Pacers News

            The Pacers rallied big time Saturday night to beat the visiting Charlotte Bobcats 99-77. Indiana trailed up until the 3^rd quarter, but they finally got the lead and never looked back. In the second half the Pacers outscored the Bobcats 56-28. Six Pacers scored in double figures, with center Roy Hibbert leading all scorers with 20 points.

            Hibbert got injured in the 4^th quarter with an apparent leg injury and was replaced by Jeff Foster. Foster came in and did what he does best, play aggressively and grab rebounds. The long-time Pacer played 13 minutes, got three offensive rebounds and four defensive rebounds. Eventually Hibbert returned, but Foster did a good job of making most Pacers’ fans forget all about Hibbert’s injury.

           
            With the win against Charlotte, Indiana is now 6-2. They are second in the division (behind the Bulls) and third in the Eastern Conference (behind the Bulls and Heat). They are averaging 93 points per game (ranked 18^th in the NBA) and allowing 89 points per game (ranked 27^th in the NBA). Obviously defense is not the strength of the team. The biggest thing I notice when I watch the Pacers play is that they don’t “rotate” on defense. All a team has to do is pass the ball a few times to get our players confused and find the open guy. It also seems like the Pacers are beaten a lot by “pick and roll” plays, perhaps the most elementary of all basketball plays. Hopefully head coach Frank Vogel spends some time on shoring up the defense.

            
            The Pacers’ worst performance of the season so far was the thrashing they got from the Miami Heat. Even without Dwayne Wade, the Heat were able to score from anywhere on the court and never allowed the Pacers to score consistently. In that game, the Heat shot 52% from the field, as opposed to the Pacers shooting 35%.

            The Pacers’ best performance, in my opinion, was the Charlotte game I wrote about first. When the starting five began to struggle, the Pacers’ bench players went in and kept the game close heading into halftime. After the starters got that lead back, the bench guys not only led the lead, but increased. Indiana has to have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA.

            By the way, the Pacers current starting five are: Darren Collison, Paul George, Danny Granger, David West, and Roy Hibbert. The bench players are: George Hill, A.J. Price, Dahntay Jones, Tyler Hansbrough, and Jeff Foster. Plus Lou Amundson, Lance Stephenson, and Jeff Pendergraph.

Next seven games:

1/9- at Philadelphia 76ers (5-2)

1/11- vs. Atlanta Hawks (6-3)

1/13- vs. Toronto Raptors (3-5)

1/14- vs. Boston Celtics (4-4)

1/18- at Sacramento Kings (3-5)

1/20- at Golden State Warriors (2-6)

1/22- at L.A. Lakers (5-4)

            The Pacers currently hold the third spot in their conference, but the 76ers and Hawks are right behind them. The Blue and Gold can make a big statement to the whole league by beating these two. We already beat the Raptors and Celtics so they shouldn’t be a problem. Indiana then travels to the West Coast for the first time and should head home with at least two wins. If the Pacers can get through those games with a 4-3 record, it’ll put us in a good position to finish near the top of the conference.  

           

            One final note, there are rumors that the Pacers are interested in acquiring point guard Steve Nash. Nash is one of the best point guards in the NBA, and would be a huge weapon in the East. The price to get him would be pretty steep. It would most likely require trading away Darren Collison and perhaps Danny Granger. I could see getting rid of Granger, but there’s no way the Pacers can get rid of him and another starter.

            
            Oh wait, one more thing. Be sure to vote for the Pacers on the 2012 All-Star Ballot. You can vote here: http://www.nba.com/allstar/2012/asb/eng/landing.jsp?referrer=asb12_mainGeneral&cid=asb12_mainGeneral

My thoughts on the Colts and the 2012 Draft

Andrew Luck (#12) celebrates a victory with his teammates

             
            There hasn’t been so much hype for a quarterback since Peyton Manning, which is ironic since the team that controls Luck’s future is the same team that drafted Manning. The Indianapolis Colts have the number one pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and most are expecting them to select quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck has been outstanding at Stanford, and it’s his size, strength, and intelligence that has teams drooling over him. Luck is 6’ 4” and 235 lbs. (for comparison’s sake, Manning is 6’ 5” and 230 lbs.) and doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, but has the ability to make precise throws to anywhere on the field.  Luck is also a tremendously smart guy. He will graduate Stanford University with a degree in architecture, and that intelligence is apparent on the football field as he has only thrown 22 interceptions in three seasons.

