NBA Franchise of the Year: Passion. Pride. Pacers.

[Flight24]

lebron hasnt been putting up huge numbers in the playoffs, you might be able to surprise them!

 

[Deviant]

Wow, the Pistons FAILED.

 

[Primetime]

Suns > Lakers
Pacers > Cavs

Suns > Pacers in 7.

Suns win first NBA title!

 

[mfbmike]

2009 NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Breakdown:

#1

vs

#2

One big story surrounds this year's Western Conference Finals, and that is the drama surrounding Kobe and Shaq, Shaq has already won a championship without Kobe but Kobe has yet to win one without Shaq. Can Kobe carry his Lakers over the Big Cactus and prove he is capable of leading the Lakers to a championship without Shaq? The Suns and Lakers posted the best records this season with 56 and 55 wins respectively and this series should be one for the ages.

Our Prediction: Lakers In 7

_________________________________________

#2

vs

#8

This year's MVP, Lebron James has his eyes set on another NBA Finals appearance while Danny Granger and the Pacers have somehow made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. James and Granger are the two most efficient players in the league right now, and the numbers say it all. Either player can go off for a triple double on any given night. The 1999 New York Knicks are still the only 8th seed to ever make it to an NBA Finals. Can the 2009 Pacers make history and become the 2nd team in NBA history to do so?

Our Prediction: Cavs In 7​

 

[mfbmike]

Pacers-Cavs: Eastern Conference Finals Breakdown And Analysis

#2

vs

#8

The Pacers have become only the 2nd team in NBA history to enter the playoffs as the #8 seed and advance to a conference finals. The 1999 Knicks did it previously and coincidentally defeated the Pacers that year to be the only #8 seed to make it to an NBA finals. The Pacers have fought off the Heat and Sixers to get where they are now, while the Cavs have outlasted both the Magic and Pistons in 7 game series. Let's take a deeper look into the series...

Granger/Lebron:

Danny Granger (28.5 PPG) and Lebron James (28.9 PPG) were the two top leading scorers in the NBA this season this will more than likely be the decisive matchup in this series. Both are small forwards who see lots of time playing the 4 as well. While Granger's scoring and rebounding numbers are right up there along Lebron's, Lebron is clearly the better passer, averaging 2 more assists per game this season. Granger will have to find a way to contain this year's MVP and keep him from wreaking havoc on the Pacers defense. On that same token, the Pacers will need big offensive perfomances out of Granger if they hope to stand a chance.

A Reunion Of Sorts For Troy And Wally:

The Pacers and Cavs agreed to a trade earlier this season exchanging forward Troy Murphy and guard/forward Wally Szczerbiak. Murphy stretches the defense for the Cavaliers offense allowing Lebron more room to do what he does inside. Wally, while inconsistent during the regular season, has proven to be a solid piece for the Pacers in their playoff run. Both of these players will look to have big games against their former teams.

Ford Playing Hurt:

While nothing is confirmed as of yet, there are rumors that T.J. Ford is nusring a strained hamstring. While the chances of him missing the series because of this injury are slim to none, you have to believe that him playing hurt is going to affect his play out there. Ford's speed is a big part of his game and if the hammy forces him to slow down a bit, the Pacers could be in trouble.

4 Matchups This Season:

The Pacers lost season series to the Cavs 1-3, losing both games at the Q in Cleveland and only winning 1 of 2 at the Conseco in Indiana.

November 7th - Pacers 110, Cavs 118
http://www.vsngaming.com/forum/showpost.php?p=67083&postcount=61

Despite Danny Granger scoring 44 in the Pacers first matchup against the Cavs this season, the Pacers faltered in the 4th and lost their 4th straight. Despite going 0-7 from beyond the arch, Lebron James still managed to pour in 28 points to go with 13 rebounds to lead Cleveland to victory.

December 5th - Pacers 109, Cavs 126
http://www.vsngaming.com/forum/showpost.php?p=82723&postcount=215

With Danny Granger out nursing an injury, the Cavs ran up the score against Indiana to jump out in front, 2-0 in the season series. Lebron only scored 19 points but Big Z and Mo Williams both scored over 20 points to help the Cavs up the battered and bruised Pacers despite Chris Wilcox falling shy of a triple double by only 1 assist.

February 10th - Pacers 110 , Cavs 117
http://www.vsngaming.com/forum/showpost.php?p=126026&postcount=543

Chris Kaman's 21/15 performance drew him a lot of double teams in the paint in this matchup. Despite a plethora of open looks, the Pacers outside shots would just not fall. Wally Szczerbiak went a dismal 3-14 (0-7 3PT). Even with 3 scorers putting up 20 points or more, the Cavs still managed to squeeze out a victory in this one, in front of the Indiana home crowd.

