These aren't Your Grandpa's Pacers

First appeared on November 12th, 2008
in The Lebanon Reporter.

Last season it reached a point where the Pacers would have been better served by simply turning the lights out in Conseco. Most nights proved to be a seat-stealers dream as the Fieldhouse had seemingly morphed into a ginormous concrete bug zapper capable of repelling NBA fans by the thousands. In case you haven’t heard, the Pacers have made a few changes since last we saw them struggling in every since of the word. Gone are most of the overrated multi-million dollar gunslingers (and we mean gunslinger in the most literal since of the word possible) and in their place the blue and gold have a new batch of hard nosed team players full of nothing but pure guts.
Since the brawl we have seen the Pacers launch one feeble propaganda campaign after another advertising a “new look” or touting “a team united”. Sadly, the Pacers have been slow to learn that when you field a legitimate winner it becomes unnecessary to advertise the truth. This new group may not win enough to suit some but they will tug at the heartstrings of every true Indiana basketball fan; in short they are hard working team players.
But toting their lunch pails to Conseco every night won’t be enough to bring energy back to Pacer nation. Undoubtedly a new work ethic and likable players will bring enough warm bodies through the turn styles to drown out the orchestra of crickets we became so used to hearing at Corn-seco last season but the real energy won’t return until this crew proves they can win.
Don’t misunderstand, we are not hear to wax poetic about the days of Reggie dropping 25 in the fourth quarter, or tallying 8 points in 11 seconds (take your pick), to down the Knicks while shoving a proverbial sweat-soaked sock in Spike Lee’s mouth; rather we’re here only to make our rather bold prediction. This team will battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Though it’s still early, first round pick Roy Hibbert seems to have the tools necessary to be productive enough to escape the tsunami of big man busts that appears to be ready to swamp Portland. With Danny Granger averaging over 20 points a game it looks as though he might be the embodiment of a $60 million bargain and, though it’s still early, in retrospect swapping Jermaine O’Neal for Hibbert and lightning fast point guard T.J. Ford (17 ppg thus far) appears to have been a move any right minded skinflint would have made. With Troy Murphy averaging 11 points and 11 rebounds (yes we know it’s still early), the Pacers should only get better when their second leading scorer from last season, Mike Dunleavy, returns from injury.
Boston will still be Boston and Dwight Howard’s shoulders will once again be broad enough for the entire city of Orlando. Philadelphia also looks to make a playoff return after improving their roster with the addition of Elton Brand. Dwayne Wade is healthy for the Heat and the Pistons just shocked the league by trading for future Hall of Famer Allen Iverson last week.
With LeBron still in Cleveland the Pacers will most likely have to beat out Toronto, Atlanta or Washington for a playoff spot. Of course this means any true Pacer fan should root like heck against these teams. In fact, stop reading this now and go search online for Jermaine O’Neal voodoo dolls. While you’re sticking pins in his knees, cross your fingers that Gilbert Arenas doesn’t make it back until the Wizards have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and of course root for Atlanta to be….well Atlanta.
No matter the outcome of this season there is something refreshing in the prospect of rooting for a team that won’t literally shoot at you should your support happen to wane.