2018 - 2019 Indiana Pacers and everything NBA thread

[2006Coltsbestever]

If the Lakers miss the playoffs, does it hurt LeBron's legacy? In the Eastern Conference he made it to 8 straight Finals. Now he is in the Western Conference and the Lakers are 31-33 and sitting in the 10th spot. Can't use age as an excuse either, LeBron just turned 34. 34 isn't old in today's game.

 

Other players at 34:

Kareem won a Championship in 1982 at 34

 

Michael Jordan won a Championship in 1998 at 34

 

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to the playoffs in 2013 as a 7th seed in the West at 34

 

Karl Malone led the Jazz to the Finals at 34

 

Technology and athletes are much today right? As the younger generation likes to pour down our throat?  . So what is LeBron's excuse that he can't even lead the Lakers to an 8th seed? Don't give me team around him either, something LeBron fans love to do. I am just talking making a lowly 8th seed, not a Championship or anything. The Clippers and Kings have a better record than the Lakers and their rosters are nothing to brag about. 

[oldunclemark]

14 hours ago, MTC said:

Looks like Warriors are going to beat the 76ers. I believe Pacers maintain the 3rd seed... for now. 

That's big...we just need to win some games in a row

..we get to play at Philadelphia next Sunday..

 

Must-win for the '3' spot

[oldunclemark]

Houston 100, Boston 78 end of 3Qs

I just cannot explain the Celtics

 

Listening to the Boston home broadcast on Sirius Radio, they assume they will be opening the playoffs against the Pacers.

[2006Coltsbestever]

Just now, oldunclemark said:

Houston 100, Boston 78 end of 3Qs

I just cannot explain the Celtics

 

Listening to the Boston home broadcast on Sirius Radio, they assume they will be opening the playoffs against the Pacers.

At this point I wouldn't mind it, Boston is a mess. 

[oldunclemark]

Okay, we're 41-23 with 18 to play, how do we get to 50 wins?

 

Tuesday:  Bulls

Thursday: at MIlwaukwee

Sunday: at Philadelphia

March 12: NY Knicks

March 14: OKC

 

March 16: at Denver

March 18: at Portland

March 19: at Clippers

March 21: at Golden State

 

March 24: Denver

March 27: at OKC

March 29: at Boston

March 30: Orlando

April 1: Detroit

April 3: at Detroit

April 5: Boston

April 7: Brooklyn

April 10: at Atlanta

Edited March 3, 2019 by oldunclemark

[2006Coltsbestever]

4 minutes ago, oldunclemark said:

Okay, we're 41-23, how do we get to 50 wins?

 

Tuesday:  Bulls

Thursday: at MIlwaukwee

Sunday: at Philadelphia

March 12: NY Knicks

March 14: OKC

 

March 16: at Denver

March 18: at Portland

March 19: at Clippers

March 21: at Golden State

 

March 24: Denver

March 27: at OKC

March 29: at Boston

March 30: Orlando

April 1: Detroit

April 3: at Detroit

April 5: Boston

April 7: Brooklyn

April 10: at Atlanta

We only have to go 9-9 to do so, it will happen but we may end up in the 4th or 5th spot. We can beat Boston in the playoffs the way they are playing.

[oldunclemark]

I see nine wins there.

The Bulls. the Knicks ,OKC at home

The Clippers, Orlando, Detroit, Boston at home,. Brooklyn and Atlanta in the final week.

[2006Coltsbestever]

Just now, oldunclemark said:

I see nine wins there.

The Bulls. the Knicks ,OKC at home

The Clippers, Orlando, Detroit, Boston at home,. Brooklyn and Atlanta in the final week.

Basketball is weird, we will probably lose to someone we should beat and then beat someone we should lose too but I think we win 9.

[oldunclemark]

1 minute ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

Basketball is weird, we will probably lose to someone we should beat and then beat someone we should lose too but I think we win 9.

