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The Indiana Pacers sweeping the league's only back-to-back-to-back last week was enough to really capture the attention of the league's national writers, but as a return, the Pacers flubbed their next two games, choking away last minutes leads in losses to Brooklyn and Toronto to immediately follow. While most rankings don't take into account the Brooklyn loss yet, those that do seem a little more torn on how to weigh in the impressive three-game sweep with renewed, focused offensive attack vs. the typical low scoring struggles that resulted in two consecutive home losses.
With the All-Star Weekend shortening the week, and Paul George and Gerald Green's appearances in the festivities, Indiana can dull the pain of these last two losses with a bounceback against Charlotte. For whatever reason, it seems the Pacers are not only ready for the All-Star Break, but seem to be gasping towards the checkpoint. It's somewhat hard to believe the loss against Brooklyn is still lingering from Indiana's B2B2B as it seemed the Toronto loss did, but tomorrow's pre-All-Star finale against the Bobcats will be a telltale sign.
NBA power rankings, Week 16: Validation for the league's elite - SBNation.com
Seth Rosenthal is somewhat surprised the No. 7 Pacers appeared to have lost all of the momentum they built up with the back-to-back-to-back, but notes that the second-tier teams are all falling on hard times.
NBA Basketball Power Rankings - National Basketball Association - ESPN
The Pacers are 6th, Marc Stein feeling the Toronto loss was a bit of a dilution to Indiana's impressive back-to-back-to-back.
Indiana skyrockets to #6 as the Hero Team of the Week, John Schuhmann impressed with the back-to-back-to-back, feeling they got Reggie Millered in their loss to Toronto.
NBA Power Rankings: Finals rematch Thursday could be finals preview | ProBasketballTalk
Kurt Helin moves Indiana to 7th, feeling they could be the biggest threat to Miami in the East, assuming Roy Hibbert can start finding consistency.
NBA Power Rankings - Top 30 NBA Basketball Teams - FOX Sports on MSN
The Pacers are No. 8, with Sam Amico impressed with the team's offensive output in last week's games.
Top O' The World, Ma! - David Aldridge | NBA.com
Indiana's 3-1 week and back-to-back-to-back sweep was enough to move them in with the league's elite according to David Aldridge, placing them at 4th.
2012-2013 Hollinger Power Rankings - ESPN
The two home losses were rough, but the Pacers remain 8th in Hollinger's rankings.
Jeff Sagarin NBA ratings - USA TODAY
The Pacers stay at #9, the shuffling in the top ten moving them to 8-6 against the other nine teams, one of only five current teams to have a winning record in the top ten.