IC Cold Links: Pacers' Wins A Little Strange These Days

Having made peace with this season as a precursor to the NBA draft lottery, a win like the Pacers had last night against Philadelphia creates a strange, uneasy feeling.

I love seeing young players play well, like Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert did last night, and obviously the Pacers are going to win a few games over the remainder of the season. If you looked at the remaining schedule, penciling in about six more wins would include Philly last night.

The Sixers were a mess and I thought the Pacers played well for big stretches of the game, yet it was still pretty close. Bob Cooney stated it well by saying the game had a "lottery pick" atmosphere instead of a "playoff-type" atmosphere.

So I wouldn't get too concerned about a meaningless winning streak messing up the team's lottery status. Besides, the "best" the Pacers will finish in the upside-down standings is fourth, maybe third. While every little bit helps, regardless of where you are in the lottery from say 3 to 7, you have to get lucky to land the top spot. Of course, that higher position helps in likely scenario that you don't win the top pick, but his win won't change much.

Even with the win, the Pacers remain tied for "fourth" with only road games against Boston and Milwaukee over the next six days. As Mike Wells mentions in his blog post today, there are plenty of losses left on the schedule so don't get nervous unless the Pacers beat the Celtics and Bucks.

After the jump, all the links from the win last night.

• AP game report
• PACERS: Inside the Game: Pacers 107, Sixers 96
  Bruno's Inside The Game report has all of the numbers, notes, quotes and highlights.
• Pacers try teamwork in Granger's absence
  Mike Wells reports on the Pacers coming together as a team while playing without Danny Granger.
• Without Granger, Pacers snap four-game losing streak
  John Oehser recaps the Pacers' win for NBA.com.
• Pacers outlast bumbling Sixers
  Kate Faganreports on the Pacers putting away the Sixers with little resistance from the visitors.
• Pacers show Sixers the Princeton offense
  Bob Cooney sums up the action last night perfectly. "We've heard of games that have that "playoff-type" atmosphere, especially near the end of the season. Last night's game at Conseco Fieldhousehad more of a "lottery pick" atmosphere, as neither the 76ers nor the Indiana Pacers resembled a team with a playoff dream."
• Pacers Notebook: Granger suspended 1 game
  Mike Wells reports on the Pacers being surprised by Danny Granger's suspension considering he didn't throw a punch. JOB also claims it's a just a coincidence that Solo Jones hasn't played since he was suspended.
• Liberty Ballers can't complain about the loss and offers up their updated lottery standings.
• PACERS: McRoberts making most of opportunity
  Bruno's latest Caught In The Web (in a sharp new home on Pacers.com) checks in with Josh McRoberts hoping he gets an extended opportunity to show what he can do over the remainder of the season.
• Pacers Insider: The Rush factor
  Mike Wells found Brandon Rush taking some heat from Dahntay Jones for the way he was called out by Bob Kravitz. Rush had something for both of them last night.
• Sixers coach Jordan on way out, sources say
  Kate Fagan reports that Philly coach, Eddie Jordan may be on the way out.
• NBA Insider: Mike Dunleavy'slost season leaves the former Jesuit star searching for answers | OregonLive.com
  Geoffrey C. Arnold from The Oregonian reports on former Jesuit High School hooper, Mike Dunleavy and his tough season.