Re: Pacers vs Pistons postgame thread
I suppose we better get this quote out for discussion. Of course we had an even better chance when we had Artest with Jax, JO, Al, Tinsley - but that didn't work out either. So DA Jax had to be traded. Sorry- Things don't always work out
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...plate=printart
Rout by Detroit takes Indiana to 10-year low
Pacers fall 2 games behind Magic
By Mike Wells
mike.wells@indystar.com
April 4, 2007
The last time the Indiana Pacers were this bad, Reggie Miller averaged 20 points a game and Larry Brown was on the fifth stop of his coaching journey around the league.
The Detroit Pistons used a 22-2 run to win 100-85 at Conseco Fieldhouse and ensure the Pacers will finish with their worst record in at least 10 years.
"I never would have thought that," Pacers forward Danny Granger said. "I wouldn't have thought a lot of things would have happened, though."
The Pacers, who have been on a downward spiral since the brawl at Auburn Hills, Mich., in 2004, entered the season hoping to put their past misery behind them.
Off-the-court issues, lack of continuity from an eight-player trade and injuries have put them in their current state, in the position of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
The Pacers, who have lost 18 of their past 21 games, are two games behind Orlando for the eighth seed and a half-game up on 10th-seeded New York.
"I felt like this team had a chance to make it to the next level," Pacers point guard Darrell Armstrong said. "I really felt like we had a chance when we had Stephen (Jackson), Al (Harrington), Jermaine (O'Neal) and Jamaal (Tinsley). When you make a trade, it's the toughest transition for players, especially ones who are role players. Players who are scorers can come in and make it easy, because all they're going to do is shoot the ball. Role players have to find their niche.
"It's been a struggle for everybody. We're just trying to get to the playoffs. Once you get there, it's a new season."
Rick Carlisle is assured his first losing season as a head coach. Carlisle's record as Pacers coach has declined every season since he led them to 61 victories three years ago. He was praised for leading the Pacers to 44 wins the following season when they dealt with injuries and suspensions from the brawl, but chemistry problems caused them to finish with an underachieving 41 victories last season.
Talk has circulated for several weeks about Carlisle's job status. He was given a contract extension and extra title last fall.
"I don't pay attention (to the rumors)," Carlisle said after the team's shootaround Tuesday. "I'm just getting ready for the next game. I've approached this job and the Detroit job the same way: Come in every day and concentrate on the task at hand."
It looked like Carlisle and his team were ready to beat one of the top teams in the league for the second game in a row.
The Pacers led by 14 points with less than four minutes remaining in the first half when the Pistons, who have the best record in the Eastern Conference, trimmed the lead to three at the half.
"The momentum started turning at that point," Armstrong said. "It wasn't in the third quarter."
The Pistons carried their momentum into the third quarter to turn the game into a rout.
Pistons coach Flip Saunders put Richard Hamilton on the point guards, making it tough for the Pacers to get into their offense. Saunders called the same pick-and-roll play repeatedly, leading to a mismatch for Tayshaun Prince, who scored a game-high 24 points.
The Pistons, who led by as many as 23 points, outscored the Pacers 35-18 in the third quarter. Jermaine O'Neal returned to the lineup to get 20 points and seven rebounds.
"We tried three different coverages and they were just too good," Carlisle said. ". . . Good teams can do that. We didn't have an answer. It's as simple as that. I don't have another explanation for it."
I suppose we better get this quote out for discussion. Of course we had an even better chance when we had Artest with Jax, JO, Al, Tinsley - but that didn't work out either. So DA Jax had to be traded. Sorry- Things don't always work out
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...plate=printart
Rout by Detroit takes Indiana to 10-year low
Pacers fall 2 games behind Magic
By Mike Wells
mike.wells@indystar.com
April 4, 2007
The last time the Indiana Pacers were this bad, Reggie Miller averaged 20 points a game and Larry Brown was on the fifth stop of his coaching journey around the league.
The Detroit Pistons used a 22-2 run to win 100-85 at Conseco Fieldhouse and ensure the Pacers will finish with their worst record in at least 10 years.
"I never would have thought that," Pacers forward Danny Granger said. "I wouldn't have thought a lot of things would have happened, though."
The Pacers, who have been on a downward spiral since the brawl at Auburn Hills, Mich., in 2004, entered the season hoping to put their past misery behind them.
Off-the-court issues, lack of continuity from an eight-player trade and injuries have put them in their current state, in the position of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
The Pacers, who have lost 18 of their past 21 games, are two games behind Orlando for the eighth seed and a half-game up on 10th-seeded New York.
"I felt like this team had a chance to make it to the next level," Pacers point guard Darrell Armstrong said. "I really felt like we had a chance when we had Stephen (Jackson), Al (Harrington), Jermaine (O'Neal) and Jamaal (Tinsley). When you make a trade, it's the toughest transition for players, especially ones who are role players. Players who are scorers can come in and make it easy, because all they're going to do is shoot the ball. Role players have to find their niche.
"It's been a struggle for everybody. We're just trying to get to the playoffs. Once you get there, it's a new season."
Rick Carlisle is assured his first losing season as a head coach. Carlisle's record as Pacers coach has declined every season since he led them to 61 victories three years ago. He was praised for leading the Pacers to 44 wins the following season when they dealt with injuries and suspensions from the brawl, but chemistry problems caused them to finish with an underachieving 41 victories last season.
Talk has circulated for several weeks about Carlisle's job status. He was given a contract extension and extra title last fall.
"I don't pay attention (to the rumors)," Carlisle said after the team's shootaround Tuesday. "I'm just getting ready for the next game. I've approached this job and the Detroit job the same way: Come in every day and concentrate on the task at hand."
It looked like Carlisle and his team were ready to beat one of the top teams in the league for the second game in a row.
The Pacers led by 14 points with less than four minutes remaining in the first half when the Pistons, who have the best record in the Eastern Conference, trimmed the lead to three at the half.
"The momentum started turning at that point," Armstrong said. "It wasn't in the third quarter."
The Pistons carried their momentum into the third quarter to turn the game into a rout.
Pistons coach Flip Saunders put Richard Hamilton on the point guards, making it tough for the Pacers to get into their offense. Saunders called the same pick-and-roll play repeatedly, leading to a mismatch for Tayshaun Prince, who scored a game-high 24 points.
The Pistons, who led by as many as 23 points, outscored the Pacers 35-18 in the third quarter. Jermaine O'Neal returned to the lineup to get 20 points and seven rebounds.
"We tried three different coverages and they were just too good," Carlisle said. ". . . Good teams can do that. We didn't have an answer. It's as simple as that. I don't have another explanation for it."
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