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8p9s Roundtable: Pacers Fact or Fiction?

By Jared Wade

Jan 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) looks on from the bench at a timeout during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Indiana Pacers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) looks on from the bench at a timeout during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Indiana Pacers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 31, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Detailed view of the NBA Western Conference championship trophy and San Antonio Spurs finals cap after the Spurs defeated the Thunder in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. San Antonio won 112-107. Mandatory Credit: Sue Ogrocki-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /

Fact or Fiction: The Indiana Pacers can still make the playoffs?

Donahue: Technically fact — but gravitating towards fiction. Right now, the 7th and 8th seeds in the East are Miami and Charlotte, respectively. They are on track to win 35 to 36 games, and both teams seem like 35-to-40 win teams based on performance. Indiana would have to win between 20 and 24 of their final 35 games to land in that range. Winning 75% of their remaining 20 home games (15) and about one third of their remaining 14 road games (5) would put them at 36 wins. That’s not asking for miracles, but it is asking them to play better and be healthy. The 15 wins at home is probably the taller order than the 5 on the road. Hollinger’s playoff odds has them at about 16% (1 in 6) this morning, and that’s probably reasonable.

Medworth: Fact. That’s my technical answer. They’re only four games back from the 8th seed, and the teams ahead of them are Charlotte, Brooklyn, Boston, and Detroit. So yes, they can make the playoffs. Will they? I’m not so sure. The team is going to have to get healthy and stay healthy so they can get into some kind of rhythm.

Although I think it may hurt the Pacers more to make the postseason than to miss it, I think they do have a shot.

Ochoa: Fact. Making the playoffs is not out of the question. Although I think it may hurt the Pacers more to make the postseason than to miss it, I think they do have a shot. Two of the teams ahead of them in the standings just lost key players (Kemba Walker and Brandon Jennings), so I’d expect them drop some games that they normally wouldn’t. The Pacers are only three games out from being the 8 seed, with Detroit, Brooklyn, Boston and Charlotte ahead of them. If the Pacers did make the playoffs, they’d get swept by Atlanta and Kyle Korver would do a 360 windmill.

Barth: Fact. You’re never out of it in the East. Charlotte is likely to take a tumble after the big loss of Kemba Walker for six weeks, and Dwyane Wade’s hamstring issues would suggest the Heat could fall as well. The playoffs are only a reality if Vogel can get some consistency with a starting five of George Hill, Rodney Stuckey, Solomon Hill, David West and Roy Hibbert.

Summers: Fact. This is the Eastern Conference, where all dreams are possible — assuming your dream is sneaking into the playoffs with a sub-500 record and getting summarily ousted while a handful of people watch the train wreck on NBATV. Of the handful of teams lingering around the 8th spot, Detroit seems like the bet, but the post J-Smoove honeymoon seems to be wearing off and Brandon Jennings is done for the year.

Next: George Hill, MVP?

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