Posted:
#1
Not sure where this line comes from.
My only guess is public perception after "the trade."
From top to bottom, the Pacers outclass the Nets.
I do see Indiana really striving for a win here as 7-0 will be the best start of any Pacer team in their history. And with good reason. George is becoming a star. Hibbert is a defensive stalwart in the middle averaging almost 5! blocks a game. The bench is solid and their is an abundance of riches in West and Hill who can make up for any shortcomings from George and Hibbert.
One con on the Pacers: they've only beat one playoff team from the last year in the Bulls.
One pro in the bad teams the Pacers have beaten (Magic, Pelicans, Cavs, Pistons and Raptors): they are winning by an average of almost double digits per win (9 per victory). That's what elite teams do when they can't play other elite teams night after night.
The Nets on the other hand have been losing to some of those very same mediocre teams: Cavs and Wizards by 4 and to the Magic by almost 20!.
Don't be dissuaded by the fact this Nets team beat the Heat on national TV (another driver of this short opening line in favor of the Nets). They barely held onto a 10 point lead with under 2 minutes winning by 1 because Bosh couldn't miss a FT and blew a 11 point lead to the Wiz last night.
They can't hold leads and are losing to very mediocre teams. Why? The turnover in the roster and a new coaching staff. We see the same issues in Denver, a team that is inferior but experiencing the same problems and is mired in lottery-land with the Nets.
Worse, Paul Pierce almost put up a goose egg in the scoring column last night for the first time since 1999!. Clearly older and less versatile with his Boston counterpart, he is not the same player as last year on both sides of the ball.
And speaking of KG, he's averaging 6 pts and 6 rebounds through 5 games. He plans on playing tonight and let me tell you, I don't know if that's a good thing given the plans to sit him in the second of back to backs that was announced at the beginning of the season.
Deron Williams? He looks as lifeless and listless as everyone else really starting to see his first consistent action after being sidelined the entire preseason.
The result? The Nets look like what KG called them last night on the record: pure crap.
The Pacers look like the best team in the league.
The Nets will get better but as stated, there is a learning curve here for the coaching staff and roster. You can't lean on a guy like Brook Lopez night after night. He's not that guy to lean on.
Don't worry about the public support or the line movement against the Pacers.
Take the better team. Take the hotter team. Take the team who will be standing in the Eastern Conference Final instead of the one that will be watching them from home. The Nets will be able to beat the Pacers at home at some point. Game 7 is not the time to bet on that.
Short line. B2B's for both teams canceling out. I can assure you, the crowd heading out to Barclay's tonight is prepared for one thing, and I'm putting my money on it.
The Pick:
PACERS (Pick'em)
My only guess is public perception after "the trade."
From top to bottom, the Pacers outclass the Nets.
I do see Indiana really striving for a win here as 7-0 will be the best start of any Pacer team in their history. And with good reason. George is becoming a star. Hibbert is a defensive stalwart in the middle averaging almost 5! blocks a game. The bench is solid and their is an abundance of riches in West and Hill who can make up for any shortcomings from George and Hibbert.
One con on the Pacers: they've only beat one playoff team from the last year in the Bulls.
One pro in the bad teams the Pacers have beaten (Magic, Pelicans, Cavs, Pistons and Raptors): they are winning by an average of almost double digits per win (9 per victory). That's what elite teams do when they can't play other elite teams night after night.
The Nets on the other hand have been losing to some of those very same mediocre teams: Cavs and Wizards by 4 and to the Magic by almost 20!.
Don't be dissuaded by the fact this Nets team beat the Heat on national TV (another driver of this short opening line in favor of the Nets). They barely held onto a 10 point lead with under 2 minutes winning by 1 because Bosh couldn't miss a FT and blew a 11 point lead to the Wiz last night.
They can't hold leads and are losing to very mediocre teams. Why? The turnover in the roster and a new coaching staff. We see the same issues in Denver, a team that is inferior but experiencing the same problems and is mired in lottery-land with the Nets.
Worse, Paul Pierce almost put up a goose egg in the scoring column last night for the first time since 1999!. Clearly older and less versatile with his Boston counterpart, he is not the same player as last year on both sides of the ball.
And speaking of KG, he's averaging 6 pts and 6 rebounds through 5 games. He plans on playing tonight and let me tell you, I don't know if that's a good thing given the plans to sit him in the second of back to backs that was announced at the beginning of the season.
Deron Williams? He looks as lifeless and listless as everyone else really starting to see his first consistent action after being sidelined the entire preseason.
The result? The Nets look like what KG called them last night on the record: pure crap.
The Pacers look like the best team in the league.
The Nets will get better but as stated, there is a learning curve here for the coaching staff and roster. You can't lean on a guy like Brook Lopez night after night. He's not that guy to lean on.
Don't worry about the public support or the line movement against the Pacers.
Take the better team. Take the hotter team. Take the team who will be standing in the Eastern Conference Final instead of the one that will be watching them from home. The Nets will be able to beat the Pacers at home at some point. Game 7 is not the time to bet on that.
Short line. B2B's for both teams canceling out. I can assure you, the crowd heading out to Barclay's tonight is prepared for one thing, and I'm putting my money on it.
The Pick:
PACERS (Pick'em)
0
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