Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

[TOP]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

12 games remaining...

43-13 Bulls
40-14 Thunder
33-21 Pacers
30-24 Celtics
29-25 Sixers
29-25 @Sixers
26-28 Bucks
26-28 @Bucks
25-31 T'wolves
21-33 Pistons
20-35 Raptors
17-25 @Cavaliers
17-35 Cavaliers
323-316

5 opponents above .500. 7 opponents below .500

9 home games. 3 away games.

10 east opponents(6 division opponents). 2 west opponents




Schedule looks even better after we get Boston and Oklahoma City out of the way.

[Anthem]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

I don't think it would be tragedy to lose to OKC, especially if we make a good show out of it. That team is so good. Boston, I would expect us to beat them, but obviously they are capable of having great games where they would beat any team.

Boston barely lost to the Spurs, then barely lost to the Bulls. They're gonna be looking to break the streak, they'll have a day of rest while we're coming off a back-to-back, and they know they're gunning for our spot.

I'm generally an optimist, but I don't feel good about that game at all. If we get a split on this weekend's games then I'll consider us a lock for the #3 seed. We can get it even if we lose both games, but it'll be harder.

[Peck]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

Boston barely lost to the Spurs, then barely lost to the Bulls. They're gonna be looking to break the streak, they'll have a day of rest while we're coming off a back-to-back, and they know they're gunning for our spot.

I'm generally an optimist, but I don't feel good about that game at all. If we get a split on this weekend's games then I'll consider us a lock for the #3 seed. We can get it even if we lose both games, but it'll be harder.

It's just our d@mn luck becuase both OKC & Boston are riding 2 game losing streaks.

[CableKC]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

Boston barely lost to the Spurs, then barely lost to the Bulls. They're gonna be looking to break the streak, they'll have a day of rest while we're coming off a back-to-back, and they know they're gunning for our spot.

I'm generally an optimist, but I don't feel good about that game at all. If we get a split on this weekend's games then I'll consider us a lock for the #3 seed. We can get it even if we lose both games, but it'll be harder.

I'm a pessimist.....so I'm a worst-cast scenario type of guy....I don't think that the Pacers will win both games. I'm guessing that the OKC game will be like the Spurs game.....and the Celtics game will be closer. If there is a time that I want to use a guy like Fesenko in a "break in case of emergency" type scenario where we add considerable size and try to shutdown the paint...it's in the Celtics game. When you have KG playing the Center position...it's time to throw considerable size at him and see how he does.

[Anthem]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

I'm a pessimist.....so I'm a worst-cast scenario type of guy....I don't think that the Pacers will win both games. I'm guessing that the OKC game will be like the Spurs game.....and the Celtics game will be closer. If there is a time that I want to use a guy like Fesenko in a "break in case of emergency" type scenario where we add considerable size and try to shutdown the paint...it's in the Celtics game. When you have KG playing the Center position...it's time to throw considerable size at him and see how he does.

If you're a pessimist, the default assumption has to be that the Pacers will lose both. That's clearly the worst-case scenario. Splitting would be a fantastic outcome. If we win both, lock us in for the second round and maybe the third, because this team has really turned a corner.

[CableKC]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

Don't root for the Bulls, you want them to lose because you want Chicago to fall to the 2 seed so the potential 2nd round matchup is Chi not Mia...

The one thing that you have to realize is how good the Bulls are now. DRose has been out for 12 games since March 14th and they have gone 8-4 without him. They are beating a wide range of lottery and Playoff bound Teams without DRose. IMHO....the Bulls are a frickin scary Team and a Team that I do not want to face in the Playoffs.

I'm really torn on which Team I'd rather face in the 2nd round....but at this point....I'm leaning towards throwing our depth and size ( that means actually Fesenko ) at the Heat than facing a fairly deep and disciplined Bulls Team.

[beast23]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

If you're a pessimist, the default assumption has to be that the Pacers will lose both. That's clearly the worst-case scenario. Splitting would be a fantastic outcome. If we win both, lock us in for the second round and maybe the third, because this team has really turned a corner.

If we win both, great. But if we are going to lose only one, perhaps the bball gods can see that we lose to OC and not to Boston. Not a lot to ask, right?

[Peck]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

If we win both, great. But if we are going to lose only one, perhaps the bball gods can see that we lose to OC and not to Boston. Not a lot to ask, right?

You know I'm not sure which would be better.

I think beating OKC at home in front of a large crowd would really ramp up the news coverage. If Danny outplays Durrant (one can dream can't they) then the recent feel good story's about him will not only increase but skyrocket.

I think almost anybody would be sympathetic if they win the first and lose the second.

[RWB]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

Fans better be ready for a VERY physical game (OKC). Going to be some tempers flare in this one I believe.

[Anthem]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

What a win! This team is legit, ladies and gents. That win knocks all the magic numbers down by one, which is good because Orlando, Boston, and Philly didn't play and Atlanta won. Eleven games left.

Orlando – 10
Atlanta – 10
Boston – 9
Philadelphia – 8

For the first time, our magic number for all four teams is lower than our remaining number of games. That means that if Atlanta went undefeated the rest of the season, we'd still come out on top if we only lost one game. We control our own destiny from here on.

[Will Galen]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

We control our own destiny from here on.

We've had control of our own destiny for about a week. Ever since Orlando dropped one game behind us in the lost column.

[beast23]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

You know I'm not sure which would be better.

I think beating OKC at home in front of a large crowd would really ramp up the news coverage. If Danny outplays Durrant (one can dream can't they) then the recent feel good story's about him will not only increase but skyrocket.

I think almost anybody would be sympathetic if they win the first and lose the second.

I think you were right. A home win vs OC is/was much more important than either possible outcome vs Boston. We had a sellout despite the fact that a lot of folks are still out of town on spring break.

[Sparhawk]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

11 games and a lot of teams that the Pacers should beat. Let's ride out on a high note!

[TOP]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

Not the night we wanted. We lose and Hawks, Magic, Celtics win. Bucks also won and Sixers lost.

Bucks are 13-4 in their last 17 games. Not the easy wins I once thought they'd be.



10 games remaining...

43-13 Bulls
34-22 Pacers
29-26 Sixers
29-26 @Sixers
28-28 Bucks
28-28 @Bucks
25-32 T'wolves
21-34 Pistons
20-36 Raptors
18-35 @Cavaliers
18-35 Cavaliers
259-315

5 opponents at or above .500. 5 opponents below .500

7 home games. 3 away games.

9 east opponents(6 division opponents). 1 west opponent

[Anthem]

Re: Anthem’s Annual Magic Number Thread (2012 Edition)

Ouch. Pretty much nothing went right tonight. Boston beat us, Orlando beat Philly (not a threat to us anyway), and Atlanta beat Charlotte (how could they not?).

Orlando – 10
Atlanta – 10
Boston – 9
Philadelphia – 7

Ten games to go. Time to rack up some wins.