Posts tagged ‘Lottery’

Now we can all be relieved.  This team is no longer has the chance of hindering its long term success by making the playoffs as the 8th seed.  With a disappointing performance against the Wizards.  And why?  Not the return of Agent 0, Not the All-around performance of Antwan Jamison, Not a Streaky Deshawn Stevenson, but Roger Mason.  Roger Mason….let that set in.  Roger Mason puts up 31 points against this team including shooting what seemed to be lights out from the 3 point line. (It was actually only 7-9, only.)  And there go this teams playoff hopes, finally.  I say finally because this team scrapped and held on to the possibility of being a playoff team for much longer than I thought they would.  So long that at some points, I thought they actually might do it.  Luckily for all Pacers fans, Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh, they did not make the playoffs.  Give me the Lottery!!!!  Enough of hanging on to the false hope of the playoffs being the path to an NBA championship.  Don’t get me wrong. It is the path to the title, but not when you have the talent of this Pacers team matched up against a well rested Celtics team with the Big Three.  The Hawks just got beat by 10 basically by the Boston reserves alone.  A quick 4 and out is not nearly as good as what looks to be atleast the 11th pick in the draft.  Again, Give me the Lottery!!!  With some luck, this team might even be able to squeak out a pick in the top 10.  With how deep this draft is, that would be amazing.

Coming up in the next podcast:

-A Recap of the Game against Washington

-A Brief look at how the Knicks v. Pacers rivalry has drastically dropped off, but could be rejuvenated in the future

-Off season moves that should be made/need to be made

I mentioned this in my first couple episodes, but I think I should clarify this point.  It is pointless for any team to want to make the playoffs as an 8 seed in the Eas unless your a young team (i.e. Atlanta).  I would much rather be in the lottery.  No joke.  The 8th team in the East is currently 10 games under .500.  If the Pacers got to 10 games below and got the playoff spot, I would not be happy.  This would mean they have no chance of a lottery pick and possible franchise changer with how deep this draft is.  They would be a terrible team (10 games below .500 is terrible even if they make the playoffs) and no closer to winning an NBA title or contending for one since they won’t have any new and young talent.  I’m tired of teams settling for a playoff spot, especially in the East, because a playoff spot doesn’t mean anything if you aren’t competitive.  It’s a consolation prize for a team wanting some positive spin to put on the season, which is not what I’m looking for.  I want new and young talent (preferably Eric Gordon) because that is the only way this team will get better as a team and franchise.  They need a new face to the franchise both from a talent and personality stand point.  So this Pacers team should go full force into rebuilding an go lottery or bust.