Pacers Stomped by Hawks/Imploding

[celticdog]

Sunday 4/6/14 Pacers just got stomped at home by the Hawks in the latest horror-show turn of their season.  They look done.

This is sad to see.  I was hoping the Pacers could beat the Heat this year.  Looks like they are collapsing in on themselves and it is shockingly disappointing.   

I really like Vogel and of course I want Larry Legend to succeed but I feel really bad for Pacers fans...

Do you think there is any hope of the Pacers turning it around?  I'm very pessimistic about their current situation.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Yeah, I'm disappointed with their late-season fade. They've already surrendered the top seed and the home-court advantage that goes with it. And it's not like the Heat have been dominant this season. Looks like things are shaping up for an easy road to a Miami three-peat.

[timobusa]

They peaked to early? Maybe.

I personally think they shouldn't have done that trade.

Just deal with Granger in the off season

[D.o.s.]

Must be something in the water.

[Roy H.]

My theory is that this is similar to the Celts trading Perk in 2011.

On paper, the Turner / Granger trade made all kinds of sense for the Pacers.  The team filled a perceived need (in this case, bench scoring), and the guy they gave up (Granger) wasn't contributing very much.

Much like with the Celtics, though, the Pacers have gone through a fairly immediate tailspin right after the deal.  Granger was a career Pacer (much like Perk was a career Celtic) who was revered in the locker room.  He was a mentor for a lot of the younger guys.

Granger and George were close, and bringing Turner on board probably made Stephenson a bit insecure about his replacement.  Larry unknowingly through a chemistry bomb into that locker room (made worse by the Andrew Bynum acquisition), and it's unlikely that the Pacers find their spark again.

[Smokeeye123]

Hope the Hawks carry that momentum into Wednsday night. 

[RJ87]

My theory is that this is similar to the Celts trading Perk in 2011.

On paper, the Turner / Granger trade made all kinds of sense for the Pacers.  The team filled a perceived need (in this case, bench scoring), and the guy they gave up (Granger) wasn't contributing very much.

Much like with the Celtics, though, the Pacers have gone through a fairly immediate tailspin right after the deal.  Granger was a career Pacer (much like Perk was a career Celtic) who was revered in the locker room.  He was a mentor for a lot of the younger guys.

Granger and George were close, and bringing Turner on board probably made Stephenson a bit insecure about his replacement.  Larry unknowingly through a chemistry bomb into that locker room (made worse by the Andrew Bynum acquisition), and it's unlikely that the Pacers find their spark again.

Perfect synopsis. This is what happens when management preaches "team" and then turns around & trades the longest tenured player there.

I really hope they get it together and beat Miami though.

[GreenWarrior]

I believe that this team never had it in them to win the championship, much less beat the heat. if there focus was such, there is no way they go in to this bad of a funk. wasn't granger out for the 1st qrtr. of the season? granger getting traded had nothing to do with this.I just don't think they were that good to begin with. they were a team that was hot early and they're fading quickly.

paul George has leveled off and no he's not the "MVP" candidate like many thought. he is an all star, and that's it.

[D.o.s.]

I'm  with you, GreenBoy. Correlation =/= causation.

And, actually, I think Roy's theory is totally bogus, and only holds water if, indeed, Indiana is a first or second round exit because of a meltdown.

I refuse to believe that Evan Turner, who looks so excited to be on a winning team it's infectious through the camera, and Andrew Bynum, who is injured and very clearly signed for 'break in case of emergency depth' are causing chaos behind the scenes.

Now, if you wanted to say that Stephenson's heard a little too much "He should've been an All-Star" and George is going cold -- like he does, I could get on board with that, but comparing it to the Celtics in 2011 is premature.

[Mazingerz]

I personally dislike Stephenson's play. He is too cocky, maybe something along with the entry of Turner into the scene made their locker room volatile. Stephenson is trying to be an alpha male in a team full of wanna be alpha males. Granger was the designated alpha male, but was traded.

[moiso]

My theory is that this is similar to the Celts trading Perk in 2011.

On paper, the Turner / Granger trade made all kinds of sense for the Pacers.  The team filled a perceived need (in this case, bench scoring), and the guy they gave up (Granger) wasn't contributing very much.

Much like with the Celtics, though, the Pacers have gone through a fairly immediate tailspin right after the deal.  Granger was a career Pacer (much like Perk was a career Celtic) who was revered in the locker room.  He was a mentor for a lot of the younger guys.

Granger and George were close, and bringing Turner on board probably made Stephenson a bit insecure about his replacement.  Larry unknowingly through a chemistry bomb into that locker room (made worse by the Andrew Bynum acquisition), and it's unlikely that the Pacers find their spark again.

Not sure the trade made sense on paper.  All of the ESPN insider analytical guys said it was a horrible trade for the Pacers because Turner is one of the most inefficient and defenseless players in the NBA.

It was definitely a horrible trade chemistry wise in hindsight.

[SHAQATTACK]

Indy will never beat the Heat playing like this.

Heat will run away with it again in the East.

[Roy H.]

And, actually, I think Roy's theory is totally bogus, and only holds water if, indeed, Indiana is a first or second round exit because of a meltdown.

Well, in the span of four seasons, we've seen two teams that were leading the NBA in wins make trade deadline trades involving a team leader.  In both of those instances, the team making the trade went into a pretty severe tailspin.

The Celtics were 41-14 before the Perk trade, and went 15-12 the rest of the way.

The Pacers were 41-13 before the Granger trade, and have gone 13-11 since.

Neither Perk nor Granger was contributing much before the trade, but when you take that strong veteran presence out of the locker room, I think it disrupts chemistry.  When you break up your team -- even in an attempt to get better -- it's going to inevitably lead to some different chemistry, and potentially fractures.

[SHAQATTACK]

Hope the Hawks carry that momentum into Wednsday night. 

Amen that....

 

[staticcc]

I still think they have a chance against the Heat IF they get to the ECF. They just get up for Miami and match-up well with those guys. However, the big question is will they get there? If they face the Bulls or Nets in Round 2 and play like they have been playing, they will get a shot vs the defending champs.

Hell, the Bobcats with they way Big Al is dominating may even beat them if they continue to play like this.