IC Cold Links: Pacers See the Bobcats Inch Closer, So They Turn it Up Against the Celtics in the 4th

by Rick Wagner on Mar 29, 2011 9:03 AM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

The Indiana Pacers take down the Boston Celtics last night. Roy Hibbert looked to take advantage of the smaller lineup the Celtics used due to the foul trouble of Kevin Garnett and Nenad Krstic. He looked confident and willing to take the ball up strong for the most part (except for that fade away jump shot in the 4th...against a guy about 5 or 6 inches shorter than him). Darren Collison looked great in the 4th quarter. His killer mentality at the end of the game is sorely needed, but on a consistent basis. Hopefully this game will get him and backup, A.J. Price back on track.

This Pacers team is perplexing and I am not trying to figure them out anymore. I am just hoping they pull out enough W's to get into the playoffs. Once in the playoffs, maybe they will play like they have recently against the better teams?? If they play up to their opponent's potential, maybe they will make things a little interesting in the first round. Honestly, we can't really know with the inconsistency of this team. Nonetheless, playoffs are a must and will be very beneficial to this team...

After the jump, check out the links of the day...

Box Score

PACERS: Game Rewind: Pacers 107, Celtics 100

Pacers respond with big win against Celtics | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
Roy Hibbert carried the Indiana Pacers early. A.J. Price picked up the slack in the middle. Darren Collison brought them home at the end.

The confusion continues with Pacers | Pacers Insider blog | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
Mike Wells says what we are all thinking..."what the..."

Vogel happy for Stevens | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
Coach Vogel sends his congrats to new friend Brad Stevens

Pacers survive C's rally, hold on to eighth in East - NBA - CBSSports.com
Roy Hibbert scored 26 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Boston Celtics 107-100 on Monday night and remained in sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Off track in Indy - The Boston Globe

Don’t blame ‘The Trade’ - BostonHerald.com
Boston newspaper takes a look at what is wrong with these Celtics of late...

CelticsBlog

Jermaine O’Neal near return - The Boston Globe
JO has a way of convincing others he is healthy....We all know now though to take what he says with a grain of salt...

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Comments

There is no recognizable pattern to this team's success and failures

I tried to find evidence that the team plays up to competition, or down to competition, but its like 4-8 against teams with winning records since February. The only thing that sticks out is the losing streaks, not necessarily the bad teams the Pacers lose to. The Pacers have suffered 6 three-game losing streaks this season and just one under Vogel, but it was a 6-game skid. It’s easy to blame the coaches for losing streaks, and players’ inability to adjust and get back on track after a loss, but I chalk it up more to just a lack of continuity. It’s like with children; if they don’t have a strong, consistent parental influence telling them the same rules over and over again, they’re going to stray. The Pacers have no leader, their lineups were constantly changing with O’Brien. They’ve dealt with two very different head coaches. It’s like a kid whose been in and out of foster care, or dealt with multiple divorces. I feel like on certain nights this team is uber-talented, and has all the depth and skill needed to compete for a top-4 or 5 playoff seed. But it’s going to take some discipline and experience from the coaches and the vets on the team. I sound like a broken record, but the key just seems to be leadership and experience. Look at San Antonio. They’ll coast in to a #1 seed without Duncan and Parker. Why? Because those guys have all been there and know how to take care of business every night. If they get rocked by some crappy team, they all collectively realize that that happens from time to time. And their young guys like DeJuan Blair and George Hill will benefit greatly from just being around those vets and coaches who are all so experienced, and are both probably light years ahead of anyone whose even on our team, composure-wise. It’s something money and draft picks can’t buy…

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by LukeNukem on Mar 29, 2011 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

I think there is talent on this team now

I’m really interested to see how they do over a full year with a credible coach. JOB lost credibility and seemed to lose his mind a little this season.
Vogel, for all his great energy, seems to just be in over his head. “when I’m old and gray, I’ll try to figure this team out” really? Shouldn’t you be figuring on the team, I don’ t know, NOW?
I think with a real coach, this team could win 50 games next year, I really do.