April 13th - Pacers 120 , Cavs 109
http://www.vsngaming.com/forum/showpost.php?p=175706&postcount=831

In the Pacers 2nd to last game of the season, Danny Granger lit up the Cavs for 40 points, to finally net the Pacers a win against the Cavs in the season series matchup. Chris Kaman also pitched in a double. Defensively, Granger was able to force Lebron into a 6-18 shooting performance to help the Pacers to victory.​

 

[Mit]

Good luck against Lebron. I think he might tear apart your defense. Let's hope not. Haha.

 

[mfbmike]

Ford To Play Through Pain

The results from an MRI on Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. Ford are in, and the starter has been diagnosed with a mild strain of his right hamstring.

Ford is day-to-day and is questionable for the team's upcoming series against Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. Ford was in practice gear on Friday, but did not participate in drills or scrimmages.

He remains hopeful that he will be available for game 1 on Sunday afternoon.

“From yesterday to today, there was a big difference," Ford said. “I was in the back during practice and was doing some exercising. I felt nothing in the back, so that was a good sign. These are the biggest games of the season for us. I can play through some slight discomfort."​

 

[mfbmike]

Update coming. issed:

 

[mfbmike]

Cavs Jump On The Pacers Out Of Half To Take Game 1

Starting Lineups:
T.J. Ford PG Mo Williams
Wally Szczerbiak SG Delonte West
Danny Granger SF Lebron James
Chris Wilcox PF Troy Murphy
Chris Kaman C Zydunas Ilgauskas

(0-0) 107

@

117 (0-0)

Danny Granger rises up for 2 of his 19 points as the Pacers fell in game 1 at the Q.

[table="head;autonumtitle=rank;width=30em"]|1|2|3|4|Final
IND|26|25|26|30|107
CLE|22|24|40|31|117[/table]

Top Performers:
[table="head;autonumtitle=rank;width=50em"]|Pts|Reb|Ast|Stl|Blk|FG-A|3PT-A|FT-A
W. Szczerbiak|21|5|3|4|0|8-22|5-14|0-0
D. Granger|19|5|3|1|1|7-18|2-5|3-4
C. Kaman|19|12|2|0|7|8-13|0-0|3-4
C. Wilcox|18|8|0|2|1|7-14|0-0|4-4
T.J. Ford|10|2|11|2|1|3-5|1-1|3-6[/table]

[table="head;autonumtitle=rank;width=50em"]|Pts|Reb|Ast|Stl|Blk|FG-A|3PT-A|FT-A
L. James|26|5|10|6|2|9-22|4-9|4-8
Z. Ilgauskas|20|11|2|3|3|10-23|0-0|0-0
M. Williams|18|1|11|1|1|7-14|2-3|2-2
D. West|17|1|7|3|0|5-10|0-1|7-9
T. Murphy|16|9|0|1|2|7-12|0-0|2-4[/table]

Player Of The Game:

Lebron James

Quote Of The Game:
"Heading into the half, it looked like this would be a grind it out, defensive paced game. They totally switched it up and got out and ran in the 3rd and we were slow to adjust resulting in them pulling away out of the half. They were much more aggressive in the 2nd half and forced us into some costly turnovers down the stretch." - Danny Granger

Next Game:

Game 2 @ Cleveland​

 

[mfbmike]

Around The League Scores:

Nash And Amare Lead Suns To Game 1 Win

115

110

PHX|24|30|30|31||115
LAL|32|24|28|26||110

S. Nash | 22 pts , 2 reb , 12 ast
A. Stoudemire | 21 pts , 8 reb , 5 blk
L. Barbosa | 16 pts , 4 reb , 2 ast

P. Gasol | 31 pts , 7 reb , 3 ast , 3 blk
K. Bryant | 19 pts , 6 reb , 9 ast , 3 stl
L. Odom | 16 pts , 6 reb , 7 ast , 2 stl​

 

[mfbmike]

Pacers Fall Behind 0-2 After Heartbreaking Overtime Loss

Starting Lineups:
T.J. Ford PG Mo Williams
Wally Szczerbiak SG Delonte West
Danny Granger SF Lebron James
Chris Wilcox PF Troy Murphy
Chris Kaman C Zydunas Ilgauskas

(0-1) 124

@

126 (1-0)

Pacers Head Coach Jim O' Brien explains the gameplan in a late overtime timeout.