I think we could beat Detroit twice if we're at full strength

[2006Coltsbestever]

1 minute ago, oldunclemark said:

I think we could beat Detroit twice if we're at full strength

If we somehow drop out of the 3rd seed, hopefully we get the 4 seed at least because HCA would be huge vs Boston.

[oldunclemark]

23 minutes ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

If we somehow drop out of the 3rd seed, hopefully we get the 4 seed at least because HCA would be huge vs Boston.

Boston (38-26) starts a 4-game west coast road trip (GSW, Lakers, Clippers & Sac.) at Golden State Tuesday night

[2006Coltsbestever]

6 minutes ago, oldunclemark said:

Boston (38-26) starts a 4-game west coast road trip (GSW, Lakers, Clippers & Sac.) at Golden State Tuesday night

They are a mess and beatable. At this point they do not scare me to be honest. We need HCA though because of how REFS do their thing in the playoffs 

[BleedBlu8792]

13 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

If the Lakers miss the playoffs, does it hurt LeBron's legacy? In the Eastern Conference he made it to 8 straight Finals. Now he is in the Western Conference and the Lakers are 31-33 and sitting in the 10th spot. Can't use age as an excuse either, LeBron just turned 34. 34 isn't old in today's game.

 

Other players at 34:

Kareem won a Championship in 1982 at 34

 

Michael Jordan won a Championship in 1998 at 34

 

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to the playoffs in 2013 as a 7th seed in the West at 34

 

Karl Malone led the Jazz to the Finals at 34

 

Technology and athletes are much today right? As the younger generation likes to pour down our throat?  . So what is LeBron's excuse that he can't even lead the Lakers to an 8th seed? Don't give me team around him either, something LeBron fans love to do. I am just talking making a lowly 8th seed, not a Championship or anything. The Clippers and Kings have a better record than the Lakers and their rosters are nothing to brag about. 

 

I think it's more about showing people that Lebron isn't good about making those around him better and never has been. If it weren't for Wade and Bosh, he might only have 1 ring, if that.

 

He's practically given up playing defense, and the rest of the team see's that. Don't get me wrong, they would be worse without Lebron, but to say they are better with him, isn't saying much either.

 

Lebron's window is closing FAST, and we'll see how desperate Magic gets this summer trying to revive whatever he can with Lebron. They might make the playoffs this year but they will be swept the first round.

[2006Coltsbestever]

52 minutes ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

I think it's more about showing people that Lebron isn't good about making those around him better and never has been. If it weren't for Wade and Bosh, he might only have 1 ring, if that.

 

He's practically given up playing defense, and the rest of the team see's that. Don't get me wrong, they would be worse without Lebron, but to say they are better with him, isn't saying much either.

 

Lebron's window is closing FAST, and we'll see how desperate Magic gets this summer trying to revive whatever he can with Lebron. They might make the playoffs this year but they will be swept the first round.

I am starting to think LA won't make it now. Too tough of a schedule and 4.5 games behind the Clippers for that 8th. LeBron is an all-time great but I just wonder how great he really is all-time is why I keep posting about him. When I watched guys like Jordan, Magic, Larry, and even Kobe those guys were killers. When I watch LeBron I see an athletic Statistically machine and a great player but being soft at times. 

[BleedBlu8792]

43 minutes ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

When I watch LeBron I see an athletic Statistically machine and a great player but being soft at times. 

 

Pretty much except for the "great player' part.

 

I've watched the game since the early 80's, as have you, and I've seen greatness, and that will never be Lebron in my opinion. 

[crazycolt1]

8 hours ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

Pretty much except for the "great player' part.

 

I've watched the game since the early 80's, as have you, and I've seen greatness, and that will never be Lebron in my opinion. 

Lebron is a great player no doubt and has been since he entered the league.

Lebron's problem is he is not a team player and wherever he has played he was given too much control and power. GMs and coaches have let him take control of their teams. Even the NBA front office has given him control like him picking players for an all star game.

The league office don't care because it's all a money thing to them.

The NBA has become a joke and part of it is letting players like Lebron run the show.

[2006Coltsbestever]

8 hours ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

Pretty much except for the "great player' part.

