IC Cold Links: Sim Indiana Pacers Drop Opener To Sim Detroit Pistons; NBA Lockout Talks May Resume Saturday

by Tom Lewis on Nov 3, 2011 3:45 PM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

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.

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Come on, Tom...

…you choose to focus on George Hill’s playing time as a reason why the simulation was flawed and not the fact that Villanueva was the catalyst behind the Pistons’ win? :)

Oh goodie, CBA negotiations are to continue. Are there anymore hearts left to be torn out if these negotiations collapse yet again?

Speaking of the lockout, one of its more entertaining aspects has been the media’s coverage. Through my observations on twitter and through my daily reading, it’s pretty clear to me that the majority of NBA writers covering the lockout are pro NBAPA. Seemingly everyday we see another article picking apart the owners’ financial and competitive balance assertions, while the players are mostly presented as victims.

When Jason Whitlock dared report an article that wasn’t “pro-player,” the rest of the NBA media world ripped him apart. I get Whitlock hasn’t always been the most reliable media source, but one thing really stuck out to me as I watched the reaction to Whitlock’s piece:

1. Hypocrisy – one of the complaints against Whitlock was that he used what turned out to be an unsubstantiated anonymous source for the story. Yet, many of these same media members champion every little word that comes off the fingertips of Adrian Wojnarowski. The same Adrian Wojnarowski who publishes article after article littered with anonymous sources. Journalism 101: Anonymous sources are flawed no matter the reputation associated with the man using them.

by Glenn A. on Nov 3, 2011 5:32 PM EDT reply actions

Great point

You know your in trouble if you see, “…then Charlie Villanueva went off…”

Of course, the past couple of years many an unexpected players has gone off at the most inopportune time.

Indy Cornrows

by Tom Lewis on Nov 3, 2011 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully all this decert talk will scare the owners into moving a little off the BRI to get a deal done. If there’s no progress this weekend and the players decertify I’d be really surprised to see any basketball played this season. We’ll then have to decide whether to resign Hill, Hibbert, and Rush and how much is worth investing in them. With very little being done as far as preventing the obnoxious contracts and virtually every team being a possible player in free agency thanks to the amnesty clause (the ultimate owner hypocrisy) it will probably take more money than Hill or Hibbert are worth to keep them. Starting centers in this league aren’t cheap, it would be nice to see how/if Hibbert improved this offseason before investing big dollars in him.

by donnyfher on Nov 4, 2011 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions

It would seem that even 50% is a hard sell to owners.

I’d rather the owners hold strong, get the money they need so we don’t have to go through this again (hopefully).

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Nov 5, 2011 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Last night's lost was completely due to Doneleaving still being on the team

by latrell spreewel on Nov 3, 2011 9:36 PM EDT reply actions

Since we are technically in the off-season,

I refuse to believe the Pacers could have such a poor 3rd quarter. That was sooo last year, and the year before, and maybe even the year before that…

by jantz101 on Nov 4, 2011 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah...

Strat-o-Matic had a few things wrong…..G.Hill 16 mins???? Really!!!! Charlie Villa going off in the 3rd qtr. At least they showed some love to Danny. I simm’ed it on easports nba live 2011 or whatever and the Pacers won it 105-96 with Darren and Big Roy going OFF as well as Tyler.

***Forever Grunge...Man!***
*I'm Alive* Eddie Veddar, Pearl Jam

by rockguyinindy on Nov 4, 2011 12:23 AM EDT reply actions