            
            So now that you know all about Luck, I’ll let you know why I don’t believe the Colts should draft him. There are several teams that are in a way more desperate need for a quarterback than the Colts, and those teams (i.e. Dolphins, Redskins, Chiefs) are gonna be willing to pay a lot to get him.

            The Colts should trade the number one pick to one of these teams for some 2012 picks and maybe a couple of 2013 picks. Then draft a quarterback that doesn’t have the same expectations that Luck does. Pick a player such as Landry Jones, Case Keenum, Kellen Moore, or Austin Davis (QB from Southern Miss who really impressed me) that won’t want as much money or want to start on opening day. You can keep Manning and let him tutor the rookie for a year or two. Then let Manning go and start the young player.

            This is the same thing that happened in New England with Tom Brady (selected in the sixth round) and in Green Bay with Aaron Rogers (selected 24^th overall). And let’s be honest, which would you rather have? One Super Bowl win in 10 years like the Colts, or three Super Bowl wins in 10 years like the Patriots?

             

            We will most likely not know what the Colts will do until early March. On March 1^st, Manning will be evaluated by a doctor to see if he will be ready to play by the 2012 season. Then on March 8^th, the Colts either pay Manning $28 million dollars or he becomes an unrestricted free agent (meaning he can talk to and take offers from any team). If the Colts don’t pay Manning, then start saving your money for a #12 Luck jersey.  

Colts Fire Bill Polian

            There hasn’t been such a tumultuous time for the Colts since they moved to Indianapolis in 1984. In the past 72 hours, the Colts finished the 2011 season with a record of 2-14, earned the number one pick in the 2012 Draft, and fired team president Bill Polian. Looking at those three feats, it’s hard to figure out which is most significant. This is a franchise that has gone to the playoffs the past nine seasons and has won 12 or more games for seven consecutive seasons. All of that consistency and success came to a screeching halt, or perhaps a terrifying crash and burn.  

              

            Bill Polian has been a part of the Indianapolis Colts since 1997. His first move, and most infamous, was drafting Peyton Manning in the 1998 Draft. That began a relationship that Manning and Polian both treasured. It was also why Manning said he was “surprised and shocked” that Polian was fired.

             

            Polian was also involved in drafting or signing these Pro Bowl players:  Edgerrin James, Jeff Saturday, Reggie Wayne, Mike Vanderjagt, Dwight Freeney, Dallas Clark, Cato June, Bob Sanders, Robert Mathis, Antoine Bethea and Joseph Addai. Those are all great players, and Polian deserves credit for realizing their potential. His downfall came in recent drafts, where he has acquired players such as: Anthony Gonzalez, Tony Ugoh, Mike Pollak, Fili Moala, and Jerry Hughes. None of those guys have done anything to better the Colts.

            

             I wrote back in Week 10 of the NFL season that everybody in the Colts front office had failed at their job. I also did a ton of research that I had been waiting to use, and this is the perfect time for all of that. My biggest pet peeve about who the Colts draft is they NEVER get anybody from the best conferences in college football. In the six drafts since 2006, seven players came from the SEC, three from the Big 12, eight from the Big 10, and five from the Pac 12. Nobody is from Alabama, Oregon, Florida, Penn State, or Texas. Heck there’s nobody from Notre Dame!  Enough with drafting players like Pierre Garcon, Donald Brown, Joe Lefeged, and David Caldwell who played for schools that don’t have strong football programs. None of them have the talent necessary to play in the NFL.

           

             Irsay may not be done cleaning house yet. Head coach Jim Caldwell may be the next to get fired. If Caldwell goes, then there’s a good chance most of the coaching staff goes with him. Irsay has already begun the search of finding a new president. Some of the candidates for the job include: John Dorsey (Green Bay's director of college scouting), Reggie McKenzie (Green Bay’s director of football operations), Eric DeCosta (Baltimore's director of player personnel), Jason Licht (New England's director of pro personnel), and Jeff Fisher (former Tennessee Titans head coach).

