[festar35Participant]

I still think Indiana can be a threat this year, maybe not to take home a Championship but make the play offs, then even pull off a first round win.

Why the optimism? Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis is continually a great team in the Western conference, despite lack of Superstars and big name players.

Look at the rosters, they have a similar front court of Hibbert, West and potentially Copeland. Memphis this year will likely go with Gasol, Randolph and Carter. If Hibberts gets his head on right he can impact a game on a level equal with Gasol, West is one season removed from 17ppg and I think he drop in production was him understanding what was required he can get back there and Copeland if used correctly and given an oppurtunity can be as good offensively as VC is now.

In the back-court we have Hill and Miles, if Hill goes back to his aggressive ways (i.e Game against Portland) he can get to a level a bit below Conley and Miles is an underrated defender and nice outside shooter, I would honestly say he will be better than Lee is.

Bench you have Stuckey in Indiana now, who is potentially the best 6th man Indiana has seen in a long while. Scola looks very good, I expect Hill to makes strides, Watson to stay consistent and a wild card in Rudez. Memphis to me doesn’t have as stronger bench in Calathes, Allen, Prince and Stokes.

It’ll take Indiana’s players living up to their potential, but in saying that let us not forget that all though the East has improved it is still the East. Memphis is a great team and if Indiana gets their harmony back in wake of losing Lance that could have a similar brand of basketball and be effective.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I dont think you understand the difference between Memphis and the Pacers..Its true that the Grizzlies dont have a big name star..But they do have players like Gasol,Z Bo that can create their own shots…Gasol is 1 of the best passers in the entire league and Conley does a great job of managing the team and getting players in their spots to succeed..The Pacers didnt have many guys that could create players for others last season…

1 strange stat about the Pacers is that last season they only played a combined 28 minutes without either PG or Lance Stephenson on the floor..Now they dont have either of those guys next season….

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I dont think you understand the difference between Memphis and the Pacers..Its true that the Grizzlies dont have a big name star..But they do have players like Gasol,Z Bo that can create their own shots…Gasol is 1 of the best passers in the entire league and Conley does a great job of managing the team and getting players in their spots to succeed..The Pacers didnt have many guys that could create players for others last season…

1 strange stat about the Pacers is that last season they only played a combined 28 minutes without either PG or Lance Stephenson on the floor..Now they dont have either of those guys next season….

 

 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 Roy Hibbert impacting a game the same way as Marc Gasol? Even in an ideal world that is such a slight towards Gasol. Hibbert is a clunky robot on offence, he has no range on his jumper and is not even in the same stratosphere in terms of passing ability. Offensively, Marc can hit shots out to 18 feet consistently, hit shots over both shoulders and get you 5 assists. Roy can get you a couple buckets off mis matches against a smaller big and put backs, mixed with a bunch of clangs of the rim because he simply does not have an above average post game offensively. Huge slight on Gasol

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 Roy Hibbert impacting a game the same way as Marc Gasol? Even in an ideal world that is such a slight towards Gasol. Hibbert is a clunky robot on offence, he has no range on his jumper and is not even in the same stratosphere in terms of passing ability. Offensively, Marc can hit shots out to 18 feet consistently, hit shots over both shoulders and get you 5 assists. Roy can get you a couple buckets off mis matches against a smaller big and put backs, mixed with a bunch of clangs of the rim because he simply does not have an above average post game offensively. Huge slight on Gasol

[220Participant]

 Indiana’s best hopes are that Paul George has a full recovery and that they land in the top 3 in lottery selection.

If Lance Stephenson hadn’t signed with Charlotte then I’d have higher hopes for the Pacers remaining a playoff team without Paul George.

[220Participant]

 Indiana’s best hopes are that Paul George has a full recovery and that they land in the top 3 in lottery selection.

If Lance Stephenson hadn’t signed with Charlotte then I’d have higher hopes for the Pacers remaining a playoff team without Paul George.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I have no idea what to expect from the Pacers this season. With Paul George injured and Lance Stephenson gone, they’ll get back to playing strictly inside/outside basketball. Roy Hibbert, David West and Luis Scola will get a lot of touches. Last season, the Pacers had awful spacing. With CJ Miles and Chris Copeland seeing big minutes, that won’t be the case this upcoming season. However, those two won’t bring much defensively. 

I think Hibbert will have a good season. He’ll be happy because now he’ll be a focal point of the offense. Last season, he had a hard time adjusting to the offense being centered around George and Stephenson. He was often in the way clogging the lane during drives. When he did get post up opportunities, the Pacers wouldn’t space the floor right. 

I think George Hill will also have a good season. Stephenson’s expanded role last season had him playing less aggressive. I think he’ll be aggressive offensively this season and with Rodney Stuckey being able to handle the ball, he’ll be able to play off of the ball more. 

At the end of the day, I just can’t see the Pacers making the playoffs. They have nobody who can take over games late or create for anyone on a consistent level. Unless Vogel has an awakening offensively, I think this team will continue to play ugly offensive basketball, even worse now. Hibbert, West and Hill will still be very good defensively, but replacing Stephenson and George will Miles/Stuckey and Copeland is a recipe for disaster. They could opt to start Solomon Hill at the three for more defense, but he’s not a spacer offensively. I just see the Pacers taking a huge step back at both ends. 

Deep down, I hope this team misses the playoffs and gets a shot at a top five pick. I’d really like Emmanuel Mudiay…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I have no idea what to expect from the Pacers this season. With Paul George injured and Lance Stephenson gone, they’ll get back to playing strictly inside/outside basketball. Roy Hibbert, David West and Luis Scola will get a lot of touches. Last season, the Pacers had awful spacing. With CJ Miles and Chris Copeland seeing big minutes, that won’t be the case this upcoming season. However, those two won’t bring much defensively. 

I think Hibbert will have a good season. He’ll be happy because now he’ll be a focal point of the offense. Last season, he had a hard time adjusting to the offense being centered around George and Stephenson. He was often in the way clogging the lane during drives. When he did get post up opportunities, the Pacers wouldn’t space the floor right. 

I think George Hill will also have a good season. Stephenson’s expanded role last season had him playing less aggressive. I think he’ll be aggressive offensively this season and with Rodney Stuckey being able to handle the ball, he’ll be able to play off of the ball more. 

At the end of the day, I just can’t see the Pacers making the playoffs. They have nobody who can take over games late or create for anyone on a consistent level. Unless Vogel has an awakening offensively, I think this team will continue to play ugly offensive basketball, even worse now. Hibbert, West and Hill will still be very good defensively, but replacing Stephenson and George will Miles/Stuckey and Copeland is a recipe for disaster. They could opt to start Solomon Hill at the three for more defense, but he’s not a spacer offensively. I just see the Pacers taking a huge step back at both ends. 

Deep down, I hope this team misses the playoffs and gets a shot at a top five pick. I’d really like Emmanuel Mudiay…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Yeah i really like Mudiay,he might be the best pg to enter the nba since Derrick Rose..He reminds me alot of Micheal Ray Richardson..Richardson was given a lifetime ban for drug use,he could’ve been 1 of the all time greats at that position….

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Yeah i really like Mudiay,he might be the best pg to enter the nba since Derrick Rose..He reminds me alot of Micheal Ray Richardson..Richardson was given a lifetime ban for drug use,he could’ve been 1 of the all time greats at that position….

[Author]

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