 

I've watched the game since the early 80's, as have you, and I've seen greatness, and that will never be Lebron in my opinion. 

I think LeBron is definitely a great player and has been the best player this past decade. This is coming from a guy who doesn't even like him. Having said that, all this GOAT talk and ESPN media saying he is either the GOAT or the 2nd best player ever is pure poppycock. I understand it is all opinion but it is debatable whether or not he is a top 5 player of all-time and ESPN acts like it isn't. You know I put Jordan, Magic, and Kareem ahead of him at least. I honestly think Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird were just as great and Shaq was more dominant at his position than LeBron is at his. Shaq wasn't as skilled as Kareem was but more powerful in the paint. 

 

I would say going by this past decade the 3 best players have been:

1. LeBron

2. Durant

3. Curry

[Myles]

On 3/3/2019 at 6:46 AM, 2006Coltsbestever said:

If the Lakers miss the playoffs, does it hurt LeBron's legacy? In the Eastern Conference he made it to 8 straight Finals. Now he is in the Western Conference and the Lakers are 31-33 and sitting in the 10th spot. Can't use age as an excuse either, LeBron just turned 34. 34 isn't old in today's game.

 

Other players at 34:

Kareem won a Championship in 1982 at 34

 

Michael Jordan won a Championship in 1998 at 34

 

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to the playoffs in 2013 as a 7th seed in the West at 34

 

Karl Malone led the Jazz to the Finals at 34

 

Technology and athletes are much today right? As the younger generation likes to pour down our throat?  . So what is LeBron's excuse that he can't even lead the Lakers to an 8th seed? Don't give me team around him either, something LeBron fans love to do. I am just talking making a lowly 8th seed, not a Championship or anything. The Clippers and Kings have a better record than the Lakers and their rosters are nothing to brag about. 

No offense meant here at all.   I understand the "legacy" thing is one of sports talk's favorite subjects.

 

It just drives me nuts.   LeBron is the best player of his era.   Jordon was the best player of his era (or ever in my opinion).  

[2006Coltsbestever]

Just now, Myles said:

No offense meant here at all.   I understand the "legacy" thing is one of sports talk's favorite subjects.

 

It just drives me nuts.   LeBron is the best player of his era.   Jordon was the best player of his era (or ever in my opinion).  

I agree LeBron is the best player of his era and so was Jordan in his era = 90's. Also Magic was too in the 80's and he had Bird to deal with, Kareem was as well in the 70's. The "legacy" thing is more of being compared to the all-time greats. 

[BleedBlu8792]

4 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

I think LeBron is definitely a great player and has been the best player this past decade. This is coming from a guy who doesn't even like him. Having said that, all this GOAT talk and ESPN media saying he is either the GOAT or the 2nd best player ever is pure poppycock. I understand it is all opinion but it is debatable whether or not he is a top 5 player of all-time and ESPN acts like it isn't. You know I put Jordan, Magic, and Kareem ahead of him at least. I honestly think Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird were just as great and Shaq was more dominant at his position than LeBron is at his. Shaq wasn't as skilled as Kareem was but more powerful in the paint. 

 

I would say going by this past decade the 3 best players have been:

1. LeBron

2. Durant

3. Curry

 

What makes him great? He's just a little bit bigger version of what Barkley was. However, Barkley was a pretty good mid-range shooter, had a GREAT low post game, and was a dog on defense. Lebron has none of those attributes, and Barkley was just as good with the ball in his hands and could drive as good as Lebron without having to run over people in the process. I'd take Barkley EVERY day of the week in his prime over a prime Lebron. 

 

2 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

I agree LeBron is the best player of his era and so was Jordan in his era = 90's. Also Magic was too in the 80's and he had Bird to deal with, Kareem was as well in the 70's. The "legacy" thing is more of being compared to the all-time greats. 

 

As much as I hate Kobe, and he was a huge part of this era with Lebron, Kobe is the better player.

[BleedBlu8792]

4 hours ago, crazycolt1 said:

Lebron is a great player no doubt and has been since he entered the league.

