Can the Indiana Pacers now leapfrog the Miami Heat to make the playoffs after the move they made to acquire Goran Dragic?
Donahue: Maybe. Dragic is a pretty big talent that they added without giving up any current rotation players. This move should have solidified the Heat as the seventh Eastern Conference playoff team, but the disturbing news that Chris Bosh may miss the rest of the season with blood clots in his lungs is potentially crippling. This type of situation is about more than a loss of talent, it’s about real-life pain and fear. It’s an emotionally daunting experience, and it is difficult to know how it will affect a team as they are forced to deal with things more important than wins and losses.
Washburn: Before the Chris Bosh injury news came out, I thought it was incredibly unlikely. Dragic is a pretty big talent, and they added him without giving up any important rotation players. However, the possible loss of Bosh, combined with any more missed time from Dwyane Wade could be catastrophic for Miami. This could allow the Pacers to catch them. Reaching the 8-seed probably means a quick exit to a very good Hawks team. But sliding into the 7th slot could actually give them some hope, depending upon the matchup.
Furr: Probably not. It’s possible that Paul George comes back at 75%-80% strength, C.J. Miles evens out, George Hill stays healthy, and the Pacers resemble the squad they had last year — with better spacing. It’s not likely though.
Barth: That team is a whole lot better now with Hassan Whiteside emerging, Dwyane Wade coming back healthy after the break and finally adding an explosive PG in Dragic. The Chris Bosh development could changes things but it’s too early to know. There is no reason the pacers can’t catch Charlotte though.
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