Indiana Pacers Need to be Concerned
Mar 7, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been a bit since I’ve posted around here because I’ve been trying to collect the thoughts on this slump of the Indiana Pacers. To me, it’s much more than the past three games, and these last two games have just been the evidence of what’s been going on. You can look at the stats and see that the Pacers have won 11 games since the start of February. Remember when this team had 15 wins in the month of November? To me, that’s something to be concerned about.
On the plus side of things, the Pacers have clinched a playoff spot. I think that was going to be expected soon enough. They will win their division by a comfortable margin. That’s another goal for the team, and one that I am glad they’re able to achieve.
How about the top seed in the Eastern Conference? There was plenty of talk about that, and right now, I don’t know if I can see the Pacers closing out the season as that top seed. If they don’t win that top seed, I would be highly concerned about the mentality of this team. Especially if they’re able to run the table and end right back in the Eastern Conference Finals. Going into that part of the playoffs as the two seed just wouldn’t sit well with the team.
Then again, maybe they are just better in the “underdog” role. Right now, the Pacers are having a tough time beating the lower quality opponents. You can see all you want that it’s not the playoffs, but you want to be playing your best going into that. At least, that’s my mindset.
Sure, come playoff time, if the Pacers go out and dominate throughout it, then this small slump won’t matter. But right now, it does matter. If it didn’t matter, guys wouldn’t be holding meetings after games and talking about how they need to turn it around. They could be like the Heat and just coast through the season and flip the switch.
But I don’t know if the Pacers can do that themselves. They seem to be that team that needs to come out with focus from the start. Just the past two games show what happens if you let up at all. That game against Charlotte might as well been over at the start with only putting up 8 points in a quarter.
Against Houston, a third quarter spelled doom for the Indiana Pacers, which is a quarter they’ve been so good at.
20 games left to get that mojo working again that was evident in the first part of the season. It’s only 20 games is how I would look at it. 20 games to earn that top seed in the Eastern Conference and achieve those team goals you set out to achieve.
20 games left to show the Eastern Conference that you’re ready to roll for the playoffs. Only 20 games left is the mindset. Time to be concerned.