Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

[Putnam]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

Beating New York, Charlotte, Minnesota and Chicago don't change a whit our inevitable loss to Boston if we get into the play-offs against them. That is not the meaning of these games.

The reason these games are satisfying is that we beat other weak teams that we ought to beat. That isn't "proof" that we can beat strong teams, too. The Pacers are still a very weak team.

But these four wins show that we are a team with some pride and character.

[owl]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

I'd be glad to play the Celtics in the first round.

First of all, Detroit is not only coming out of the East this year; they're winning the Finals. And they'll shock everyone in the Finals. Boston has done nothing to convince me that a Bos/Det series would be close.

Secondly, if we play the Celtics, I guarantee it will NOT be a sweep. We match up better against Boston than assumed, and their great defense doesn't have the same effect on the Pacers because we're a shooting team. In other words, we're guaranteed to have at least one hot shooting night in four games, and we will win that game (and/or more).

Boston has the best defense possibly in the league and the last time Garnett had even
modest talent around him they almost made it to the finals. Now he has 2 other all-stars
around him. Detroit is good but Boston is better.

[Shade]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

You simply cannot seriously call losing in the conference finals "flaming out".

They lost four in a row to a team that got embarrassed in the Finals.

[granger33]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

If we start beating some good teams and gaining momentum heading into the playoffs, I'll be excited.

So if we beat New Orleans (the best team in the west) you'll be excited?

[PiratePrincess]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

I've got nothing really to say about who-playing-who potentially in the playoffs, but I must say while leaving the T-wolves game Friday night, I certainly felt much better about this team than I had in a few months. I don't think we can pinpoint it exactly where the change has happened, but there has definitely been a shift in the momentum, and I do believe that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel. How long it'll take to reach the end is unknown, but it's there.

[NuffSaid]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

Why did it take a 4-game winning streak to regain the fan's attention and support? Because it gave the fans hope.

It's often said that winning cures everything, and considering that it's the first 4-game win streak in nearly 2-yrs it's no wonder fan confidence had gotten so low. I admit my confidence had waivered somewhat, but I've never lost hope that somehow things would click for this team and they'd finally begin to play as a cohesive unit. Alright, so the wins have all come against lower ranked teams or teams who are also fighting for a playoff berth, but as they say a win is a win no matter the foe.

This win gives the fans hope. Should they win against the Hornets and Nets, I'd venture to say that 100 watt light bulb has finally come on.

[Shade]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

I just hope you guys don't jump off a bridge (or drive head-first into a random coat warehouse outlet) when the Hornets sit on our heads and noogie us to death.

[Oneal07]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

Two things:

1) If the regular season didn't mean anything, we wouldn't have it. We'd just go straight to the playoffs. It may not mean as much in a 1-game-winner-takes-all, but in a 7-game series, the best team probably wins 99% of the time.

2) You're banking on having a healthy JO? Really? The possibility of that is starting to reach urban legend levels.

Your acting like I'm saying the PAcers are going to win the series. I'm saying The PAcers are not going to play SOFT against Boston. Your someone who obviously under values JErmaine O'neal. Yeah he's been hurt so what, the only thing the injury really effected was his offense. He was still a major factor on defense, and that's what the pacers need, a big boost on D. And you think if Jermaine went against KG IN THE PLAYOFFS, you think he's gonna play soft? lol.

[Oneal07]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

I just hope you guys don't jump off a bridge (or drive head-first into a random coat warehouse outlet) when the Hornets sit on our heads and noogie us to death.

And who says we haven't beaten the Hornets already this year?

[imawhat]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

The Cs have beat Detroit two out of three times. Their one loss came on the final play of the game.

Boston also just swept Texas on the road.

And they are playing .800 ball for the season.

I'd say that's something to suggest it could be at least close.

I understand that's a great list of regular season accomplishments, but that was Detroit's list last season (minus the Texas sweep) and they died out in the playoffs against a one-man team in six games.

I think that was a result of peaking too early, inexperience, and burning players out before the playoffs. I had a hunch they would lose sooner than they did, and I feel the same way about the Celtics (even with their recent play).

[Peck]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

Your acting like I'm saying the PAcers are going to win the series. I'm saying The PAcers are not going to play SOFT against Boston. Your someone who obviously under values JErmaine O'neal. Yeah he's been hurt so what, the only thing the injury really effected was his offense. He was still a major factor on defense, and that's what the pacers need, a big boost on D. And you think if Jermaine went against KG IN THE PLAYOFFS, you think he's gonna play soft? lol.

Oh if you only knew the irony of that part.

Other than actually calling himself Shade07 I'm not sure how you could find a much bigger O'neal fan.

Shade, you've just been called out.

[Unclebuck]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

Couple of points. Genrally speaking I can deal with the pacers losing to obviously superior teams - they simply don't have the talent and the intangibles to beat such teams as the Celtics, Pistons, and 7 or 8 teams out west. But I can deal with that - but what is different about winning 4 straight is that THEY WON 4 STRAIGHT. That means somehting - I don't care who we are playing.

But also keep in mind that if the pacers didn't win the previous 3 games - no way dpo they have the confidence to come from behind after trailing by 13 pts on the road. As I often say the more you win the more you win.

[McKeyFan]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

What is comforting however, is that I am pretty confident that appropriate changes will be made in the offseason. In fact, if they don't, I can't even tell you how mad I will be.

Is this a current post, or is it a year old?

Just checking.

[Anthem]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

But also keep in mind that if the pacers didn't win the previous 3 games - no way dpo they have the confidence to come from behind after trailing by 13 pts on the road. As I often say the more you win the more you win.

A good point. A very good point. Which is why I'd much rather get a #15 pick and have the team close the regular season on a good note than get a #12 pick and lose all the way there.

[NuffSaid]

Re: Why did it only take 4 wins in a row....

UB,

The 4-game win streak should act as a confidence booster for both the team and the fans coming into this game against the Hornets. Just imagine how pumped everyone will be if JO does return tomorrow and the Pacers actually win. The Pacers beat them earlier in the season w/o JO. Both Murphy and Harrison had good games. And seeing that both of these players - especially Murphy - have really stepped up of late, I see no reason why the Pacers couldn't beat them again.

There's nothing worse for a visiting team than to come up against a scrappy team and face the home team w/momentum on their side.