I have him #4 on my list right now. Lebron, KD, and Paul are just that much better offensively than he is, not only scoring but playmaking while also providing a presence defensively.
Yeah, but both teams had the same travel from LA, and the Pacer game was in the afternoon, so fatigue isn't really an excuse. Even in down years the Blazers have always been tough at home, so this isn't really a shock, but it's clear this isn't some fluke win.
CP3 actually hasn't been playing that great since the first two weeks of the season. His shot has been surprisingly unreliable. I'd say George is having a better season so far.
Paul's playmaking more than makes up for it. Offense isn't just about scoring. George's playmaking and finishing around the rim still lag behind the improvement he has made in his perimeter offensive game. Maybe next year George will surpass Paul.
You have to shoot jumpers against the Pacers. The Pacers scheme gives you nothing at the rim and almost nothing at the 3 point line. Getting mid range jumpers is probably your best option. The Pacers are allowing 39% shooting coming into the game. The Blazers shot 47.4%. They also got to the line a ton before end of the game. It was quite impressive IMO.
You could make this same argument for the mid-2000s Pistons teams, which were the best defensive teams of all-time but featured non-star-power offense. Fact is, if Indy can continue playing this kind of defense, they will be a contender regardless of what their offense brings. I wouldn't put them as a favorite over Miami, but they could certainly win that series (almost did last year and this year they could very well have HCA). The biggest thing is that so far Indy has played a true cakewalk of a schedule, but that's not under their control. I thought they looked good in the last two games and showed they can hang on the road with the top of the West.
The Pacers are legit. I never care for their schedule. They're better than last year b/c George is better. But to beat Miami, they need to score points b/c Miami can be just as good defensively when motivated. And Lebron is improving STILL. If you watch the Heat, Lebron is probably playing at 75% and he's putting up those stats. And Wade seems to be taking the easy route in terms of playing time this year to save his health. They need more balance scoring to beat the Heat period. They wont beat the Heat with just stifling defense.
That Detroit defense was still miles ahead of this Pacers defense tho. That defense would hold teams under 70 all day every day. This Pacers team is more of a combination of defense plus an offense centered around PG
Pacers were better than Heat last year..and they are better than them this year....but god help them if Oden is healthy and can actually play...Oden vs home court...thats what it all comes down to in a Pacers/Miami series...
Pace is faster now. This Pacers D is close to Spurs/Pistons/08 Celtics level. This was the first game they were relatively shredded. If you adjust for average offense/defense, this Pacers defense grades out really well so far.
Detroit Pistons: 2003-2004 DRTG: 95.4 (Champs) 2004-2005 DRTG: 101.2 2005-2006 DRTG: 103.1 2006-2007 DRTG: 104.2 2007-2008 DRTG: 102.9 Indiana Pacers: 2012-2013 DRTG: 99.8 2013-2014 DRTG: 92.6 so far And those Pistons teams were actually pretty good offensively, way better than the Pacers. They just played at really slow pace.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Next time I play <a href="https://twitter.com/aldridge_12">@aldridge_12</a> I'm wearing a cup. Good game bro. We gonna battle again in indy. <a href="http://t.co/xwKg4bojhx">pic.twitter.com/xwKg4bojhx</a></p>— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoya2aPacer/statuses/407755703864942592">December 3, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/Hoya2aPacer">@Hoya2aPacer</a> lol bro I don't do it on purpose I'm just a one leg jumper so that's how I jump. I don't play dirty. Real talk</p>— Lamarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) <a href="https://twitter.com/aldridge_12/statuses/407756016332197889">December 3, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/Hoya2aPacer">@Hoya2aPacer</a> yessir bro. Keep doing ya thang.</p>— Lamarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) <a href="https://twitter.com/aldridge_12/statuses/407757796315123712">December 3, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Absolutely, agree with you. The scary thing is, I think the Pacers can reach that level. Granger+Copeland+Solomon Hill for Rondo+Gerald Wallace* Rondo takes over as the facilitator and absolutely shreds defenses by getting open looks to PG, West, Wallace and even Hibbert. Gerald Wallace will thrive as a help defender and hustle player. Undoubtedly the best starting defense in the league. With Stephenson no longer being forced into a facilitator role, he can use what he learned and provide an unmatched offensive spark off the bench. Hill, Scola and C.J. Watson round out the 9 man rotation. Against the heat, you can easily go with Stephenson on Wade and PG on LeBron while still having Rondo + Wallace feast on opportunistic TOs. Almost no mismatches on switches. *The salaries work, but trade can only occur after Dec 15. And of course, this will force the Pacers to pay the tax once they re-sign Stephenson.
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If you're a pro competitive sports athlete and aren't already wearing a cup I don't know what to say.