Lebron's problem is he is not a team player and wherever he has played he was given too much control and power. GMs and coaches have let him take control of their teams. Even the NBA front office has given him control like him picking players for an all star game.

The league office don't care because it's all a money thing to them.

The NBA has become a joke and part of it is letting players like Lebron run the show.

 

I'll ask the same question, what makes him great as a player?

[2006Coltsbestever]

1 hour ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

What makes him great? He's just a little bit bigger version of what Barkley was. However, Barkley was a pretty good mid-range shooter, had a GREAT low post game, and was a dog on defense. Lebron has none of those attributes, and Barkley was just as good with the ball in his hands and could drive as good as Lebron without having to run over people in the process. I'd take Barkley EVERY day of the week in his prime over a prime Lebron. 

 

 

As much as I hate Kobe, and he was a huge part of this era with Lebron, Kobe is the better player.

Yeah I was breaking it down by decades. From 2000-2009, that particular decade Kobe was better I agree there. Several people feel like you do actually when I read comments on other sites from fans = LeBron is far from the GOAT. Some feel like LeBron isn't even top 5 of all-time and he just gets the nod from media people over some others because he's playing now.

 

My Pops is 67 years old and thinks it is debatable whether or not LeBron is even in the top 10. He has Wilt #2 all-time actually only behind Jordan. He says Wilt could dominate today. Like me he thinks the 80's was the best decade for basketball and thinks Magic, Kareem and Bird all were better than LeBron. He even thinks Moses Malone has an argument to being better. He also told me if he was starting a team he would take Shaq or Duncan over LeBron as well. Just giving some insight from someone that has seen all the era's live. He doesn't like Kobe Bryant but respects his game because he wasn't soft.

[aaron11]

1 hour ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

I'll ask the same question, what makes him great as a player?

hes a very good passer, probably great tbh, and he is also very good at driving to the basket

 

those two skills go well together making it hard to stop him or his team if he has the right guys around him.  he is a great fit for this modern nba, by drawing the defense and then kicking it out to a shooter.  if you dont commit to guarding the basket then he will score on the drive, if you do then a shooter gets an open look

 

i agree that he would not have been as good in the past, but the same is true for a lot of those guys today

[BleedBlu8792]

1 minute ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

Yeah I was breaking it down by decades. From 2000-2009, that particular decade Kobe was better I agree there. Several people feel like you do actually when I read comments on other sites from fans = LeBron is far from the GOAT. Some feel like LeBron isn't even top 5 of all-time and just gets the nod over some others because he's playing now.

 

My Pops is 67 years old and thinks it is debatable whether or not LeBron is even in the top 10. He has Wilt #2 all-time actually only behind Jordan. Like me he thinks the 80's was the best decade for basketball and thinks Magic, Kareem and Bird all were better than LeBron. He even thinks Moses Malone has an argument to being better. He also told me if we was starting a team he would take Shaq or Duncan over LeBron as well. Just giving some insight from someone that has seen all the era's live. He doesn't like Kobe Bryant but respects his game because he wasn't soft.

 

Your dad sees it, as do most of the old-heads. I just don't get how anyone over 30 can be enamored with Lebron. We've already seen a guy comparable to him (Barkley) play, and do it WAY better, AND in an era where defense was actually played. All of these older greats would tear this league apart with the way defense is played. 

[2006Coltsbestever]

2 minutes ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

Your dad sees it, as do most of the old-heads. I just don't get how anyone over 30 can be enamored with Lebron. We've already seen a guy comparable to him (Barkley) play, and do it WAY better, AND in an era where defense was actually played. All of these older greats would tear this league apart with the way defense is played. 

Karl Malone is similar to LeBron as well but wasn't soft either. He just doesn't get mentioned in any GOAT convo because he never won a ring. He lost to Jordan twice is why though. Malone could've did what LeBron did and left Utah and joined Chicago. Get some cheap rings like LeBron did with Miami but Malone wasn't about that when he was in his prime. I do not count the end of his career when he was 40 joining the Lakers, that is different. He was a shell of himself then.