by PIERREismyHOMEBOY on Mar 29, 2011 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

That's optimistic, but I hope you're right

I’d love for a coach to be the magic answer. I wasn’t on board with Adelman, but of all the coaches available, he could be the best option if 50 wins is a legit goal. We joked about it when he first resigned, but I wonder if Jerry Sloan wouldn’t want to end his career on a more positive note, by perhaps coming here and coaching up these guys who sometimes look like underachievers, and sometimes look like overachievers. Sloan’s no-nonsense, my way or the highway type approach could be just what the doctor ordered. He’s old, but I figure with the right GM (someone he has a good relationship with) the franchise could gather some sort of coaching staff dream team. Sloan and the dude who left with him (forget his name but he’s been a Sloan assistant for most of his career) plus a few young up-and-comers (maybe Vogel, if he’d agree to it) combined with a few veteran pickups who don’t cost much but address the team’s biggest needs (consistent effort on defense, scoring from the 2-guard spot and a rebounding upgrade) could be enough, with luck, to get them to 50. It just seems far-fetched. Any slip ups from the new coach, and any missteps in the free agent market (or any injuries, for that matter) could send this group reeling like we’ve seen so many times in the past.

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by LukeNukem on Mar 29, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

50 GAMES!

Wow. That would be awesome. I’m with you though. We have the foundation, just need an above-average coach to bring it home.

BOOM BABY

by PacerFan317 on Mar 29, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sorry but this being a 50 win roster is frankly, laughable

Name one coach in the history of basketball that’s worth what’d probably end up being an almost 40% increase in wins. If we go spend a bundle on some FAs (not that I want to, just saying), a Zach Randolph and a Jason Richardson, hey, maybe. Probably not even then.

I don't know what to do. At all.

by IndyPacers on Mar 30, 2011 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Its not laughable, its not impossible.

Like the old McDonalds commercials, It can happen.

BOOM BABY

by PacerFan317 on Mar 30, 2011 5:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes it is

THIS roster, no upgrades, will never sniff 50 wins even if all the youngsters top out their potential. You guys are severely overrating what we have. We’re a LONG way from a 50 win team.

I don't know what to do. At all.

by IndyPacers on Mar 30, 2011 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions

You are so definitive...

I think there is evidence that this team could be a 45-50 win team (and teams make the jump from 35 to 45 wins all the time in the NBA, its not far fetched at all) There is also evidence that they could be a bunch of mental midget underachievers. Thats why I’m excited to get a better coach who can address that.
But to definitively say there’s no way they could win 45-50 games next year is pretty short sighted.
As other conversations has established, this team isn’t constructed as a “traditional” NBA team right now, but they clearly can play with/beat anyone. They have won too many games against good teams this year for it to still be considered a fluke. If they can nail down the inconsistency and beat the teams that they are better than on a regular basis than 50 wins is feasible. And there are a lot of teams in the NBA right now that the Pacers are flat better than.

by PIERREismyHOMEBOY on Mar 30, 2011 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

It seems to me like every plan is far fetched.

Is it any more far fetched than thinking if we tear down, win 15 games for three years, we will get lucky enough to land multiple good players and be a 50 win team? Thats the crux of the issue, I guess.
Its just not as far fetched to me. I think this team could win in the NBA. I know that bad teams rise up and beat better one regularly in the NBA, but it is much more rare for a team to consistently beat/play very tough ALL the top teams, while playing visibly different against bad teams. If they can even out their effort, I think there is evidence there, this season, that they can win 50 games and be competitive in the playoffs. Win the whole thing? probably not, but as I’ve stated I don’t feel that’s a realistic goal to go for.
I actually feel, given how they reacted to the heavy-handedness of JOB, that an older, established coach is not the way to go. I want them to go with a young coach who connects with them as Vogel seems to, but one with the administrative ability to control them and the ability to work out the inconsistency. I know that’s basically wunderkind, but there’s guys out there that fit the bill.
I guess I am an optimist.

by PIERREismyHOMEBOY on Mar 29, 2011 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

Where do we get that coach?

