After showing well in last year’s playoff series against the Chicago Bulls, expectations were high for the Indiana Pacers entering the 2012 NBA Season. Especially after trading for George Hill and signing All Star David West in the off-season. Basketball prognosticators predicted a repeat playoff appearance for the Pacers, with some even suggesting home-court advantage in the opening round (given to the Top 4 seeds in each conference). Fans who suffered through six mostly miserable seasons prior to this year wondered if maybe all they hype was too much, too soon. Turns out those fears were unfounded, as the 12-5 Pacers have outperformed even the loftiest of expectations.
Fresh off a 95-90 victory over the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Bulls, Indiana currently sits second in the Central Division (behind the Bulls), and holds the #3 seed in the East. Tonight they will attempt to do something many thought impossible to begin the year — beat the Boston Celtics three consecutive times. In their last meeting the Pacers clearly out-classed the Celtics, who looked old and inferior on their way to a 14 point loss. That came on the heels of a 13-point Boston loss in the first meeting of the season, setting the stage for tonight’s much anticipated contest at TD Garden in Boston.
The Pacers have gotten it done with tough defense, and very balanced scoring — seven Indiana players are averaging at least 9.5 points per game, led by Danny Granger’s 16.5. Roy Hibbert is second on the team in scoring at a 14 point a game clip, and is the Pacers top rebounder and blocked shot man. Most importantly, he’s consistently done all three every game, something that plagued him in past years. The group has been more than adequately led by Frank Vogel, who has relentlessly preached sharing the basketball, which is beginning to pay dividends.
While it’s still too early to call the Indiana Pacers part of the NBA elite, there’s no deny that they are closing in on that designation. And a third win over the Boston Celtics tonight will inch them even closer.
Whats Your Verdict?