RP McMurphy

With all the setbacks this season we've been conditioned to have low expectations for the Pacers. The way things are going right now, I say it's time to throw those expectations out the window and start looking at the Pacers as a legitimate championship dark horse.

O'Neal, Tinsley, and Jackson are beat up and they've been off and on, but they've been effective enough, that the Pacers are as close to healthy as they've been all season. Maybe even better than the team that blew Detroit out of the building on November 19th.

With O'Neal not 100 percent, we don't have much offense in the middle and that's a given. In the past couple of months that's meant that we live and die with our outside shooting. If our shooters were as off as they were tonight, it meant a guaranteed loss. But now our defense has gotten to the point where it can bail the offense out of a bad game. For three and a half quarters tonight the defense was as good as it's been all year.

Now look at the rest of the East. Miami is rolling but they haven't faced any real competition yet and Shaq is hobbling. Plus we have a 3-1 record against them anyway. Detroit still doesn't take us seriously, they were reduced to whining about the refs tonight and don't believe in their hearts yet that we could actually beat them. I think if we yet again come out with more intensity than them in Game 4, we could win and at that point even if they realize we're for real and start playing hard, it might be too late for them.

I'm always the pessimist and I still think Detroit will win the series, but before tonight I was just happy to be in the second round. Now I'm drinking the Kool-Aid and I think a Finals run might actually be possible. Enjoy the ride, Pacers fans!

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If they think we're going into the stands again, then they have the I.Q. of a rabbit. - Stephen Jackson

Box Man

I talked to my dad about this after the game tonight...

I personally think that we have a shot at making it to the finals (a long shot, but it's a shot). Our only problem is Miami, would we rather have them win in 4 games so that Shaq can get healthy or do we want them to lose 3 in a row and end up winning in game 7?

I doubt that they will lose 3 in a row, but it could happen. They wouldn't have any momentum going into the conference finals so that would be a plus for us, and Shaq wouldn't have had much time to rest. We, on the other hand, would be coming into the series with a lot of momentum because would have just beaten last years champs...

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And I begged, "Angel of the Lord, what are these tortured screams?" And the angel said unto me, "These are the cries of the carrots, the cries of the carrots! You see, Reverend Maynard, tomorrow is harvest day and to them it is the holocaust." And I sprang from my slumber drenched in sweat like the tears of one million terrified brothers and roared, "Hear me now, I have seen the light! They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers!" Can I get an amen? Can I get a hallelujah? Thank you Jesus.

StephenJackson

I don't see Miami losing 3 in a row...I don't see Miami losing a game period in their sereis now with the Wizards. I anticipate a 7 game series with the Pistons...so IF we do make it to the Heat, I expect them to be well rested, including Shaq. I would of course rather see them play 7 games so that Shaq hopefully would take some pounding inside, but I just don't see it happening. Miami (if we make it) will be tough...Wade is simply outstanding right now, we definitely would have our hands full there. This doesn't mean it isn't possible, I don't rule anything out with this team of ours. Like RP said, let's just enjoy the ride...however long it lasts...and savor every extra game that we get to see Reggie play.

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Indiana Pacers.


The Pacers have a brand new bang.

Box Man

The Heat only have 2 very good players on their team, the rest are all okay. That's where we have some sort of an advantage, if we make them tired early (Shaq) then we can make them have to put in some of their non-starters in. We should also come in with the same mentality that we have in the Pistons' series, that we wont be getting many points in the paint because of Shaq being there.

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And I begged, "Angel of the Lord, what are these tortured screams?" And the angel said unto me, "These are the cries of the carrots, the cries of the carrots! You see, Reverend Maynard, tomorrow is harvest day and to them it is the holocaust." And I sprang from my slumber drenched in sweat like the tears of one million terrified brothers and roared, "Hear me now, I have seen the light! They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers!" Can I get an amen? Can I get a hallelujah? Thank you Jesus.

PacersguyUSA

And you have to imagine that the reffing will be awful against us if we play the Heat.

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daschysta31

shaq will get his calls that he always does... but so will reggie

MillerTime

Miami will sweep Washington.

8-0 going to round 2. I remember a few years ago where we were 7-0 going to the conference finals, went in all cocky and under estimated and stuggled. Miami is an awsome team i won't even lie, but in all seriousness, Washington is not a legit playoff team. They made it because the east is weak.

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The First Rule of Basketball: BELIEVE

“I'm not going to answer any more questions about Ron Artest. Ron doesn't want to be here, so Ron doesn't matter anymore.” ~ Jermaine O'Neal.