Tonight begins the quest to live up to the expectations of ....... finishing at the bottom of the worst conference in the NBA. (But mommy, wait but we have Jermaine O'Neal!)
One may ask, "Are the Pacers really going to be that bad this year?"
If anyone were to claim to know the answer to that question, they would either be lying or could honestly look in the mirror and call themself Bob Kravitz. While the expectations of this season paint a picture similar to that of Michael Vick's chances of ever playing in the NFL again, the NBA season is very long and a lot - a lot can go wrong (see 2004 Pacers season) and expectations can change immediately.
While the Pacers have yet to see the positive side of this inevitable mid-season shift in expectations that other teams (see 2004 Detriot Pistons) have seen in the past few years, there is really only one place for the luck of this team to go.
What else can go wrong? More players arrested in the offseason than free agents signed; check! NBA hero and local favorite failing as the president; check! Most storied player in franchise history publically bashing the organization in his new commentating role; check! Attendence falling to the point of pitiful; CHECK!
For a team that went to the NBA finals just six years ago, very few coin flips have landed on 'heads' for the Indiana Pacers over the past half decade. It is about time the coin starts landing on the other side. There is no better time to do this than now - when there is nothing to live up to and any positive news out of 125 S. Pennsylvania (Jermaine O'Neal on a bus out of town) just might get people back on this team's side.
Jim O'Brien has a chance to start earning the fan's respect tonight. He can do that by living up to the expectation of freeing up the offense (whatever that means), and making this team fun to watch again (a future post on that issue is coming in the future).
So, if you are one of the millions who think the Pacers do not have a chance, it is probably better if you do not watch the game tonight. Chances are, your views will be supported early in the season.
If you are like me, and realize that things change quickly in the NBA and are not ready to give up on this team, just realize we are going to have to be patient. Hopefully sometime soon Donnie and Larry can come up with a combination of players that will at least leagally count as consideration for Jermaine (as opposed to the nominal consideration they have accepted in the past 3 trades they have agreed to).
Then, we will see where this organization is heading. It will be new and and we will probably see some unfamilar faces, but I think we are all starting to realize that if we want something more than predictions of being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Jermaine O'Neal cannot be on this roster.
So, I will throw on the 'ol #7 jersey tonight (hopefully for one of the last few times) and yell at the TV, but if we are ever going to get out of this post-brawl slump, I am going to have to realize that the Ebay account needs a little refresh and a new Pacers jersey (#33 looks pretty good) might be just what the Dr. orders.
Rib's Prediction:
Pacers 104
Washington 99