[2006Coltsbestever]

9 minutes ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

Your dad sees it, as do most of the old-heads. I just don't get how anyone over 30 can be enamored with Lebron. We've already seen a guy comparable to him (Barkley) play, and do it WAY better, AND in an era where defense was actually played. All of these older greats would tear this league apart with the way defense is played. 

To your point, most people over 45 (I am 47 so I remember some of the 70's too) see it but anyone that is younger than 35 really can't grasp 80's Basketball, they were too young to remember it.

[Myles]

It's all about the time in which they played.    LeBron is the best of his era.    Barkley wasn't the best of his.  

[BleedBlu8792]

3 minutes ago, aaron11 said:

hes a very good passer, probably great tbh, and he is also very good at driving to the basket

 

those two skills go well together making it hard to stop him or his team if he has the right guys around him.  he is a great fit for this modern nba, by drawing the defense and then kicking it out to a shooter.  if you dont commit to guarding the basket then he will score on the drive, if you do then a shooter gets an open look

 

i agree that he would not have been as good in the past, but the same is true for a lot of those guys today

 

He is good at passing...

 

He's, also, good at lowering his shoulder and just plowing through guys, and he rarely is called for it. The league has let him get by with it for YEARS and still does.

 

He has no business deferring as much as he does. He never developed anything beyond being just extremely athletic. Again, no consistent mid range shot, and no low post game, which is absolute blasphemy for a guy his size especially now that he's starting to slow down. He could have been one of the most dominant basketball players EVER, but he never continued to develop outside of just being more athletic than the guys that were guarding him. 

[BleedBlu8792]

7 minutes ago, Myles said:

It's all about the time in which they played.    LeBron is the best of his era.    Barkley wasn't the best of his.  

 

That's not saying a lot for Lebron, and again, I'd still say Kobe was better as he was largely apart of his era. Even in the last 5 -7 years, I'd say Durant has been the better all around player. 

 

I don't think it needs to be explained why Barkley wasn't the best in his, but he was routinely in the top-5/10 in his prime. 

[BleedBlu8792]

29 minutes ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

Karl Malone is similar to LeBron as well but wasn't soft either. He just doesn't get mentioned in any GOAT convo because he never won a ring. He lost to Jordan twice is why though. Malone could've did what LeBron did and left Utah and joined Chicago. Get some cheap rings like LeBron did with Miami but Malone wasn't about that when he was in his prime. I do not count the end of his career when he was 40 joining the Lakers, that is different. He was a shell of himself then.

 

Malone had a great skill-set as he was lethal at 15' and in, and would punish you on the block. I don't think he was as athletic as Lebron and Barkley were in terms of getting up the court as quickly as they could, but he could definitely move for his size. 

 

You have to count what he and Payton did as far as going to LA to chase a ring. I hate to say it, but I'm glad they failed as that would have diminished the value of it in my opinion. There are a lot of guys I wish could have ended with a ring, our very own 90's Pacer teams especially, but I wasn't in favor of guys jumping ship and trying to get a ring like that. Especially not now, and that's a huge reason why the NBA isn't a very good product right now. 

[crazycolt1]

42 minutes ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

That's not saying a lot for Lebron, and again, I'd still say Kobe was better as he was largely apart of his era. Even in the last 5 -7 years, I'd say Durant has been the better all around player. 

 

I don't think it needs to be explained why Barkley wasn't the best in his, but he was routinely in the top-5/10 in his prime. 

You have spent a few paragraphs telling us how Lebron wasn't a good player but yet when you look at his records in the NBA it reads like an encyclopedia. There is a huge list of records he does own and no player ever gets those type of records and numbers by not being a great player.

I do agree he hasn't been a great team player but as a player he has been fantastic no matter my personal feeling about him.

[Myles]

1 hour ago, BleedBlu8792 said:

 

That's not saying a lot for Lebron, and again, I'd still say Kobe was better as he was largely apart of his era.

I never put Kobe up as one of the best of all time.    If comparing him in the same era, LeBron has the advantage in every category except FT %.

