Do you view the Pacers as a threat to win the NBA title?

I view no Eastern Conference team as a threat to win the title. Nothing personal against any of the Indianas or New Jerseys, etc.

The West is just too strong. The teams are too deep and too big.

I don't like lopsided championship games, and I cannot stand that the true NBA finals have occurred in the Western Conference Championship game the last several years. But I don't see it changing any time soon.

But if there was one team that I'd like to see do it, it's Indiana.

 

Indiana and Detroit are legitimate threats. They have the size needed. Indiana finally has a real coach and Detroit just held their 4th straight team under 70 points and three of those were on the road.

They're not favored by any stretch, but both have done well against the western teams, both have size, and both are exceptional defensive teams.

 

the hornets can be a dangerous team as well imo

for the western conference, look for the big bangin Denver Nuggets to surprise.

they have the best record vs. western conference teams

 

When was the last team to win without that? Or even top 2?? Detroit; but they are the ONLY team since, like, forever before that.

Historically speaking; it's going to be LA, SA or Minn
No other contending team has a player which is arguably the best in the league. If you don't have one of those players you don't win rings. Now, if J.O. turns it up in the playoffs; and we all recognize that he is possibly better than all of those players mentioned, then, yes Indiana has a shot, otherwise; no.

Again, the threshold is: Does the team have a player who is arguably the BEST player in the NBA?

 

Yes, I really think they have a chance. As long as J O'Neal doesn't self-destruct and talk a lot before the series, there is a very good chance. I don't know about Detroit though. Don't seem to have enough offense. I think Indiana goes far if Tinsley can play well.

 

PROBABLE TITLE WINNERS
Los Angeles
San Antonio
Sacramento

2nd Tier:

Detroit
Minn
Pacers


3rd Tier:

Nets
Dallas
Houston


There is a style that does better in the playoffs. Detroit and the Pacers are the only team with that size, defense and able to win in the half court set therefore I would give them a 2nd tier chance.

 

Indiana likes to say that they are a western conference team. They point to their great record against the west for proof. I agree, but I wonder if they are going to get out of the Eastern Conference?

Some fun stats:

Teams vs Lastern Conference || Team Overall
Indiana: 30-10 (75%)|| 48-16 (75%)
Sacramento: 21-3 (87.5%) || 47-16 (74.6%)
Houston: 21-6 (77.7%) || 37-26 (58.7%)

And your winners for the "Damn, I wish we were in the Eastern Conference" Award for this year: Sacramento and Houston.

 

Scoring down low and defense all around, why not?

You want to bet against the brain of Rick Carlisle in a 7-game series?

 

The Pacers and the Pistons are the only east teams that have a fighting chance against whoever makes it out of the west, so yes, I think they are a threat.

So I'm saying there's a chance ...

 

Neither do the Kings (they arguably don't even have a top 10 guy--see below), but they are one of the favorites to win it all this year. My take on the best players now:

Top 3:
Shaq, Duncan, KG

Next 3:
T-Mac, Kobe, Kidd

Third 3:
J O'Neal, Yao, Nowitzki (arguably, Peja and Webber might belong to this group too)

Personally, I think the Pacers do have a shot. They at least has the best shot at winning the title among all the EC champs in the past 4 years. My prediction is that the Pacers will lose in 6 games. If Detroit or New Jersey gets to the Finals, that will be another lopsided series. Probably 4-1.

 

Considering that you never know what can happen in a 7 game series, the Pacers have a chance. I mean, the Nets managed to take the Spurs to 6 games.

Fortunately for the Pacers, they only need to win one series against serious competition, which is the finals. If they were in the west, I wouldn't give them a much better chance of making it than the Rockets.

 

No.

 

That's a good point.

I'll parrot the seeming consensus here. Indiana won't embarass the Eastern Conference by representing them in the Finals, but I don't think they will win. The other contenders for the Eastern Conference finalist would embarrass the East in the Finals.

 

You make my point from earlier in the thread. The Kings have been "one of the favorites" for years now...and have gotten close, but they have NOT gotten it done. Neither they, nor the Pacers have a shot. Lakers, Spurs, Minnesota (but w/another March collapse looming, despite his gaudy stats; a discussion might have to begin as to how "valuable" Garnett really is).

 

Being Hoosier born I would say they have a great shot.

Go Rockets!!

 

Hey Hoser born, get off the net and give me a call !

 

They have not gotten it done because (1) injuries of key players in the playoffs and (2) getting robbed by Lakers disguised as referees.

Winning or not winning a championship sometimes is just differentiated by luck. I am not saying that winning is pure luck. You have to be a great team to win it all. But usually you are not the only great team in the league. Only one team can win it all. So sometimes it comes down to luck. I've always said that you have to be both good and lucky to win.

As a fan, all I want is my team to be a contender every year.

 

Man I still can't believe how Sacramento were robbed of the championships that year by the refs. Also, I remember Portland(another team lacking that #1 superstar) being up by double digits in the 4th quarter of the 7th game the year before, only to choke it away in the final moments. Lakers are awesome, but they also were really lucky.

 

I know the Pacers have a fine record, but honestly I think the Pistons or Nets will come out of the east. I just think deep in playoff time outside of J Oneal and Reggie the Pacers will have too many guys that you can cheat a little on defense on. I think the Pistons or Nets will good defensive players and smart defensive coaches, always park a guy on Reggie and still be able to double Oneal which will make the Pacers have a really hard time scoring.

In sum, not a believer in Tinsley, Harrington, Artest, Bender, etc, being ready to support a finalist team compared with the Kidd's supporting cast or the Detriot team--the latter of whom has depth and no glaring weaknesses in their libe-up even if no offensive star. So unless J Oneal plays as lethal as TD--no I don't see the Pacers coming out.

But I do believe the winner of the East will have a fighting chance. The Nets gave the Spurs all they could handle and I think Sac, Minn or the Spurs could all be vulnearable if their Eastern opponent could dictate game pace.