<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There are very few things in life that are more difficult than missing the playoffs in the NBA's Eastern Conference. Like getting Courtney Love to complete the first nine steps of a 12-step program. Like convincing Mark McGwire he should share a nice, romantic dinner with Jose Canseco and his literary agent. Like getting Green Day to agree to play at Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles' upcoming nuptials. Have I made my point? If the season ended today -- and, frankly, there have been many nights recently when that has sounded like a great idea -- the Pacers would not be in the playoffs. Even with Sunday night's grinding 76-73 victory over the depleted Memphis Grizzlies -- this was as artful as a finger painting -- the one-time title contenders are currently a lottery team. And that's not a position that figures to improve dramatically with a brutal post-All-Star break schedule. But you want some good news, so here it is: Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who brought his 9-month-old daughter, Abigail, to the postgame news conference, announced his daughter had stood up for the second time. This can only mean within six months she'll be asking for a Mustang convertible. "We showed a strong will to win this game," Carlisle said.</div> Source