 

 

[aaron11]

i wont argue against him getting away with a lot of fouls, we all know he does but so do most great players.  heck reggie miller got away with a lot that would be called today too, or it least its supposed to 

[2006Coltsbestever]

7 hours ago, Myles said:

I never put Kobe up as one of the best of all time.    If comparing him in the same era, LeBron has the advantage in every category except FT %.

 

 

Hate or him not, Kobe Bryant is a top 10 player of all-time. He is the 3rd all-time leading scorer in NBA history and has 5 Championships. He won 2 Championships without Shaq so he proved he could win without Shaq. Regarding LeBron, he is top 10 all-time too IMO but not sure where to rank him? As I have stated I do not have either above Jordan, Magic, or Kareem. Also on pure dominance alone, Wilt and Shaq were the 2 most dominant forces of all-time regarding the paint area. Kareem was just more skilled than those 2 and had range because of his Skyhook, he shot FT's much better than those 2 as well. Kareem is also the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. One key reason why Magic has to be top 3 is because he faced an equal in Bird in his era and got the better of Bird's teams 5-3 in Championships.

[2006Coltsbestever]

1 hour ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

Hate or him not, Kobe Bryant is a top 10 player of all-time. He is the 3rd all-time leading scorer in NBA history and has 5 Championships. He won 2 Championships without Shaq so he proved he could win without Shaq. Regarding LeBron, he is top 10 all-time too IMO but not sure where to rank him? As I have stated I do not have either above Jordan, Magic, or Kareem. Also on pure dominance alone, Wilt and Shaq were the 2 most dominant forces of all-time regarding the paint area. Kareem was just more skilled than those 2 and had range because of his Skyhook, he shot FT's much better than those 2 as well. Kareem is also the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. One key reason why Magic has to be top 3 is because he faced an equal in Bird in his era and got the better of Bird's teams 5-3 in Championships.

To add to this, I can see putting LeBron as high as 4th all-time (I can buy that to be fair) or but as low as 10th all-time to be honest. He is a great player and is an athletic beast but very tough to rank all-time because of the way he jumped ship to go to Miami and join Wade and Bosh to win guaranteed rings. Durant is another one that is tough to rank because of him joining the Warriors the way he did. I didn't like what either player did. Another reason why Kobe needs to be respected, he played all 20 seasons in LA. Magic spent his whole career in LA as well, and Bird did the same in Boston. Regarding Kareem, he did not jump ship from Milwaukee, he was traded to LA. 

 

Bill Russell despite his Offensive deficiencies has to be top 10 as well because he was on 11 winning Championship teams and was the best player on those teams. He is also regarded as the greatest defensive Center of all-time. To me he wasn't a better player than Kareem, Wilt, or Shaq but he was the greatest winner in this sport.

[oldunclemark]

up 49-42 at the half over the Bulls but we look a step slow

 

..the 2nd team struggling to score and rebound without Sabonis

[oldunclemark]

67-62 late 3rd

 

..but we do not look good at all...This is going to be close all the way

[oldunclemark]

77-75 after 3 Q

 

Robin Lopez has 18 for the Bulls . I didnt know he was still in the NBA

 

Myles is 2-for-10 but with nine rebounds and seven blocks

[oldunclemark]

105-96 win..not our best work..but were 42-23....with 17 games left..

Here's Myles' line: 10 points, 11 rebounds, 7 blocks

 

Bogdonavic with a 'quiet' 27

Collison with an even 'quieter' 22

 

76ers 114, Orlando 106....They are 41-23

 

[2006Coltsbestever]

14 minutes ago, oldunclemark said:

105-96 win..not our best work..but were 42-23....with 17 games left..

Here's Myles' line: 10 points, 11 rebounds, 7 blocks

 

Bogdonavic with a 'quiet' 27

Collison with an even 'quieter' 22

 

76ers 114, Orlando 106....They are 41-23

 

Much needed win, Turner chipped in with 10 Points but had 7 Blocks and 10 Rebounds.