Indiana Pacers: Schedule Indicates Difficult Stretches
By Shane Young
April 12 – 15: Lay To Rest, Season
Apr. 12 — vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Scotty Brooks, you’ve allowed Durant and Westbrook to play all the way until the final day of the regular season in the past (last year)! This is exactly what professional sports needs for the sake of the fans, league’s reputation, and those that spend hard-earned money to come out to see the greatest athletes on the planet.
But, is it worth it? While the Pacers will be willing to give an arm and leg for victories in April to crawl toward the East playoffs, wouldn’t it be wise to rest your centerpieces to avoid the risks?
Apr. 14 — vs. Washington Wizards
There’s not one team in the league that wants bigger revenge and sweeter payback on the Pacers than these Washington Wizards. For crying out loud, their newest addition (Paul Pierce) became The False Equivalence when facing Indiana last season. Pierce’s Nets were swept from under the rug in the regular season, 4-0, by the Pacers as he rarely showed up in the meetings.
Just as Washington carved their path further through the East than they’ve been in years, who stopped them in their tracks? Well, during Game 6 in Washington, only one half of the duo is still there for Indiana. Paul George and David West came through with tough bucket after bucket from everywhere on the floor to close out that series. Now, everyone is fearful there’s no defensive answer to put on Bradley Beal or Pierce himself.
Remember, George was the one that had to switch over defensively and guard Beal throughout the series, as Stephenson couldn’t hold his own on moving shooters. George believes Rodney Stuckey has the same mentality on defense as any Pacer should, so they’re putting all their chips on him for stopping shooters and penetrators.
More fear injected.
Apr. 15 — at Memphis Grizzlies
Closing out the season, this may indeed be the worst matchup the Pacers could’ve drawn. Similar to every other Western Conference opponent, the Grizzlies fought Indiana to a 1-1 split, with each team winning on their home floors.
Where this changes complexion, however, is the placement of Memphis in the West’s playoff hunt.
Barring any drastic changes, it’s believed David Joerger will still have the grit-and-grind in the postseason, but this time hanging on for a better seed than last year. It still baffles me to see people undercutting this team that still had one of the best second halves of the year when they proved to be fully healthy. Losing Marc Gasol for 23 games, Memphis feels as if they could’ve flirted with homecourt advantage (top four seed) in the West if he’d been there. Instead, they fought all the way to the end of the year.
Getting any type of series-clinching game at Fed-Ex Forum means everything for these bears, and Vince Carter is the sixth man to help rise that win total more towards 60 than their previous 50.
In the only matchup in Memphis last season, the Pacers were held to a season-low 71 points. This isn’t the stiffest defense in the West for no reason. And, unfortunately for Vogel, they play their hearts out until the final buzzer of the season.
Clear the bench, and give the youngsters playing time. The long walk into the offseason will be worth it though, Pacers’ optimists. This will just be one lost season before they re-surge and make up for the tarnished resumé.
Total opponent Win/Loss for stretch: 154-92 (.626)