Pacers biggest “what if”

[boombuckets]

PacerNation,
Long time lurker 2nd time poster


stumbled upon interesting article via BR. Link below. If someone more sophisticated than I can provide article more elegantly would greatly appreciate. Not tech savvy.

article got me to thinking. What would y’all’s biggest what if moment potentially be.

https://apple.news/AoKgFZzxQSxK9sShLYSp-Aw

for me I hearken back to few items:


I think everyone might lead to malice in palice had beer toss not landed directly in artest.

but I gotta be honest. First “what if” that came to mind for me was “what if” John Bender did not have bum knees. I think that kid what generational talent. 7 ft can leap out of gym and rise up bury from deep. KD before KD.

Honorable mentions for me:

phantom 4 point play. AD did not touch LJ. Swung that series.

Healthy DG33 right as Lance and PG double nickel we’re hitting stride. Would have loved to have had Granger during what was I believe the east semis. Or the the year thereafter for that matter in place of Evan Turner.

the bull**** glen rice foul on DD with under minute to go game 6 of nba finals. Really think we had shot if extend series to 7. Shaq was just a force but as series went on and pacers collected as team we got really tough. Seemed like game one of finals jitters got best of blue n gold.

im sure there are others. As thought bout it. My biggest “what if” is nothing with 98 year we went 7 with MJs Bulls.

it was 99. The ECF with the Knicks. My memory is hazy heat but I recall Reggie at the line I believe it was game 4?? He had chance to seal it. We go up 3-1 in series and bury the knicks. I think regg missed both freebies or it was 3 shots and he missed 2 of them. Either way dare I say it Reggie choked. All i remember is that was out year. Regg hits that ft and he has statue outside Fieldhouse and there is Banner in rafters. I think we would have absolutely annihilated spurs led by admiral and rook Tim Duncan.

it’s off-season and in place of bashing Myles Turner thought what they hay .. what’s your biggest “what if” for blue n gold.

go Pacers!

[Motion Offense]

Pacers keep the draft rights of Kawhi

[boombuckets]

Pacers keep the draft rights of Kawhi

Yep. I thought of that one as well. I was simply enamored by John Bender’s potential. Hindsight 20-20 just wonder how much of any difference AD makes in 00’ finals vs Shaq.

Truly awe struck amazing how good for how long this franchise would have been with Regg passsing the torch to kids like baby Al JB & JO.

trading Brad Miller or being too cheap too sign him was another “what if”

Dynaasty potential alas San Antoneio Spurs.

[able]

Larry Bird, what if he stayed away from the pacers (FAAAAAR away)

[pacers_heath]

What if Jalen Rose didn't get suspended?

What if they didn't call the foul on AD?

What if the Pacers didn't half-*** the entire 1999 season?

What if we never traded AD and had him in 2000 against Shaq?

What if Reggie hit that shot in game 4 OT of the finals?

What if the 2003 team didn't melt down for no reason?

What if the Pacers kept Brad Miller?

What if Tayshaun never blocked Reggie?

What if Ron artest didn't go into the stands?

What if we never traded DG33?

What if PG never broke his leg and Lance didn't walk?

What if Oladipo never got injured?

[Peck]

I will always have the big "what if" for Danny Granger's knee and will go to my grave believing a healthy Danny get's us to the finals at least once.

But a damn close second to that is "what if" we had kept Brad Miller. God love Foster, he did what he could do, but in the end his lack of offensive ability allowed Ben Wallace to just free lance all over the floor and double virtually anyone entering the painted area. With Brad he would not have been able to do that and Miller would usually give you 16+ points a game and in those low scoring affairs it might have made all the difference in the world.

As to the AD and Grandma ma, the truth is the call was right but incorrectly called. If they would have just called the foul as it was supposed to be he would have shot two free throws because he hadn't even gone into the shooting motion. As it was AD fouled him, then they let him dribble and shoot then called the foul making it a 4 point play.

[MillerTime]

What if Bender didn’t get injured

what if Artest was mentally stable

[kent beckley]

I don’t know if it is a what-if, but definitely the biggest missed opportunity is game 4 of the finals. The Pacers lost both games in LA, won game 3, battled in game 4 and got Shaq in foul trouble. He actually fouled out early in overtime if I remember right. We had every chance to protect home court, and go back to LA with two chances at stealing a game, and 21 year-old Kobe just kept scoring in overtime. Also, the Antonio Davis thing was huge, as there were times that Austin Croshere was trying to box out Shaq. It was just a feeling of absolute helplessness as a fan.

