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Rule #1

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If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

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When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

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Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

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If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

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Indianapolis Star

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We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

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A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

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  • A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

    Let's get right to it...

    Here's my take on the playoff hopefuls from the 7th seed through the 11th position in the Eastern Conference:

    #7 Nets, 35-39

    8 games remaining = 3 @ home/5 on the road.
    5 games are against teams currently holding playoff positions = Bulls and Wizards (X2 games/each)
    3 games against teams fighting for any real chance at a playoff berth = Knicks (X2 games) and Pacers
    They have 3 sets of back-to-back games.
    All remaining games are against EC teams.

    Outlook: Nets need to win 6 of their remaining 8 games to secure the 7th seed and assure themselves a playoff berth. Ahtough they have faired well against EC teams (25-19), they haven't done as well on the road (14-22). The Nets chances of wrapping up the #7 seed improved w/both of the Wizards high scorers getting season-ending injuries. Add to the fact that they hold the season series against the Bulls, 2-0, I expect the Nets should hold on to their #7 seed. However, I'm not putting any money down on it! The Bulls' play has improved of late, and I'd never count out the Knicks! They can steal a game or two which would put the Nets on the ropes.

    #8 Magic, 34-41

    7 games remaining = 3 @ home, 4 on the road
    3 games are against teams currently holding playoff positions = Pistons, Heat, Wizards
    1 game against a team fighting for any real chance at a playoff berth = 76ers
    3 games against teams out of the playoff hunt (1 WC/2 EC)
    They have 2 sets of back-to-back games.

    Outlook: Magic have the softer schedule. However, a slip-up or two could cost them! Remember, the Pacers are only 1.5 games back and they hold the tie-breaker by virtue of having a better conference record (currently 22-22 -vs- Magic 21-25). Magic need only to remain at least 2 wins ahead of the Pacers to secure the #8 seed.

    #9 Pacers, 32-42

    8 games remaining = 3 @ home/5 on the road.
    3 games are against teams currently holding playoff positions = Heat, Nets, Wizards
    2 games are against teams fighting for any real chance at a playoff berth = 76ers and Bobcats
    3 are against teams outside the playoff picture
    They have 3 sets of back-to-back games.
    All remaining games are against EC teams.

    Outlook: Pacers have been their own worst enemy for a playoff berth, but if ever there was a point in the season where they could redeem themselves, this is it! Their next 4 games are against teams with losing records - Bobcats, 76ers, Celtics and Bucks. Plus, they have the Hawks. Add to that the fact they they hold the season series lead against the Heat, 2-1 and they matchup very well against them AND the fact that the Wizards - the last team they face on the season - will be without their best two offensive weapons, the Pacers have a chance to move into the playoff picture because the truth is only the Nets and Heat pose a real threat to their playoff aspirations...unless, of course, you want to include the Pacers themselves being as I said...their own worst enemy.

    #10 Knicks, 31-43

    8 games remaining = 3 @ home/5 on the road.
    5 games are against teams currently holding playoff positions = Pistons, Bulls, Nets (X2), Raptors
    1 game is a team w/any real chance at a playoff berth = Bobcats
    2 are against teams outside the playoff picture
    They have 3 sets of back-to-back games.
    6 of their remaining games are against EC teams.
    1 is against a WC team (T-Wolves)

    Outlook: The Knicks have their hands full. Not only do they have 5 road games, but they'll also face 5 playoff-bounds teams and 2 in the hunt. Of all the teams looking to get in or retain a playoff berth, the Knicks are the only team fighting upstream - HARD! But this is a fiesty bunch. They have a "never-say die/don't quite" attitude I wish my boyz (Pacers) had. They'll be scrappy 'til the end, and for the Knicks that means 'til the last shot whether they're ahead or behind. Keep a close watch on this team. They might surprise some folks.

    #11 76ers, 30-44

    8 games remaining = 5 @ home/3 on the road.
    5 games are against teams currently holding playoff positions = Raptors (X2), Magic, Pistons and Cavs
    1 game is against a team fighting for any real chance at a playoff berth = Pacers
    2 are against teams outside the playoff picture
    They have 3 sets of back-to-back games.
    All remaining games are against EC teams.

    Outlook: Of all the playoff hopefuls, the 76ers are probrably in the worst position by far. Not only do they have the worst road record of any of the playoff hopefuls (11-27), they also have the worse conference record of the playoff hopefuls (19-25) They get a break by playing 5 of their remaining 8 games at home, but all of their remaining games are against the East, and 5 are against strong playoff contenders. I don't see this team moving up the ranks at all.
    Team outside the bubble to look out for: Bobcats!

    (Note: Thread also posted at IndyStar/Pacers forum)

  • #2
    Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

    Originally posted by NuffSaid View Post
    #9 Pacers, 32-42

    8 games remaining = 3 @ home/5 on the road.
    3 games are against teams currently holding playoff positions = Heat, Nets, Wizards
    2 games are against teams fighting for any real chance at a playoff berth = 76ers and Bobcats
    3 are against teams outside the playoff picture
    They have 3 sets of back-to-back games.
    All remaining games are against EC teams.

