Here comes the hammer - hang in there

[Kegboy]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Uh, we play Orlando 3 times in 12 days, possibly without Jeff for any of them?

[Trader Joe]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Uh, we play Orlando 3 times in 12 days, possibly without Jeff for any of them?

Looooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu ha...ha

[Pacergeek]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Why is everybody scared of the Bulls? We can beat those guys. Boozer can't guard Tyler

[crunk-juice]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

dammit Jeff stop being old

[McKeyFan]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

I like to break it down to week by week.

@SAC tonight, @GS Friday
@LAL Sun, vsORL Tuesday, @CHI Wednesday, @BOS Friday
@ORL Sun, vsNJN Tuesday, @MIN Wednesday, @DAL Friday, vsORL Saturday

I'm guessing 2-0 this week, 2-2 next week, 2-3 the week after that, for a 6-5 stretch from now until Feb 4th, leaving us at 15-8 heading into the first full week of February.

This is of course assuming, Jeff Foster aside, our rotation stays healthy.

I like that prognostication.

Also: we'll probably win at least one we are supposed to lose and lose at least one we are supposed to win.

[CreekShow]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Im kinda tired of people telling others what kind of expectations they should have. If someone thinks we should win 50 games, who cares, its their expectations. If someone wants to start or bench someone, again who cares. Its not like Vogel is in here doing research. So many people get tight after anyone mentions EJ or throws another possible trade idea out. If you dont like what someone suggests, tell us why or dont post in the thread. I just see so many people chastising others for the dumbest reasons.

Lets not forget this is a discussion board.

[doctor-h]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

We all know how the tone can turn after a loss, and a string of losses can really get things going. But let's all keep the schedule in mind and set our expectations appropriately for the next few weeks.

The last two 3 game trips are coming, the only West coast visit, and apart from the Texas 2 trip later this season this will basically mark the end of the road work for the Pacers.

You have the Lakers game and games at Chicago and Orlando. Even going back to Boston could be tough despite their poor play so far. Add in a visit from Orlando as the "break" and even a tricky Warriors game in the middle of that first trip and you've got the potential to lose 6 of the next 7.

4-5 losses looks very reasonable.

And now we add the lack of Foster to that list too. It's going to get ugly most likely, but this is the tradeoff the team must pay for the super sweet April they have lined up.

Let's just see the team get to the end of January above .500 and then start looking at how the schedule slowly turns and helps them build huge momentum down the stretch. FEB is better but still tough, MAR really starts to ease up.


A bad end to January doesn't mean the team isn't ECF capable or needs to make changes, it just means it's the toughest portion of the schedule for a team still trying to lock in on who they are and how they win.

When they lose home games to NJ or Utah, then we can talk about "fixing" the team.



And you never know, they just might surprise us and do better than expected.

Expecting to lose makes you a loser. You should expect to win every game. Thats why I hate hearing players who say if we go 500 on the road we had a good trip.

[doctor-h]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

If the Pacers are really aiming to be a respectable team once again, winning road games and against the elite teams of the East and West should be their aim. Of course they should also take care of the sub .500 teams. The likes of Chicago, Orlando and Lakers are the ones that draw attention right now, so they should aim to win those games to gain some attention and respect from fans and the media.

While losing to some of the upcoming games from elite teams is acceptable, that expectation should not be their aim. Otherwise, they'll look to be playoff pretenders on the eyes of the NBA community just like last year as they look to have no chance at beating play-off caliber teams.

You are exactly right, well said.

[Kegboy]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Expecting to lose makes you a loser. You should expect to win every game. Thats why I hate hearing players who say if we go 500 on the road we had a good trip.

I guess that makes Vogel a loser since he said their goal is to be .500 on the road.

[xBulletproof]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Expecting to lose makes you a loser. You should expect to win every game. Thats why I hate hearing players who say if we go 500 on the road we had a good trip.

There's a big difference between thinking at the tip off of a game ... "well, this one is over", and having realistic expectations for your team for the year, or even a road trip.

You're trying to combine the two, when they can't be. You never go into any individual game thinking you lost, but you can't go thinking you're going to be undefeated every year either.

[BringJackBack]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Uh, we play Orlando 3 times in 12 days, possibly without Jeff for any of them?

I was thinking perhaps we are not going to run the risk of Jeff not getting hurt against Dwight, and right now we are rejuvenating him, preparing for the rest of the season. Idk.

[gummy]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Im kinda tired of people telling others what kind of expectations they should have. If someone thinks we should win 50 games, who cares, its their expectations. If someone wants to start or bench someone, again who cares. Its not like Vogel is in here doing research. So many people get tight after anyone mentions EJ or throws another possible trade idea out. If you dont like what someone suggests, tell us why or dont post in the thread. I just see so many people chastising others for the dumbest reasons.

Lets not forget this is a discussion board.

You would do well to remember that this is a discussion board too.

What I mean by that is - making statements about what is reasonable to expect and responding to other people's expectations is also part of what happens on a discussion board. Disagreeing with someone's expectations or opinions is pretty similar to telling them what expectations they should have - you are telling them their expectations are WRONG and suggesting that yours are RIGHT. Should we not disagree on a discussion board? Of course not. Even going so far as to state you think someone shouldn't say what they are saying is par for the course.

So what you seem to be saying is that you are tired of certain types of discussion. I'm tired of certain types of discussion too. I think the board has gotten far too chippy and people don't respond to one another with enough courtesy. However, putting up with discussion styles you don't like is also crucial to accepting that this is a discussion board populated by a lot of different people.

Now, to the schedule. I like Hick's week by week approach and think his projections are reasonable. I do expect us to lose to elite teams more often than not, but I also expect us to compete and not get completely blown out of the water (ala the Heat game) most times. I also expect us to win against similar or inferior talent teams more often than not, and my expectation that we at least look like we belong in losses is even higher when we're talking about these tiers of teams.

I suspect our team and coaching staff aims to win every game they play. I hope they are taking it one game at a time. I doubt that they are satisfied with a loss of any sort, especially with the way Vogel has them playing and thinking. But that doesn't mean Vogel is a loser or encouraging a losing mentality when he steps out of individual game mode to look at the big picture. Part of fostering success as a leader is setting realistic goals that you can meet or exceed. .500 on the road is that for this team at this time.

I'd be satisfied with 15-8/14-7 going into the first week of February.

[Kemo]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there




lol

[gummy]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

Kemo, I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even think of MC Hammer or "Hammer Time!" when I saw the thread title. Shame on me.

[xBulletproof]

Re: Here comes the hammer - hang in there

OK, if we're doing MC Hammer stuff here .... I still laugh about this one. This is a Live TV show for those who don't know, I was watching it and I about fell off my couch laughing at this .....

The quality is horrible, but it's the audio that's priceless. Can't help but post this.