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

Yes, because clearly the MVP vote is an accurate indicator of the better player, like when Robinson won over Hakeem and when Malone won over Jordan.

Better than J. Oneal (no particular order): Duncan, Garnett, Shaq, Kobe, McGrady, Peja, Nowitzki, Kidd, Pierce, Cassell.

Stojakovic is clearly better than J Oneal. I'd take 24 and 6 in the West over 20 and 10 in the East, especially when one is a SF shooting 49% (43% threes) and the other is a PF who shoots 43%. Yes, Peja shoots threes as well as Jermaine shoots twos. Overall, the Kings have the matchup advantage over the Pacers at 4 positions: SF, PG, C, SG. They'd have the better PF, too, but Webber's still clearly not his old self.

 

There is no emoticon to express what a lame comeback that was.

 

I still think the Pacers best chance to win an NBA championship comes only if the Wolves make it to the finals even then it won't be easy

Kings and Lakers, I think, are MUCH better than the Pacers

 

i like indiana and jermaine o'neal is definately one of the best players in the league regardless of what SamCassell thinks. however, as much as i hate the lakers, they scare the crap out of me.

 

Jermaine O'Neal is overrated. Maybe he's top ten, but he's borderline.

You heard it here first, and second, and third:

Yao Ming is better than J. O'Neal.

So is TMac, Kobe, Shaq, Peja, Duncan, KG, Dirk, Kidd...

Is J. O'Neal really better than Z. Randolph? Who puts up the same stats in the West? Probably, but it's a thin and blurry line. Marbury, Pierce, Redd, Carter, also in the same league, as is Marion and Amare.

 

wait... I forgot to mention that it's no foregone conclusion that the pacers will even make it to the finals. both Detroit and New Jersey have real good chances of beating them.

 

Jermaine O'Neal is still a below average man-to-man post defender, in my opinion... In that regard I'd take Rasheed or Uncle Cliffy over him any day (or Jeff Foster, for that matter). He still has trouble passing out of double teams and despite playing with Sabonis for three or four years, he hasn't learned how to hit the cutter. I think Artest's development has been more important to the Pacers' success this year.

Pacer fans talk about how Indy was 20-8 against the west. What was their record against the top four teams in the West? 3-5. The only team they'd stand a chance against is Minnesota, and that's assuming Sam's back is still shot when the finals start.

 

O'Neal has 2 points and 3 rebounds in the half.

 

nah ... unless the timberpuppies pull off the improbable and win the west ... still nah, Garnett would kill 'em!

 

I don't follow the Eastern teams that much and the only time I've seen JO play was during the World Basketball championships. I have to say I was not impressed.

 

that's just it though, against the pistons, timberwolves or the lakers they are NOT going to have to adjust their game plan, or to double team.

most dominant post defender in the East is still Ben Wallace, even though they may start with Rasheed Wallace on J. O'Neal. All three teams have the players to shut down J. O'Neal one on one, so his importance will be mitigated.

just saw a segment on Sportscenter. Greg Anthony says, and I agree, that the key will be Ron Artest because J. O'Neal will not command any favorable matchups from here on out. Detroit really showed some toughness tonight, Indiana will have a hard time.

 

I still think Detroit will come out of the West, but some of you guys are ridiculus. Detroit and Indy are legit top 6 teams. They would have a good shot against Minny or SA or Sac. The Lakers are the x-factor, yes if they stay healthy and further mesh while rolling the Wolves there is no stopping them, but that has to happen first.

Ya'll forget the Nets gave the Spurs all they can handle, the Pacers gave the Lakers all they could handle, the 6ers gave the Lakers a good series too. That is 3 of the last 4, and the Pistons and Indy have more firepower than any those EC reps.

I suspect the WC conference team will win--I orginally picked the Wolves but for health reasons I now like the Lakers, but it is going to be far from non-competitive. This current Lakers team at its best isn't as good as the Laker team 3 years ago because Shaq isn't close to the player he was then on either side of the ball.

And those who said Peja is a better basketball player than J Oneal look real foolish right now, and Sam Cassell, love his heart, but at his healthiest and in his prime he was no Oneal.

Again though, I still like Detriot from the EC, wicked half court team defense plus I think more conistent socring options. I think it will be a defensive series where the front courts neutrelize each other's paint scoring, but Detroit back-court proves the difference.

 

They damn well better.

Go Hoosiers!!

 

I disagree with all of these - none of those series were ever in doubt. You have to take under consideration that whenever a team comes out of the West the last few years, they relax, thinking they've already won the title, and understandably so. This is why the Lakers and Spurs each dropped one of the first two games at home against Philly and NJ.

The only reason LA/Indy went to 6 games was because Bryant got hurt. He missed game 3, which LA still almost won, I believe. Philly gave a good series? They stole game 1, then lost the next 4. How is that a good series? I think LA had like 7 days off prior to game 1 also - rusty?

If Indy and Detroit are top 6, they're #5 and 6, and they're pretty far away from the top 4.

 

I'll take back the Phily one, yes that series was never particularly threatening. But the other two very close to going 7 games (game 6s up for grabs in the 4th quarter if memory serves)--that is "in doubt" in my book. These series were very comparable to Utah two losses to the Bulls, and the Suns and Blazers losses to the Bulls, as competitive NBA finals as we have had since Hou-NY if I recall correctly.

I think the major gap is the Lakers from the rest if they are healthy and playing like a team because of the Shaq factor. I think you put any combination of Minn, SA, Sac, Indy and Detroit together any any team has a legitimate chance at a series win with a few breaks--though Minny or SA would be favored certainly. Like I said SA-NJ was pretty competitive last year, and Detriot or Indy are better than NJ, plus SA is not as explosive nor as deep as they were last year.

 

I hope the Pacers whip the **** out of the Lakers.

 

see? i was right.

J. O'Neal not dominant enough to carry team into finals. Artest was the key... but underperformed. That "deep" bench didn't help the pacers that much either.

what i saw of Mehmet Okur I liked... sign him!

also... Rip Hamilton wow... legitimate player!

tayshaun prince... solid role player. you don't need Carmelo on that team.