<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">For the first time since 2000, when a drastically different team represented the franchise, the Indiana Pacers can look forward to the second round of the playoffs. But Sunday afternoon, after they swept Boston out of the FleetCenter, Jermaine O'Neal took a hurried moment while heading toward the team bus to peek further ahead. Much further. "It's a scary thing," he said. "It's a scary thing." Scary-good for the Pacers, who appear to have hit a sweet spot in their 37-year history. They already own the NBA's fourth-best record over the past 10 seasons, only one of which failed to produce a playoff appearance. They won a franchise-record 61 games this season and are regarded as a legitimate contender for the league championship. And, they are poised to remain a contender for several more seasons based on the play and potential of their core group of young players.</div> http://www.indystar.com/articles/0/141628-9360-036.html
More and more I feel as though the Pacers might have a chance to win it all this year. Although I know they will have a tough time with the West. Other than the Spurs they are the most consistent team on defence and offence. They are automatic and RC has to be credited for doing a fine job of turning a talented team into bonafied contenders. Ironically I see a lot of the Spurs mentality in Indiana. Call me crazy. It doesn't hurt to have the NBA's defensive player of the year either <font size="1">(regardless of the constant crying from the opposition, he's still regarded as the best...I'm just sayin....)</font>
Yeah I too think Indy is the lone Eastern conference team to pose a real threat to the West...I seriously am rooting for them to win it...I think they have the scoring, depth and defense to challenge LA, SA or Sacramento...They are playing at the top of their game and are clearly rolling and meshing as a team...
