Since the NBA lockout has robbed us of the real thing, the smart folks at Basketball Prospectus have teamed up with Strat-O-Matic to run a simulated season with the original schedule. So that means the sim Indiana Pacers were in action last night on the road at the Detroit Pistons. 

Unfortunately, the results were less than stellar with the Pacers relinquishing a halftime lead to a big third quarter by Detroit and eventually taking a 110-94 loss. Sounds like a familiar script for the Pacers doesn't it? Here's how BP described it.

PISTONS 110, PACERS 94: Brandon Knight capped a 17-2 Detroit run with a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter to put the Pistons up 78-68. But the Pacers' Danny Granger answered by reeling off eight points to start the fourth. Detroit's Charlie Villanueva then went off, scoring all 10 points of a 10-2 burst, including two three-pointers. Villanueva hit another three later in the quarter to put the Pistons up by 10 and Detroit cruised to the easy win. Villanueva erupted for 26 points in just 17 minutes. Granger led all scorers with 28 points.

Hey, at least it was just a simulation right? Plus, the roster is also a simulation including current free agents Jeff Foster, Josh McRoberts and Mike Dunleavy. Plus, George Hill only played 16 minutes off the bench so you can take issue with how the rotation was used. Check out the box score and other games, though and let me know any other quibbles you may have. Of course, when the Pacers when that program will be humming perfectly.

More links after the jump including news on the NBPA meeting today and a possible negotiating session on Saturday with the owners along with Chris Denari welcoming Brooke Olzendam to the Pacers broadcast crew.

• PACERS: Interview with Brooke Olzendam, Part 1
• N.B.A. Talks Resume (Between Union Officials) - NYTimes.com
• NBA talks to resume in coming days, source says - ESPN
• Mediator? Stern, Hunter need to go 1-on-1 - CBSSports.com
• Should Players Listen To Hockey Brethren, Bite NBA Lockout Bullet? - SBNation.com
• Steve Nash: Both sides are 'inevitably selfish' - CBSSports.com
• Frothing Up The Salary Cap: How NBA Lockout Deal Will Turn Cap Manipulation Into An Art - SBNation.com
• The Point Forward " Posts Why does everyone want Crawford? "
• Hunter's actions in NBA labor talks weaken union - NBA - Yahoo! Sports