             

            Whoever gets the job, they will have to make some quick decisions that will impact this team for years to come. The Colts have the first pick in every round of the 2012 Draft, and they will all need to be used to get great players.

January Bowl Games Preview

I went 9-14 in predicting December bowl games, so my New Year’s Resolution is to be a little wiser in picking games.

TicketCity Bowl

Houston Cougars (12-1) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-3)

Jan. 2, Noon

          The Cougars were one win away from playing in a BCS Bowl. That dream was smashed in the C-USA Championship game when they were soundly beaten by Southern Miss. The loss, and their fall to a lower-tier bowl, somewhat diminishes what a special year it was for their quarterback Case Keenum. Keenum broke the NCAA career records for career passing yards, career touchdown passes, and total offense. The Cougars will also have a new coach on the sideline for this game.

          Where do you start with Penn State? On the field they are one of the most sound defensive teams in the country, making up for their inability to score on offense. Off the field, the entire Penn State brand was destroyed by former coach Jerry Sandusky. It will be interesting to see if either team comes out focused and determined to win.

My pick: Penn State

Update: Houston wins 30-14

Outback Bowl

Michigan State Spartans (10-3) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (10-3)

Jan. 2, 1 p.m.

          The Spartans finished second in the Big Ten Conference after losing to Wisconsin in the Championship game. The Spartans offense ended the year on a roll, averaging 38 points a game. That offense is led by senior quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Le’Veon Bell. Their defense ranks fifth nationally, and makes them a well-rounded team.

          The Bulldogs began the season 0-2 and on the verge of destruction. Then they went on a 10-game winning streak before losing to LSU in the SEC Championship. The Bulldogs are pretty similar to the Spartans. They have a good offense that relies on quarterback Aaron Murray  and a strong defense that is ranked third nationally.

My pick: Michigan State
Update: Michigan State wins 30-27 in triple overtime

Capitol One Bowl

Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (10-2)

Jan. 2, 1 p.m.

          It has been a tale of two worlds for the Big 10’s newest member. They went from getting blown out by Wisconsin and Michigan to dominating Michigan State and Iowa. The Cornhuskers’ strength on offense is their rushing attack. Running back Rex Burkhead had 261 carries for 1268 yards and 15 touchdowns. Dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez also runs the ball a lot.

          The Gamecocks began the season with the expectation of winning their division and competing for the SEC Championship. They came awfully close to reaching that goal, and in my opinion got ripped off. They only had two conference losses and had a tougher schedule than Georgia, yet didn’t finish in first place in their division. Anyway, South Carolina’s season could have easily been derailed when their starting quarterback was kicked off the team and their starting running back got injured. The Gamecocks persevered with Connor Shaw as quarterback and won six of their last seven games. Just like the other SEC teams, they have a dominating defense that ranks seventh in the nation in yards allowed.

My pick: South Carolina

Update: South Carolina wins 30-13

Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl

Ohio State Buckeyes (6-6) vs. Florida Gators (6-6)

Jan. 2, 1 p.m.

          This is easily the biggest bowl game between teams that aren’t ranked. Both schools have rich histories and huge fan bases. This matchup was made even more interesting when Ohio State announced that Urban Meyer, the previous coach at Florida, would become head coach for the 2012 season.

          Ohio State began the season in chaos. Their head coach was fired, their starting quarterback left for the NFL, and the football program was being investigated by the NCAA. It was no surprise to see them finish the way they did. Florida began the season with a new coach and staff, and nobody expected much from them either. Both teams play good defense, and it will be up to the offenses to break through and find ways to score.

My pick: Ohio State

Update: Florida wins 24-17

Rose Bowl

Wisconsin Badgers (11-2) vs. Oregon Ducks (11-2)

Jan. 2, 5 p.m.

