Pacers, Championship, Reason?

 

So there’s this new franchise in the NBA that has be getting overwhelming praise night in and night out for their always underdog mentality when they step foot on the court. This team happens to be the new and improved Eastern Conference runner up Indiana Pacers. These guys have been respectively one of the most exciting teams in the NBA this season by their hard work and hunger every time they lace up their sneaks to get out there. The play of their star Paul George and his teammate Lance Stephenson could be key to if they can overcome the Miami Heat if they meet in the playoffs, again! If you don’t remember they fell short one game of playing in the Finals for the first time since the ‘1999-2000’ basketball season.  ( http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/ )

 

 

Their x-factor Lance Stephenson has been so much of a help this season for his team. This year has been an most improved type of year with him averaging 14.1 pts., 7.2 Rpg., and 5.2 apg for them. For him himself, that’s almost 6 more points than he averaged last season, almost 4 more rebounds than last year and 3 more assists than he did( http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4244/lance-stephenson ) . That’s great for a player that had to pick up for a bruised up Danny Granger this season and last. He will be a big key this year in the playoffs because I think in order for them to beat Miami he has to play even better than he already has which will be very impressive if he does! When I say that I’m not talking one good game and two bad games, I’m talking good games every time they touch the floor. Their star Paul George pretty much will step up but Lance will be the definite key to their success throughout the rest of the season.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTvHW-KJzW8&feature=player_embedded

Now, when I watch basketball I fall in love with teams that play with swag and have a win or go home mentality. This team seems to be the perfect squad to watch when wanting to see flashy, underdog, great team basketball.  It’s great to see that these guys are up to the challenge on facing the heat because if these two teams don’t face off, sad to say it’ll be a easy road in the conference finals against anybody else in the Eastern Conference.  I can’t tell the future like Ms.Cleo but I’m pretty sure these teams will rumble in the ring when they come face to face which has become a racing rivalry. Expect a hard fought fight this year with many blood sweat tears and whoever comes off on top will actually win it all this year.

 

There’s A New Threat in Town

My blog topic consists of why the defending NBA champions Miami Heat could possibly have trouble with the upcoming Indiana Pacers in this year’s playoffs.  Last year in the Eastern Conference Finals the Pacers lost their chance of making the championship by being defeated. It was a hard fought series all the way through, ending in seven games. As of today, the Indiana Pacers have a 2 ½ game lead on Miami in the east which surprises a lot of critics to start this crazy year of hoops off.  Now, with the addition of Andrew Bynum how much more of a threat could these thrilling pacers is to the two time defending champs? (there should be a link here)

 So many of Indiana’s players have been on an amazing tear this year on the stat sheet.  Their star player Paul George has made a dramatic name for his self this year being a defensive presence and also and great offensive threat. Also, his sidekick Lance Stephenson is having a most improved player of the year type of season making highlights and recording the most triple doubles this season.  Roy Hibbert & David West are still being consistent year after year by holding the paint down and steadily being one of the best front courts in the league. My honest opinion is that George Hill will be key if the Indiana Pacers want to make it, he’s been the somewhat weakness but he still does great which might be just enough to slide past the heat in the playoffs. This new rivalry has been the talk of the league lately and by June we shall know who really will take control of the eastern conference!