    Outlook: Pacers have been their own worst enemy for a playoff berth, but if ever there was a point in the season where they could redeem themselves, this is it! Their next 4 games are against teams with losing records - Bobcats, 76ers, Celtics and Bucks. Plus, they have the Hawks. Add to that the fact they they hold the season series lead against the Heat, 2-1 and they matchup very well against them AND the fact that the Wizards - the last team they face on the season - will be without their best two offensive weapons, the Pacers have a chance to move into the playoff picture because the truth is only the Nets and Heat pose a real threat to their playoff aspirations...unless, of course, you want to include the Pacers themselves being as I said...their own worst enemy.
    Whether its a team that is headed to the playoffs...or to the Lottery...we are an equal opportunity team....we are fully capable of losing to any team at this point.
    Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

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    • #3
      Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

      Here's a quick cut and paste of the Excel I made for tracking my late season hope/ heartbreak. It lets me see, at a glance, who I gotta root for in the other games.

      Team Record Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Game 8
      Wiz 39-35 Cavs Nets Nets Heat Hawks Bulls Magic Pacers
      Nets 35-39 Bulls Wiz Wiz Cavs Knicks Pacers Knicks Bulls
      Magic 34-41 XXXXXXXX Memphis Bucks Pistons 76rs Celtics Wiz Heat
      Pacers 32-42 Bobcats Celtics 76rs Bucks Heat Nets Hawks Wiz
      Knicks 31-43 T-wolves Bucks Pistons Bulls Nets Raptors Nets Bobcats
      76rs 30-44 Raptors Hawks Pacers Celtics Magic Pistons Cavs Raptors

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

        I like these lists and this talk a lot more than the draft stuff, that's for sure. I don't think I hide the fact that I love seeing those magic numbers drop in the draft pick side of things (the dark side IMO).

        At first you think "what are the Wiz doing on that list", but honestly they could end up 40-42 if the Nets, Magic and Pacers simply step up due to their own playoff desires.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

          Yeah, the Wiz are still on the list. We should probably be rooting for them to at least get one game from NJ in their back to back.

          I love playoff basketball. I prefer it 10,000 times more than watching ping pong balls.

          Updated schedule:

          Team Record Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7
          Wiz 39-36 Nets Nets Heat Hawks Bulls Magic Pacers
          Nets 35-40 Wiz Wiz Cavs Knicks Pacers Knicks Bulls
          Magic 34-41 Memphis Bucks Pistons 76rs Celtics Wiz Heat
          Pacers 33-42 Celtics 76rs Bucks Heat Nets Hawks Wiz
          Knicks 31-44 Bucks Pistons Bulls Nets Raptors Nets Bobcats
          76rs 30-45 Hawks Pacers Celtics Magic Pistons Cavs Raptors

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

            Originally posted by maragin View Post
            I love playoff basketball. I prefer it 10,000 times more than watching ping pong balls.
            You, sir, have never watched a good ping pong match!

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

              Originally posted by LoneGranger33 View Post
              You, sir, have never watched a good ping pong match!
              Sadly, we'd probably have a much better chance of landing the #1 pick than beating the Pistons in the first round.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

                GO BUCKS!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

                  that's right go bucks! WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
                  we need a big win tonight from them! then a big loss on wed.!
                  lol
                  "GIMMIE DAT!"-DANGER

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

                    Since there is still a very slim chance of us catching up with the Nets ( since we are 2 games behind them )....here is a schedule of games left. The problem that we always face is that whenever we win......the Magic win....so we can't make any ground.

                    Monday 4/9
                    Magic Vs. Bucks ( Away )

                    Tuesday 4/10
                    Pacers Vs. Sixers ( Away )
                    Nets Vs. Wizards ( Away )

                    Wednesday 4/11
                    Pacers Vs. Bucks ( Away )
                    Magic Vs. Pistons ( Away )

                    Thursday 4/12
                    Nets Vs. Cavs ( Away )

                    Friday 4/13
                    Pacers Vs. Heat ( Away )
                    Nets Vs. Knicks ( Home )

                    Saturday 4/14
                    Magic Vs. Sixers ( Away )

                    Sunday 4/15
                    Pacers Vs. Nets ( Home )
                    Magic Vs. Celtics ( Home )

                    Monday 4/16
                    Nets Vs. Knicks ( Away )

                    Tuesday 4/17
                    Pacers Vs. Hawks ( Away )
                    Magic Vs. Wizards ( Away )

                    Wednesday 4/18
                    Pacers Vs. Wizards ( Home )
                    Magic Vs. Heat ( Home )
                    Nets Vs. Bulls ( Home )

                    Assuming that the Magic beat the Bucks tonight.....which they are perfectly capable of since they have won 2 games out of 3 against the Bucks this season....the only time I think that we can gain some ground....if we are lucky...is on Wednesday when we play the Bucks and the Magic play the Pistons...where both the Magic and the Pacers are on the road. The only game that I am pretty sure that we will win ( going foward ) is the Hawks game on Tuesday. The Magic will be playing the Wizards on the road. Hopefully, the Wizards aren't going to rollover since they are only 3 games ahead of the Nets with Arenas out and an important Nets/Cavs game tomorrow.
                    Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

                      btw, Michael Redd is out for the season, if anyone loses to them, they didn't deserve to make it anyhow.

                      It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.

                      Division Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
                      Conference Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005
                      NBA Champions 1989, 1990, 2004

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: A Wide-Angle View of the Playoff Hopefuls...

                        After a really harsh month plus, you now have the last 2 wins (all of Boston's starters sat IIRC) plus teams like the Wiz without GA/Butler and MIL without Redd as probably the nicest patch of the whole season.

                        I don't consider this backing in, I consider it schedule issues just like March. They were due for a soft patch after that nasty run. So they catch teams hurting or with little to play for, other teams got to play teams in those situations earlier in the season while the Pacers faced a lot of tough games.

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