          Wisconsin’s goal for the 2011 season was to make it back to a BCS and avenge the loss to TCU in the 2010 Rose Bowl. Needless to say, they achieved that goal and are determined to win this game. The Big 10 Champions are led by fifth-year senior Russell Wilson; a quarterback who can beat you with his strong arm or powerful running. The Badgers also have one of the best running backs in the country, Montee Ball who plays behind one of the biggest offensive lines in the country. The Badgers should able to handle the speedy Oregon defense, but it is the Oregon offense that will cause the most trouble.

          The Ducks offense has been one of the most exciting and prolific units the past two years. Head coach Chip Kelly has really done a good job of creating an offense that attacks, attacks, and attacks. Their running back, LaMichael James, has ran for more than 1,500 yards the past three seasons. Just as much as the Badgers want to make up for their Rose Bowl loss, the Ducks wants to show they can win on the big stage too.

My pick: Wisconsin in a close one
Update: Oregon wins 45-38

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Stanford Cardinal (10-2) vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1)

Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m.

          Andrew Luck is about all you need to know about Stanford. He is their senior quarterback who is being compared to John Elway and Peyton Manning. Luck does an outstanding job of finding open receivers and spreading the ball around. Stanford also fields a good defense that ranks 25^th nationally in yards allowed.

          Oklahoma State is the typical Big 12 team; a high-scoring, unstoppable offense that makes up for a weak defense. The Cowboys are led by 28-year old quarterback Brandon Weedon and senior receiver Justin Blackmon.

My pick: Stanford
Update: Oklahoma State wins in overtime,41-38

Allstate Sugar Bowl

Michigan Wolverines (10-2) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (11-2)

Jan. 3, 8:30

          No one expected Michigan to be here under first- year coach Brady Hoke. Hoke has done a masterful job at utilizing and developing quarterback Denard Robinson as well as making sure the defense is up to snuff. Robinson leads a rushing attack that ranks 12^th in the nation in total yards, but he also has the ability to make big throws.

          The Hokies two losses were both to Clemson. They lost in the regular season 23-3 and then lost in the ACC Championship 38-10. They have no wins against ranked teams, so their selection into this bowl was a shocker. The more unfortunate news is that Michigan’s offense is similar to Clemson’s, except that Robinson is more explosive than Clemson’s quarterback. Virginia Tech is a pretty average team, so this will be a tough matchup for them.

My pick: Michigan in a blowout
Update: Michigan barely won in overtime, 23-20

Discover Orange Bowl

West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3) vs. Clemson Tigers (10-3)

Jan. 4, 8:30 p.m.

          This is the battle of Big East Champion vs. ACC Champion. The Mountaineers have a high-powered offensive attack with quarterback Geno Smith at the helm. Their passing offense ranks seventh in the country and they rank 20^th in points per game. The defense, which lost seven starters from last year’s unit, has struggled all year and ranks 63^rd in points allowed.

          Clemson won the ACC title for the first time since 1991. They started the year 8-0 but lost three of their final four to limp into the ACC Championship Game. The Tigers have a great offense too. First-year quarterback Tajh Boyd and wide receiver Sammy Watkins lead a unit that ranks 21^st in passing. Their defense is similar to W.V.’s as well, as they rank 62^nd in points allowed.

My pick: Clemson
Update: West Virginia wins 70-33. WVU scored the most points ever in a bowl game.

AT&T Cotton Bowl

Kansas State Wildcats (10-2) vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2)

Jan. 6, 8 p.m.

          This has the appearance of a BCS Bowl Game, but it’s not. What it is though, is a matchup of two teams that finished third in their respective conferences and feature high-scoring offenses. Kansas State ranks 109^th in passing, but 27^th in rushing, so it seems a bit odd that their quarterback Collin Klein is their best player.

          Arkansas had the lovely honor of playing in the SEC West Division. That’s the same division that as #1 LSU and #2 Alabama. The Razorbacks rank 13^th in passing yards nationally, 14^th in points per game nationally, and 1^st in the SEC in total offense. They have a good defense, but nothing like some of the other SEC teams. They will have their hands full trying to stop the Wildcats.

My pick: Arkansas
Update: Arkansas wins 29-16

BBVA Compass Bowl

SMU Mustangs (7-5) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (6-6)

Jan. 7, 1 p.m.

