SOOOO EXCITED!!!

by The Drunkin' Dutchman on Nov 23, 2010 12:47 PM EST

Well hellooooo fellow Pacers fans!!! Coming off a terrific win last night in South Beach, my expectations for this team have increased tremendously. I know, I know...it was only one game, and it was against a team that is obviously still trying to build the chemistry and cohesiveness that could ultimately transform them into a dynasty (hopefully not). However, Lebron James was still on the floor, Chris Bosh's talents were present as well, and Dwyane Wade was in the house too. All three have proved to be dominant against us in the past. Here are how each of these dudes did against us last season:

Lebron

November 20, 2009 40 pts, 9 boards, 7 assists ------------ Cavs win in Indy 105-95

January 29, 2010 22 pts, 9 boards, 13 assists ----------- Cavs win in Indy 94-73

March 17, 2010 32 pts, 9 boards, 9 assists ------------ Cavs win in Cleveland 99-94

April 9, 2010 DNP -----------------------------------------Pacers win in Cleveland 116-113

*** Averages -- 31.3 pts, 9 boards, 9.7 assists ***

Bosh

November 24, 2009 19 pts, 12 boards, 4 assists------------ Raptors win in Toronto 123-112

January 11, 2010 27 pts, 10 boards, 2 assists ---------- Pacers win in Indy 105-101

January 31, 2010 26 pts, 15 boards, 7 assists ---------- Raptors win in Toronto 117-102

February 2, 2010 35 pts, 15 boards, 3 assists ----------- Pacers win in Indy 130-115

*** Averages -- 26.8 pts, 13 boards, 4 assists ***

DWade

October 30, 2009 32 pts, 3 boards, 4 assists ------------- Heat win in Indy 96-83

December 27, 2009 25 pts, 3 boards, 6 assits -------------- Heat win in Miami 114-80

January 19, 2010 32, pts, 0 boards, 3 assists ------------Heat win in Miami 113-83

April 2, 2010 43 pts, 9 boards, 6 assists ------------ Heat win in Indy 105-96

*** Averages -- 33 pts, 3.8 boards, 4.8 assists ***

Last night, when we took our talents to South Beach (that'll never get old), we "held" Lebron's ass to 25/5/6, contained Bosh to the tune of 21/11/0, and shut DWade down for 3/4/5. All well below their averages from last year. I understand their averages from years past against us were so impressive because they were their team's centerpiece, and lone dominant force. My point isn't necessarily their outrageous individuall stats, but more so the fact that their previous teams were so dominate as a whole against the Pacers last year. We were 3-9 against the Cavs, Raptors, and Heat last year (and one of those wins was with Lebron out of the lineup). We never beat any of those teams on the road when one of the Big 3 were playing. Our average margin of defeat was 16.4 points. Last night, we beat the Heat by 16 in a building where we lost by 34 and 30, respectively, last season. And last season, these guys played on teams with not half the talent as this current Heat team. I understand the circumstances are completely different, and the Heat are struggling and will only get better, but it is still fun to look back and see how far we have come. Last season, nobody with any brain whatsoever would have ever bet a 3-days-old ham sandwich we could come within 20 points of a team like this.

That brings me to my main point for this post (I got way off-track and I know some of you will think the above info is completely irrelevant). THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL EMERGING HERE. They may not win 50 games, they may not even make the playoffs this year, but they are beginning to look like a team that is going to become a very, very competitive and dangerous one in the very near future. Just a few years ago, the only thing considered "dangerous" about the Pacers was encountering them in the wee hours of the night in a strip club parking lot. The difference is glaring, showing up not only on the stat sheet, but also the excitement I feel every time they step on the court (except for a couple set-backs, which is expected for a young team playing together for the first time). The players seem to actually CARE, they are INSPIRED, and they are stubborn in that they refuse to roll over for a team that is expected to blow us out. We do still seem to struggle with the teams we actually are favored in, but I think that will change as they grow together and are no longer seen as a speed-bump on the schedule. I have always stood by the Pacers, always have and always will, but I haven't necessarily appreciated (maybe not the right word) them for the last six years or so. Back in the days of Reggie, Rik, Mark, the Davises, and all the others from those glorious years, I bled blue and gold. In middle school, I got through my day in anticipation of that night's game. The last few years, however, there were some times I was home at night, and wasn't even aware they were on TV. All the sudden, I find myself scouring for anything and everything Pacers, trying to maneuver my work schedule around game nights. It's a refreshing feeling, to actually be proud of the guys we put on the floor each night. I think it will only get stronger, and I think everyone else feels it too. Sorry for the rambling, and sorry for the choppy paragraphs, but I AM EXCITED...GO PACERS, PLEASE KEEP IT UP!!!!

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Comments

Nice write up!

Here is something I thought about today, kinda falling in the lines of what you wrote. No matter how much we disagree with JOB and his coaching style (merited or unmerited) no one on the team has tuned him out or quit on the team in the past 3 years. That’s not to say that he has been an excellent coach this entire time, and also not to say there haven’t been isolated “incidents” surrounding the team, but does say something about the respect the team has for him. Now, if the Pacers go on another 5-6 game losing streak, the tide may turn, but for the moment here, both JOB and the team should be acknowledged.

by jantz101 on Nov 23, 2010 4:30 PM EST reply actions

I think the makeup of our team has just as much to do with it

We seem to be a locker room of “respectable young men” that understand what being a professional means. I’m sure there are members of the team that aren’t fans of O’Brien (and vice versa) but he’s their coach so they do what he tells them to.

٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶ The sky is falling!

by IndyPacers on Nov 23, 2010 5:14 PM EST up reply actions

Good points

I have been very critical of JOB pretty much the entire time he has been here. I still 100% do not feel he is the right man for the job. He just doesn’t seem to utilize our talent in the right ways. We have some very talented guys on this team who have seen huge drop offs in their play under him. I personally would like to see Tyler get more minutes, as well as George, and it would be nice to get Stephenson in there soon to see what he can do. We have had several blowout games, where down the stretch we could get those guys some garbage minutes to get some experience and lift their spirits. Their are other thinks that irk me, but those are on the top of my mind coming off of such a blowout last night against the Cavs.

That being said, I think JOB has silenced his critics a little bit, and will continue to for the tim being as

by The Drunkin' Dutchman on Nov 24, 2010 10:32 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

sorry, accident

I think JOB is safe as long as we are winning, although i don’t think he will be here after this season (hopefully). Whether team is winning or losing, the coach tends to be praised or blamed, sometimes unmerited. Because we are playing well, it looks like he’s doing a better job, and perhaps he is alittle bit. But, as indypacers said, I think a a lot of that has to do with the guys we have on our team. They all seem to be high character guys for the most part. They do what he asks of them, and they play their butts off. I think they would do so for any coach we put out there though. They’re the type of guys who won’t JOB has improved a little bit, but the guys on the court are making him look good. I just hope they don’t make HIM look too good and save his job for him.

by The Drunkin' Dutchman on Nov 24, 2010 10:49 AM EST via mobile up reply actions