Chuck Person? He’s awfully inexperienced. Ty Corbin? Great, but he’s probably locked up in Utah, the way he’s got those guys still competing. Nate McMillan? Already signed (and runs a pretty boring show, if I do say so). I like the IDEA of the coach you mentioned, but I just don’t know who that person is.

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by LukeNukem on Mar 29, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Person would be my choice

but I’m not arguing with you, the pool is pretty limited. Mark Jackson maybe? The “perfect” coach is a bit of a pipe dream.
If my only options are a coach like JOB or a young/energy guy, I’m going with the young/energy guy for this bunch, someone who can grow with them.
For awhile I thought that could be Vogel. He’s made comments lately though that show me he’s not it long term.

by PIERREismyHOMEBOY on Mar 29, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Really, I'm thinking of some unknown assistant

The kind that, when the Pacers announce the hire, everyone is like “who is that?” But my knowledge of eligible assistants in the NBA is pretty limited

by PIERREismyHOMEBOY on Mar 29, 2011 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Same here

I know there are guys out there. I don’t think Mark Jackson is any more qualified than Person. He’s probably less qualified considering he’s never coached. What I’d really like is for those guys to come as assistants under an established coach and let them fight to take over once that coach retired. Sloan or Adleman teaching a staff of former Pacers who are really invested in our team’s succes, like M-Jax, Person and, dare I say it, Reggie Miller, would be awesome.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

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by LukeNukem on Mar 29, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

where we are at?

I loved that one play from granger where he faces up paul pierce waves his arms around while holding the ball to create the room he needed and cold bloodedly making the shot. Veteran savvy baby! I wanna see more of that Danny. When Tyler had his hot streak what i loved most about it was that whenever we hit a cold spell and were not able to make a shot for a couple of minutes we’d just give it to tyler and he’d make the shot. If Danny brought that veteran savvy to the game every game he can be that anchor for us. Something I think that will help this team enormously in their growth cause you stay away from the hot cold, hot cold drama.
It seems like both paul george and T. Hansbrough hit their rookie wall, they both showed us what they are capable of and i am stoked to see what that is like, but they are not even close to reproducing it at the moment. If and and only if we do make it to the playoffs am i worried that they are not going to be able to produce, because we need them to. If they are not producing now should we just keep them home for a week so they can fill up their tanks?

by bibb on Mar 29, 2011 12:38 PM EDT reply actions

The wall

I doubt that either player has hit a wall, because they did not play that much in the first half of the season. I have not watched George closely, but Hansbrough has not been moving well without the ball lately. That can be fixed, with some good coaching and film study. But the main problem is that the point guards have not passed him the ball when he’s been open. In the fourth quarter last night, A. J. finally dished it to Tyler, but he happened to miss that jumper. George likes to pass it to Tyler, but A. J. would rather shoot himself. When Dunleavy gets back, he will make it easier to get the ball to the open man.

by euphorbus on Mar 29, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Sloan would be a dream...

I’d do cartwheels if Jerry decided to come back. Darren’s already proven to be an 18-9 guy in a pure Pick-N-Roll/Pop system in New Orleans, and Tyler’s proven that he can be an 17-8 guy when he’s the focal point. Roy is as good as Al Jefferson, but he wouldn’t need to be, and Danny is better than C.J. Miles. I’ve been wanting a pure PNR system here for awhile, but that’s just a dream…

I actually like Adelman. Since only have 1 all-star, we need a coach who can get the most out of a collection of good players; that’s all Adelman does. Yes, Clyde and C-Webb were better than Danny is, but I don’t think #33 has fully unlocked his potential yet.

Next would be Mike Brown, who, like Thibodeau, would use SUPER-DEFENSE as the main crux. If Tom can get Boozer and Korver to D up, Brown could get Darren to as well.

by abeas1 on Mar 30, 2011 3:08 PM EDT reply actions