Who has checked out vs who is still all in for this season

[Hoop]

I checked out on wanting to make the playoffs a long time ago. When we fell out of 6th place.

I haven't and rarely ever "check out" on the team. I watch every minute of every game. I get enjoyment of watching certain players, team and player growth, regardless if we win or lose.

I really don't get the ones that say we need to lose more, then refuse to watch because we're losing.

There still my team, so I watch. Painfully sometimes, but I watch to the bitter end.

[Pacergeek]

Checked out once Pritchard stupidly gave Turner a contract extension. What kind of rebuilding team re-signs their own veterans . So stupid!!

[CJ Jones]

I wonder how it works internally. I figure GMs and Carlisle discuss the tactics of tanking, and it appears that Carlisle makes decisions that lead to such outcomes.

I also assume that this is never discussed with players, as it would destroy motivations. So sometimes there's a win when certain players overachieve.

But maybe it works differently and someone with more insider knowledge can share how.

They're openly tanking. That doesn't mean they're trying to lose but Agness said they're focused on development of the younger guys right now. He said all 3 of Hali, TJM, and Myles could've played in Detroit if they needed them too. My guess is this is talked about with the players, and if not I'm sure they understand what's going on.

[boombuckets]

the rockets are two games out from the worst record. i forgot how all of that potentially affects our 2nd round pick. would be nice to have one more season where we take advantage of the suck and capitalize on our draft stock. cleve and bostons picks will be essentially worthless. maybe we can parlay those into a late teens pick from some team trying to save cap room or swing a deal landing a tj warren type veteran to add to the team.

[boombuckets]

if you are a play in team your team sucks and has no chance at legitimate playoff aspirations. perusing the upcoming calender pacers have several losable games. portland has some very winnable games against bottom feeders also implementing tank tactics. i like our odds at the 6th pick. would be great to get as high as 5 to ensure if a team leapfrogs us we still are in the top 6 where it seems the elite talent then substantially declines.

the kid from i believe houston would be an ideal fit that plays pf. ive seen minimal highlights but he seems like a draymond green type. just really hoping we do not blow this shot at adding some real talent versus a play in game.

the way the upcoming schedule plays out we should really be locked into a top 7 pick.

[Ichi]

This has always been a rebuilding season for me so the results never factored on whether I'd watch or not. W-L record was and is irrelevant to me, what matters is the development of the young players and, thankfully, we have done amazingly in that regard. Hali has blossomed into a star-level player, Mathurin has showed that he has the potential to be a 20+ PPG scorer and Nembhard has been much, much better than I personally expected.

I haven't been able to watch as many games as I did in the previous seasons due to an increased workload (it was easy to watch every game as a university student, definitely not as easy when you have to wake up 2 hours after the game finishes ) but that has nothing to do with how the team has performed. That's just how life works.

A bit of the same here. Games are mornings for me, but I've been using a lot of the morning free-time to plan a trip, so Pacers are only on in the background at times.

Still mostly "watching" and happy, but this part of the season is always a grind/chore for me. You have 70 games of proof about how good/bad a team is, and things get funky with rotations all over the league. Still a lot of fun to see TJM/Nwora/GHill work the Bucks though. Also nice to see them lose to the Hornets and get away from Pedestrian Playland (Play-in) territory.

[vnzla81]

I stayed until the final buzzer last night.

Yeah but you work for pacers PR

[LongTimePacerFan]

Unfortunately I’m in because of the tank and this makes me also watch trash teams like Chicago.

This is the answer. Watching and hoping we can defy the odds and stay out of the play in tournament. Just give us a shot at a top 3 pick.

[idioteque]

I’ve been all-in this entire year. I have always enjoyed watching guys develop. That said I hope the Pacers try to start winning next year - you can only tank for so long before it wears on a franchise’s culture and players. Fortunately, they have a lot of ways to acquire talent this offseason that doesn’t involve trading their pick. If they hit on this pick the future should be pretty bright going forward.

[DrFife]

So I'll say we end up making a push for the playoffs, fall short at 36 wins, but end the season upbeat about our developing talent.

I'm curious to see if I win the prediction contest.

[McKeyFan]

I wonder how it works internally. I figure GMs and Carlisle discuss the tactics of tanking, and it appears that Carlisle makes decisions that lead to such outcomes.

I also assume that this is never discussed with players, as it would destroy motivations. So sometimes there's a win when certain players overachieve.

But maybe it works differently and someone with more insider knowledge can share how.

[McKeyFan]

I was unenthused to start the season. Talk of tank. I just can't enjoy watching my team when there is a question whether we want them to win or lose. I think I'd rather draft last than not play to win.

I gained interest as our record started to improve and lost it when Hali's injury led to a losing streak.

[DeS]

Wake me up when Reggie gets back on the court I don't know - there was something magical about that team.
Maybe - it's just because I was younger This team - lacks something, some sparkle, some hero, some toughness...
As for now - I'm just enjoying basketball

[Rogco]

pretty much checked out. Haliburton's injury was the main reason, but Mathurin's regression and subsequent injury are part of it. I'll check back in again when the draft lottery is going on.

[Cubs231721]

currently we are T-7th lottery pick. not sure how tiebreaker would go (coin flip?). only game out for chance at pick 6. I guess as a pacer fan I see more substantial impact at improvement than with a play in seed probably dropping pacers to around the 12th pick in the draft. that is a steep decline in talent pool.

earning a play in berth does not improve this team as quickly as landing an potentially elite player. this team is still 2 years away. adding talented youth strengthens the core. This is what is somewhat infuriating as a pacers fan. the opportunity is there with 10 games left to make certain we acquire the best talent possible and we are sacrificing for the short-term goal. im purely invested in top 7 pick. by far the better outcome long term for the franchise.

The good news is that the Western Conference teams are winning. So the difference between the Pacers making the play-in tournament and not might only be 1-2 spots. Now if they make the playoffs, that would be a massive difference.

I want them to get as good of pick as possible too. But if they go 4-7 down the stretch and the Bulls completely collapse and they sneak into the play-in tournament, that likely won't be devastating for their pick as long as they lose in the tournament.