Larry Legend screwed up

[MBunge]

While I don't fault Larry for the turmoil in the locker-room, the fact is that he probably would have been fired a long time ago for his shortcomings as a GM were not Larry Legend in Indiana.

Bird hasn't been perfect but among NBA execs who haven't won a title as GM, who has been better? 

Mike

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, Larry's Pacers got the series back to 2-2 with the next game in Indy on Monday. I don't believe they'll lose this one.

They are poised to take a 3-2 series lead after tomorrow, and have won in ATL already.

Indy is facing perhaps their toughest challenge yet - I think most contenders go through something like this.

I believe they'll be fine. Larry has done a fabulous job...as for the players? They make mistakes...I know I do.

They will grow up from whatever their locker-room/offcourt issues are, and be a stronger team because of it - as long as Larry keeps them together.

I hope Indy succeeds...Larry gave me so many thrills as a young Celtics fan back in the 80's and I don't want MIA's only threat to fail.

Show em' the tapes, Larry lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVSI1_eVuhs

[hpantazo]

While I don't fault Larry for the turmoil in the locker-room, the fact is that he probably would have been fired a long time ago for his shortcomings as a GM were not Larry Legend in Indiana.

Really? Bird has done an excellent job as a GM overall, one of the best in the league imo.

[AidaCelt]

Pacers are now down 3-2 in the series and heading back to ATL. Their confidence could not be high right now.

Hibbert just had a 0/2 FG, 0 pt, 1 blk, 1 ast, 4 foul game.
PG had 26 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast and 6STL game. They can't ask much more from him.

AND, they were down by over 20 for much of the game and only made a giant comeback late. They're in trouble.

[clover]

While I don't fault Larry for the turmoil in the locker-room, the fact is that he probably would have been fired a long time ago for his shortcomings as a GM were not Larry Legend in Indiana.

Really? Bird has done an excellent job as a GM overall, one of the best in the league imo.

I agree. Bird has generally been a great GM. He does seem to have overloaded the locker room with more than his young coach can handle, however, in a case of having made one too many moves. Had he just stopped with where they were in the first half of the season, things probably would be looking better, even if their play had tailed off some.

[fitzhickey]

I don't think Larry screwed up at all. He assembled a #1 seed without tanking. one of the best gm's in the league

[Celtics4ever]

He can't go down and coach them or suit up and save them.   They need a PP type.

[The One]

I don't think Larry screwed up at all. He assembled a #1 seed without tanking. one of the best gm's in the league

But he overdid it with moves.  He should have left that #1 seed alone.  The evidence is indisputable.

They were fine before the moves...toxic afterwards.

[Nowee]

Pacers are now down 3-2 in the series and heading back to ATL. Their confidence could not be high right now.

Hibbert just had a 0/2 FG, 0 pt, 1 blk, 1 ast, 4 foul game.
PG had 26 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast and 6STL game. They can't ask much more from him.

AND, they were down by over 20 for much of the game and only made a giant comeback late. They're in trouble.

The second-quarter was a complete joke for a number 1 seed that's supposed to be a defensive power house. 41- 19 (!!!)

Mike Scott made 4 three-pointers in a row and Luis Scola gave him a open shot every time!

If Atlanta has a decent (not great) shooting night in game 6 the win and advance to the second round.

And let's not begin about Roy Hibbert aka i will win the defensive player of the year but i forgot how to play basketbal. Not even a few rebounds with his lenght!

[Moranis]

I don't think Larry screwed up at all. He assembled a #1 seed without tanking. one of the best gm's in the league

But he overdid it with moves.  He should have left that #1 seed alone.  The evidence is indisputable.

They were fine before the moves...toxic afterwards.

but then they would have lost to the Heat.  He was trying to make moves to get his team over the hump.  What if he didn't make any moves and Hibbert still decided to disappear and they still lost to the Hawks?  Then Larry would be criticized even more for not doing anything and standing pat.  No team, including the defending champion, should ever stand firm season after season.  The only way to get to the top and then to stay there is to continually get better.  Especially if you are a team without a gold medal superstar player, which the Pacers are. 

[pokeKingCurtis]

Donald Sterling screwed up.

Roy Hibbert is 27. Paul George is 23. They can move assets around, get rid of the toxic ones, and run it back IF they lose to Atlanta.

Dig past all the superstars, the riff raff, the (too many) big threes. All these platitudes and high sounding, embellishing concepts. Call a spade a spade. Bottom line: you pick the best players, you win.

Good talent evaluation pays off.

That's how Red did it.

And that's what Bird has done. A small misstep messing with chemistry too much, maybe. But with that eye for talent, I'm confident the Pacers will succeed, and soon.

[Fafnir]

I hate to say it, but if the Pacers fail to make the Eastern finals, this would be a big blow to the idea of building a team without tanking, and mostly building through later draft picks.

All things considered Larry has still done a commendable job. Even to build a 50 game winner without high picks or big free agent moves is impressive. They just might not be a real contender for the title.

What if OKC gets booted as well?

Big difference between losing to Atlanta and losing to Memphis.  I mean Memphis was a final 4 team last year.

Yeah and Memphis is probably 5 games better if Gasol isn't hurt. 55 win teams are threats to even the best in the league.

[The One]

I don't think Larry screwed up at all. He assembled a #1 seed without tanking. one of the best gm's in the league

But he overdid it with moves.  He should have left that #1 seed alone.  The evidence is indisputable.

They were fine before the moves...toxic afterwards.

but then they would have lost to the Heat.  He was trying to make moves to get his team over the hump.  What if he didn't make any moves and Hibbert still decided to disappear and they still lost to the Hawks?  Then Larry would be criticized even more for not doing anything and standing pat.  No team, including the defending champion, should ever stand firm season after season.  The only way to get to the top and then to stay there is to continually get better.  Especially if you are a team without a gold medal superstar player, which the Pacers are.

I don't know bro.  I think they would have beaten the Heat.  I guess we'll never know because they are not going to face Miami.  That is reality.

[Moranis]

I hate to say it, but if the Pacers fail to make the Eastern finals, this would be a big blow to the idea of building a team without tanking, and mostly building through later draft picks.

All things considered Larry has still done a commendable job. Even to build a 50 game winner without high picks or big free agent moves is impressive. They just might not be a real contender for the title.

What if OKC gets booted as well?

Big difference between losing to Atlanta and losing to Memphis.  I mean Memphis was a final 4 team last year.

Yeah and Memphis is probably 5 games better if Gasol isn't hurt. 55 win teams are threats to even the best in the league.

Yep and they might very well have been the #1 seed in the East.  The difference in the conferences is immense from top to bottom (though the Heat are still the best "playoff" team in my mind until proven otherwise).

[D.o.s.]

While I don't fault Larry for the turmoil in the locker-room, the fact is that he probably would have been fired a long time ago for his shortcomings as a GM were not Larry Legend in Indiana.

Bird hasn't been perfect but among NBA execs who haven't won a title as GM, who has been better? 

Mike

Probably Morey comes closest, but there is no perfect GM.