The other day I was wondering how far away this Pacers team was from being a contender.
I decided to look at the 2000 Pacers since that has been the only team we had that made it to the NBA Finals. After looking at that team, I realized that we are no where close to having what that team had, so I decided to look at the first Pacers team to make it to the ECF, the 1994 Pacers.
For those of you who may be curious, the 2000 Pacers had 3 one time all-stars in the starting lineup. Mark Jackson, Dale Davis and Rik Smits. They also had Derrick McKey who had made all defensive teams twice in his career. Of course the other starter was 5 time all-star and future Hall of Famer, Reggie Miller. There was also a veteran off the bench that was nearing the end of his career, 5 time all-star and future Hall of Famer, Chris Mullin. So the team had 5 all-stars (including 2 future HOFers) plus a player who had twice made the NBA all defensive team. They were also a veteran team.
I move on to the 1994 team and was surprised. The 1994 team had (at the time) a one time all-star in Reggie Miller. That’s it. The only other notable player was Byron Scott because he had won an NBA title. Now that 1994 team also had 3 other future all-stars (Dale Davis, Antonio Davis and Rik Smits) but as of 1994 the only player that had made an all-star team was Reggie Miller.
Our current team has a one time al-star in Sabonis. That’s all we have now, so in that perspective, we have as much as the 1994 team did that made it to the ECF. Unfortunately, I do not see a Hall of Fame player on the current roster. I’m not even sure if there will be any future all-stars. And while Coach B may become a very good coach, he does not have the experience that Larry Brown did.
I just thought I would share my findings, I found it very interesting that the 1994 team only had 1 all-star.
I decided to look at the 2000 Pacers since that has been the only team we had that made it to the NBA Finals. After looking at that team, I realized that we are no where close to having what that team had, so I decided to look at the first Pacers team to make it to the ECF, the 1994 Pacers.
For those of you who may be curious, the 2000 Pacers had 3 one time all-stars in the starting lineup. Mark Jackson, Dale Davis and Rik Smits. They also had Derrick McKey who had made all defensive teams twice in his career. Of course the other starter was 5 time all-star and future Hall of Famer, Reggie Miller. There was also a veteran off the bench that was nearing the end of his career, 5 time all-star and future Hall of Famer, Chris Mullin. So the team had 5 all-stars (including 2 future HOFers) plus a player who had twice made the NBA all defensive team. They were also a veteran team.
I move on to the 1994 team and was surprised. The 1994 team had (at the time) a one time all-star in Reggie Miller. That’s it. The only other notable player was Byron Scott because he had won an NBA title. Now that 1994 team also had 3 other future all-stars (Dale Davis, Antonio Davis and Rik Smits) but as of 1994 the only player that had made an all-star team was Reggie Miller.
Our current team has a one time al-star in Sabonis. That’s all we have now, so in that perspective, we have as much as the 1994 team did that made it to the ECF. Unfortunately, I do not see a Hall of Fame player on the current roster. I’m not even sure if there will be any future all-stars. And while Coach B may become a very good coach, he does not have the experience that Larry Brown did.
I just thought I would share my findings, I found it very interesting that the 1994 team only had 1 all-star.
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