[table="head;autonumtitle=rank;width=30em"]|1|2|3|4|OT|Final
IND|32|29|20|33|10|124
CLE|31|29|20|34|12|126[/table]

Top Performers:
[table="head;autonumtitle=rank;width=50em"]|Pts|Reb|Ast|Stl|Blk|FG-A|3PT-A|FT-A
D. Granger|29|5|5|2|1|11-20|5-7|2-2
C. Kaman|24|9|3|1|3|11-19|0-0|2-2
C. Wilcox|18|10|6|1|3|9-14|0-0|0-0
B. Rush|18|2|3|1|1|7-9|4-6|0-0
T.J. Ford|10|1|5|2|0|4-7|2-3|0-2[/table]

[table="head;autonumtitle=rank;width=50em"]|Pts|Reb|Ast|Stl|Blk|FG-A|3PT-A|FT-A
L. James|39|4|5|5|0|18-28|2-5|1-3
M. Williams|22|2|10|1|0|9-13|2-3|2-2
D. West|17|5|11|2|0|6-16|1-5|4-4
B. Wallace|14|11|0|1|4|7-12|0-0|0-0
Z. Ilgauskas|10|10|3|0|3|5-10|0-0|0-0[/table]

Player Of The Game:

Lebron James

Quote Of The Game:
"We played extremely hard tonight and despite the loss, I'm very proud of our guys. We can't let a loss like this demoralize us. We have to jump on the offensive when the series shifts back to Indiana and get in the win column in game 3. It's easier to fight back being down 0-2 than it is being down 0-3." - Pacers Head Coach Jim O' Brien

Next Game:

Game 3 @ Indiana​

 

[mfbmike]

Around The League Scores:

Kobe Continues To Underperform Offensively; Suns Go Up 2-0

103

102

PHX|28|29|22|24||103
LAL|25|25|30|22||102

A. Stoudemire | 23 pts , 8 reb
G. Hill | 18 pts , 6 reb , 3 ast
L. Barbosa | 16 pts , 4 reb , 2 ast

J. Farmar | 21 pts , 4 reb , 2 stl
S. Vujacic | 15 pts , 5 reb , 2 ast
K. Bryant | 15 pts , 2 reb , 8 ast , 6 stl​

 

[packersfan4eva]

tough man, you have come too far to lose

 

[LC AAU]

I saw DerMarr 2 times, and I see you lost 2 times. Uh-oh.

 

[Mit]

You better not lose this game. That would suck to try and come back from a 3 to 0 deficit (unless the series is out of 5).

 

[mike3]

tough loss in OT, it looks like both teams played a great game

 

[mfbmike]

Pacers Finally Facing Adversity In Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers entered rare territory lastnight after their overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Sure, no records were set and there weren't any wild fights to talk about, but Indiana did fall to 0-2, something they haven't done since coming into the 2009 playoffs as the eighth seed.

The Pacers lost game 1 to the Heat in the 1st round but managed to win 4 straight to eliminate them in 5. The Pacers also lost game 1 to the Sixers in the second round but managed to fend them off in 6.

But now, the Pacers are staring down the barrel of an 0-2 deficit after enduring defeat to the Cavs in the first two games of the series. Both games at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

"Team chemistry really shows when facing adversity," explained Danny Granger. "We have become a tight knit group and know we can get back into this series if we check our pride's at the door and play as a team."

Tomorrow night's game 3 scheduled at the Conseco Fieldhouse is as much of a must-win situation as it has been all season for the Pacers. The Pacers have a chance to get on the board against a surging Cavs team who have now won 5 straight games in the playoffs (Cavs came back from down 1-3 to eliminate Pistons) in front of their home crowd.

"It's do or die tonight," mentioned Chris Kaman in a post-practice interview. "We have to win tomorrow night. We've come way too far, exceeded way too many expectations, to go down without a fight. Especially with the support of the home crowd behind us for the next 2 games."​

 

[mfbmike]

Thanks. After reading over it, I thought to myself, "hmm, that came out well." lol.

short and sweet is definitely the way to go. noone wants to read fucking essays.

 

[Onez]

Thanks. After reading over it, I thought to myself, "hmm, that came out well." lol.

short and sweet is definitely the way to go. noone wants to read fucking essays.

No, we definately don't want that . Nice read

 

[Gonzo]

Good stuff. Glad to see you tryin' to bring a title to Indianapolis. Especially with that huge deficit looming over your head! haha.