lay this many points in the playoffs either, but i think the Pacers come out firing today, they are hyped up..

I am laying the points today, probably wouldnt in the second game if line was the same, i just think they are ready...

And Reggie will show up today, u can count on it....

However u are right on the scoring props, Pacers are a bad team for that....Hell Artest, Oneal, Miller, or Harrington can easily lead them in points on any given night....

 

[bucsfan67]

65-43 at the half.....

Pacers have put the clamps on defense, and Boston turning it over alot...

Jermaine O'Neal is basically unstoppable inside against them.......

This series could be over quick if Boston doesnt make some adjustments...

 

[OMNIVOROUS FROG]

Lot of conclusions after 1/2 of one game. And your low scoring prediction is off. Won't get same Canseco calls in Boston. Still a series last time I checked. Takes four wins, not 1/2 win. OF

 

[Dante]

nice win for them

 

[bucsfan67]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by OMNIVOROUS FROG:
Lot of conclusions after 1/2 of one game. And your low scoring prediction is off. Won't get same Canseco calls in Boston. Still a series last time I checked. Takes four wins, not 1/2 win. OF<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


well since i played the over, i wont complain.....178 is low, even for a pacers game, when u are going against the Celtics and their lack of defense......The primary low scoring games will come against detroit, and miami.....

Im drawing conclusions from how i saw them play, no need to get upset because the Pacers blew them out......

 

[OMNIVOROUS FROG]

bucsfan67, nice call on 16 point win, buy a lotto ticket. Bad call on low scoring. Revenge minded Pacers beat #8 36-46 defenseless Celtics. How did this loser team even make the playoffs, oops, their in the Least. Go Pacers, my new team, I'm convinced. Best Wishes...OF

 

[bucsfan67]

104-88 final...

* however u are right, there is a long way to go.....main reason why i said earlier, IF the Celtics dont make some adjustments, it could be over quickly...Today, they didnt..

 

[TheGeneral+]

Pacers got lazy in the second half. I don't like, but I have to remember that this is the NBA.

 

[Dante]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The General:
Pacers got lazy in the second half. I don't like, but I have to remember that this is the NBA.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

disagree....they did what they had to do why blow them out by 30 instead of 20?

 

[BillDozer]

I predict the Pistons will shut down their post offense. The Pacers were probably a little better when Reggie was younger and Brad Miller gave some relief to O'neal.