The off-season for the Pacers was one of excitement and promise. Coming off a hard fought series against the Miami Heat in the 2012 playoffs, it seemed as if the Pacers were primed to take the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference and make another run deep into the post season.
Last summer, Indiana was able to re-sign 7’2” free agent center, Roy Hibbert, while also agreeing to a five-year deal with guard, and Indianapolis native, George Hill.
All five starters were back for the 2012-2013 season and the bench had been upgraded by acquiring veterans like DJ Augustin and Ian Mahinmi, while picking up rookies Orlando Johnson and Miles Plumlee in the draft. The new season couldn’t start fast enough for this improved Pacers team and their fans. But just as the pre season ended, it became known that the Pacers would be without their front man, Danny Granger. The Pacers announced in a press release that Granger, who has averaged 18.2 points a game as a Pacer, had received an injection to treat patellar tendinosis and would be sidelined for three months.
After losing their leading man, the Pacers started the season 8-8 in the first month with brutal losses to the Bobcats, Raptors, and the Hawks. The only player living up to expectations was veteran, David West, who is averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds a game. The bench seemed more like a downgrade than an upgrade, Roy Hibbert wasn’t producing numbers equivalent to his new contract and Danny Granger was far, far, far away from returning. Doubt started to creep in and the media was already counting them out. Were the Pacers nothing without Danny Granger? Will Paul George ever reach his potential? Was last year’s success merely a product of the lockout-shortened season?
Hovering on the brink of a .500 season and losing sight of top seed playoff hopes the Pacers had an eye opening loss against the Golden State Warriors in which Paul George was held scoreless. Scoreless. Seemingly just as disgusted as the fans, George returned to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, directly from the team plane, and put up 500 shots in the gym. Something changed for Paul George that late night in the Fieldhouse. Since that scoreless game at Golden State, PG has scored in double figures 30 times and has recorded 12 double doubles.
Riding the wave of Paul George’s emergence the Pacers team we had expected from the beginning of the season was finally starting to appear. George found his place on the court, Lance Stephenson became the player that Larry Bird always said he would be, and the bench proved to be the spark and defensive presence the Pacers needed.
Two wins against the Chicago Bulls. Two wins against the Miami Heat. A buzzer beater against the Lakers. And 15 straight wins at home.
It’s been an exciting streak, but most importantly, they’ve done it with defense and team basketball; and maybe even a chip on their shoulder.
Even after beating Miami twice at home this season and winning back to back to back games after an unwelcomed schedule change, the media still writes the Pacers off in the playoffs. Constant talk still dismisses their “lack of a superstar” team. The Pacers are starting to feel as if they have been pinned with the underdog role. But then again, seeing the way Paul George made his mid-season rebound and All-star surge, maybe they like it that way.
The Pacers are riding a 5 game win streak heading into Friday night’s match up against the Raptors. They sit at the top of the Central Division and they’re only 1.5 games behind the Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Did I mention they’ve beaten the Heat twice?
The Pacers have all the right ingredients and are peaking at the right time. They play defense and they play for each other.
It’s time to fill the Fieldhouse and support this Pacers team.
Paul George is here, Danny Granger is coming soon, and the Pacers are back.
-Whitney Medworth @its_whitney
No comments:
Post a Comment