The Indiana Pacers have been the best of the Eastern Conference for the whole season, but that has all come crashing down this past month. Indiana’s loss Sunday agains the Hawks summed up their March/April in a nutshell; a 107-88 loss and only mustering 23 points in the first half. Where did it all go wrong?
Are the Hawks Tanking Out of the Playoffs?
EASTERN
W
L
PCT
GB
HOME
ROAD
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
DIFF
STRK
L10
1
y - Miami
53
23
.697
-
31-7
22-16
12-2
33-14
103.0
97.3
+5.7
Won 1
7-3
2
y - Indiana
53
25
.679
1
34-6
19-19
11-4
36-13
96.7
92.2
+4.5
Lost 2
3-7
(Courtesy of ESPN)
The Pacer’s disarray goes way beyond last night’s debacle, but if they do not right the ship soon the matchup with the Miami Heat we have penciled in for months will be no more. The Pacers are 9-12 since the start of March and have dropped to one game back of the Heat for the East’s coveted No. 1 seed.
Last night only worsens the Pacers confidence and morale largely due to the disappearance of Roy Hibbert and Paul George. Hibbert was even benched in Sunday’s loss due to being largely ineffective and a terrible attitude in the game and during timeouts. Hibbert told the media “I got nothing to say” after the game and head coach Frank Vogel said it was a a glorified night off for Hibbert, who he planned on giving a night off in the near future anyway.
The Pacers have four games remaining to the Heat’s six as they sit one game behind the defending champions for the No. 1 seed. The Pacers were highly touted as the team that could end the Heat’s reign as champions, but needed to have home court to do it. At this rate the Pacers should still make it to the East Finals due to the mediocrity of the rest of the East, but once they do get to Miami they have to play miles better than they have played the past month.
Can the Pacers return to form in time to challenge the Heat? Tell us @SportsWN
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