Indiana Pacers Give you Reasons to Root
By Paul Ward
Mar. 30, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) drives to the basket between Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and forward Luis Scola (14) in the first quarter at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Roy Hibbert took charge and drove the Indiana Pacers to a win over the Phoenix Suns last night getting them one game closer to clinching the Central Division of the NBA Eastern Conference.
With the NBA playoffs right around the corner most fans already know if their team is in or out. For those hanging on to the last threads of hope, they will know with certainty very soon. Many fans are now left wondering who to cheer for since their team is out of the picture. One team worth rooting for is the Indiana Pacers.
Why are the Pacers worth rooting for? There are several reasons. First is that they’re not the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat may not be the most hated team in the NBA, but there are plenty of people who most definitely don’t like them.
Unlike the Miami Heat, there were no players trying to join forces to build a super-team. The Indiana Pacers don’t really have anyone on their roster that many would consider a superstar. They have several players that are good solid players, but have gone relatively unnoticed.
Unlike the Miami Heat no one is contending for an Oscar. Last year Le Bron James won the NBA MVP. David Stern, the NBA commissioner, likened the MVP to an Oscar. He was implying that that Le Bron James takes a lot of dives, which he does.
Another reason to cheer on the Indiana Pacers is because they’re actually a good team. If the mantra, “defense wins championships” is true, then the Pacers are in great shape. They have the best Defensive Rating in the NBA and the are the number one team in rebounds. This means that they’re playing championship level basketball better than any other team.
The Pacers also have a great group of individual players. The big name for some time now has been Danny Granger. Granger, however, isn’t even a factor right now due to injury. They’ve had several guys step up to the plate and show their real talent and ability to play as a team. Players like Paul George, David West, George Hill, Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert have shown what they’re really made of. They’re not only stopping the other team with their defense, they’re pulling out clutch shots and closing out games.
The final reason, for now, is their coach. Frank Vogle is still somewhat new as a head coach. He just recently reached his 100th win. He has a lot of experience in the NBA in other roles including an assistant under Rick Pitino for the Boston Celtics. He also is an honest coach. He was fined last year for speaking his mind and speaking honestly about the way the officials treat the players of the Miami Heat. Players have often spoke of how positive he is and how he motivates them to believe they are able to win any game. He’s the kind of coach that the midwest loves.
There are many more reasons than these to cheer on the Pacers. This list at least gives a good place to start for those still searching for a team or maybe for those who need to switch sides.