          This may be the most unwatched of all the bowl games. Slapped right in the middle of all these great January bowl games is this one. The Mustangs started the season 5-1 before losing four of their last six. They look to end the season strongly with a win.

          The Panthers are just a lousy Big East team that takes the spot of a team that deserves this bowl more than they do.  I honestly don’t care what happens in this game.

My pick: SMU

Update: SMU wins 28-6

GoDaddy.com Bowl

Arkansas State Red Wolves (10-2) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (10-3)

Jan. 8, 9 p.m.

          Who would have thought that a bowl game with two teams that have 10+ wins would be so under-the-radar? Arkansas State is the Sun Belt Champion and one of the most complete teams in America. They rank 25^th in total offense and 20^th in total defense. Watch out for wide receiver Dwayne Frampton who has broken just about every school record a wide receiver can.

          The Huskies won the MAC Championship after years of heartbreak in the championship game. The Huskies rank 7^th in rushing yards (one spot behind the Red Wolves) and 13^th in points for. The big difference maker in this game is that the Huskies’ defense is nowhere near as good as the Red Wolves.

My pick: Arkansas State

BCS National Championship

Alabama (11-1) vs. LSU (13-0)

Jan. 9, 8:30 p.m.

          Here we are, the most important game in college football. The game decides the best team in the country. But wait, this game has already been played! Alabama and LSU met a few weeks ago and LSU won the game 9-6. Is there any reason to think that Alabama could win this game? In my opinion, no.  Both teams have incredible defenses that are filled with NFL prospects. Both teams have decent offenses, but LSU’s is a little better. That will be the difference in the game.

My pick: LSU wins by 7.

NFL Week 17 Preview

             It seems like just yesterday I wrote up my 2011 NFL Season Preview. 16 weeks later and the NFL is heading into the final week of the regular season. There is a great slate of games on Sunday and a few of them will decide who makes the playoffs. A couple others will decide who gets the No. 1 pick in the 2012 Draft. Here’s a rundown of all the games you should keep an eye on.

San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams

1:00 on FOX

Both fan bases are hoping for a San Francisco win. The 49ers would get a first- round playoff bye and the Rams would get a chance to have the number one draft pick.

Indianapolis at Jacksonville

1:00 on CBS

If the Colts lose, they get the number one pick in the 2012 Draft. Go Jaguars!

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans

1:00 on CBS

The Texans have already claimed the #3 seed and nothing will change that. The Titans are still competing for a playoff spot but will need a win and a lot of other scenarios to play out.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

4:15 on CBS

The Steelers will either end up as the #2 or #5 seed. If they win and Ravens lose they get the #2.

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

4:15 on CBS

The Chargers are playing for nothing more than pride, and perhaps their coach’s job. The Raiders could win the AFC West with a win and Denver loss.

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

4:15 on CBS

Kyle Orton of the Chiefs returns to the team that let him go in favor of Tim Tebow. He will get the chance to ruin Tebow-mania and the Broncos’ playoff hopes.  

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

4:15 on CBS

This will be the best day-time game because both teams are playing for something. The Bengals clinch a playoff spot with a win and could drop the Ravens to the #5 seed. If the Ravens win could get the #1 seed with a win.

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

8:20 on NBC

Whoever wins claims the NFC East title and the #4 spot in the playoffs.

Champs Sports Bowl Preview

            The final game for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is here. The Irish take on the Florida State Seminoles in the Champs Sports Bowl Thursday evening. Both teams come into this game after deflating seasons that ended with 8-4 records. Florida State began the season ranked #6 and had hopes of winning the ACC Championship. Notre Dame began the season ranked #16 with aspirations of playing in a BCS Bowl Game.

            
            The Seminoles’ strength comes from its defense. The unit ranks 6^th in total defense and points allowed. They lost their four games by an average of 5 points, and all losses were to good teams. On the flip side, they have wins against Miami, North Carolina State, and Florida.

            
            Notre Dame’s best unit is the offense, which ranks 51^st in total offense, 33^rd in passing yards, and 51^st in rushing yards. The Irish lost their four games by average of 8.5 points, and all were to good teams (except South Florida). They boast victories against Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Air Force, and Wake Forest.