[pacers_heath]

What if Travis Best never hit that 3?

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[pacers_heath]

I will always have the big "what if" for Danny Granger's knee and will go to my grave believing a healthy Danny get's us to the finals at least once.

But a damn close second to that is "what if" we had kept Brad Miller. God love Foster, he did what he could do, but in the end his lack of offensive ability allowed Ben Wallace to just free lance all over the floor and double virtually anyone entering the painted area. With Brad he would not have been able to do that and Miller would usually give you 16+ points a game and in those low scoring affairs it might have made all the difference in the world.

As to the AD and Grandma ma, the truth is the call was right but incorrectly called. If they would have just called the foul as it was supposed to be he would have shot two free throws because he hadn't even gone into the shooting motion. As it was AD fouled him, then they let him dribble and shoot then called the foul making it a 4 point play.

I'd like to think Brad Miller was a plus, but why did we become a way better team when he left? I think there were top many players wanting touches on offense when he was here.

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[funnyguy1105]

I think it’s been a couple years since I’ve posted but I lurk pretty much daily. Thought I’d throw in one that hasn’t been mentioned yet that unfortunately does tie back to Turner.

What if we drafted Booker over Myles?

He would have slotted in really well between PG and GH. Ian was serviceable at center to anchor the defense. I still wonder if that would have given Paul a second star to play with and he would have stuck around (or we would have had a trade chip in Booker to help acquire a second star).

Most of the other “what if’s?” Are bigger because they could have ended in finals appearances or championships but drafting Booker could have drastically altered the success (or lack of success) these past few seasons.

[kent beckley]

I think it’s been a couple years since I’ve posted but I lurk pretty much daily. Thought I’d throw in one that hasn’t been mentioned yet that unfortunately does tie back to Turner.

What if we drafted Booker over Myles?

He would have slotted in really well between PG and GH. Ian was serviceable at center to anchor the defense. I still wonder if that would have given Paul a second star to play with and he would have stuck around (or we would have had a trade chip in Booker to help acquire a second star).

Most of the other “what if’s?” Are bigger because they could have ended in finals appearances or championships but drafting Booker could have drastically altered the success (or lack of success) these past few seasons.

In his second season in the league, Booker took a huge leap. He averaged 22 points for the last placed Phoenix Suns. However, Myles averages 14.5. Would Booker have come anywhere close to replicating that second season on a team with PG?

Also, PG made this request a few weeks after Larry Bird stepped down and KO took over. I always felt that it was insincere that he made this request due to bad management, right after we changed management. Why not give the new guy a chance? He was under contract for one more year, why not see what transpired the next 11 months. Maybe Pritch swings a Jrue Holiday trade and signs Bogdonavic. All the sudden the team is a long defensive force with shooters everywhere. PG did the team a favor by letting us get something for him, but let’s not act like he had any interest in continuing his career after that contract ended.

[pacers_heath]

What if the Pacers weren't a dumpster fire of a franchise?

This one always gets me.

[boombuckets]

I 21 year-old Kobe just kept scoring in overtime. .

good one. Didn’t regg ask to guard Kobe in they ot. Man alive what was regg thinking. Something about how he gaurded Kobe in the off-season and Reggie I think had also rolled an ankle early in series or maybe late in the ecf. Rose should have been on Kobe. Yea Bryant lit us up. So much hope too after big smooth nailed that 3 to tie it if remember correctly and yea Shaq fouled out. Damn.

[boombuckets]

What if the Pacers weren't a dumpster fire of a franchise?

This one always gets me.

lol.

I don’t see it the same way. Last few seasons have been brutal but we had a helluva run from 94-03. Then again early part of 2011-2014??

should add to this “what if” artest doesn’t get hit by beer cup. The depth of the run pacers would have went on 94-03…..

prior to leFlop taking his tears to south beach and the nba becoming AAU centric pacers were epitome of consistent success

the kangz clippers knicks cavs pistons are dumpster fires