Keys to an Irish victory

Defensive line- These guys have been solid all season for Notre Dame. Defensive ends Aaron Lynch and Stephen Tuitt landed on the Freshman All-American team. Lynch has been a disruptive force in every game. He has 28 tackles, four sacks, and 13 quarterback hurries. Tuitt had 27 tackles and one sack while only playing in eight games. Nose guard Louis Nix III has 42 tackles on the season. So why is this unit vital to an Irish victory? Florida State’s offensive line has had trouble protecting the quarterback all year, as they rank 111^th in sacks allowed. They are also starting four freshmen offensive linemen tonight. There is no question that they are going to struggle to stop Lynch, Tuitt, and Nix.

Quarterback play- In the last game against Stanford, starter Tommy Rees was replaced by freshman Andrew Hendrix at halftime. Rees will be the starter for this game, but Hendrix is expected to get some playing time. Rees has struggled at times, especially when facing a great defense, like Stanford’s. He also had a hard time against Boston College and Pittsburgh, two paltry defenses.  Rees’s biggest flaws are not protecting the football and locking on to receivers. He needs to start strong against the Seminoles’ stingy defense and spread the ball around to all his playmakers. If Floyd’s double-covered, look for Eifert in the middle or T.J. Jones on the other side of the field.  

No turnovers/score quickly- I put these two together because they kind of go hand-in-hand. The Irish have struggled all year to not turn the ball over. They committed 15 turnovers in the first four games. That number dropped as the season went on, but who knows when the turnover monster could come back. Notre Dame also needs to get points on the board quickly and force Florida State’s offense to move the ball.

            Nobody seems to be giving the Irish any love, and I’m not sure why. Even if Florida State does win, it’ll be close.

Predicted score: Notre Dame wins 23-17  

Opening Night for the Pacers

            The Indiana Pacers began their 2011 campaign Monday night with a 91-79 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Pacers had to rely on their rebounding and defense as they only shot 37% from the field. Indiana’s big men were the stars of the game. Center Roy Hibbert, and forwards Tyler Hansbrough and David West, all had double-doubles. Indiana made 7 of 15 from behind the arc and 20 of 25 from the free-throw line. The team also combined for 53 rebounds, 18coming on offense, and 20 assists. This was a game that the Pacers should have won. They are the better team, and they proved it. The Pistons never led (I don’t think) and we beat them in most statistical categories.

            
            Tyler Hansbrough may be the early candidate for the “Sixth Man of the Year Award”. Hansbrough is the back up to West, but he gets plenty of playing time. Head coach Frank Vogel also played Hansbrough and West at the same time. West moved to center and replaced Hibbert while Hansbrough played power forward. Although the Pacers lose some height, they replace that with two guys that play with a lot of tenacity and energy. Everybody’s favorite journalist, Bob Kravitz, compared Hansbrough to Tim Tebow in an article today. I agree completely. Hansbrough has a drive to win that not everybody is born with. He is a competitor that wants to win every time he plays. It is vital that he is on the court as much as possible.

            
            The player that starts ahead of Hansbrough, David West, was also impressive in the first game of his Pacers’ career. West suffered a season-ending injury about eight months ago, and came off of rehab less than three weeks ago. He showed last night why the Pacers were so quick in signing him. He only shot 3-12, but he made five free throws and had twelve rebounds.

            
            Another player making his debut for Indiana was my new favorite player, George Hill.  Hill was born in Indianapolis and attended the same high school as me, Broad Ripple. He then turned down offers from several schools to stay in Indy and play at IUPUI. After playing for four years and leading IUPUI to the NCAA Tournament, Hill was drafted by the San Antonia Spurs. There he backed up Tony Parker and got to see some starting time. He finally returned home when the Pacers traded a draft pick to acquire him. Hill is the backup to point guard Darren Collison, but he is more than capable of being the starter. 

           

            
            I went to three Pacers’ games last year, but none of these even came close to the energy and excitement of what I experienced at this game. I could definitely feel the electricity in the air from the time I first walked into newly named Bankers Life Fieldhouse and until I left three hours later. As I was standing in the lobby before the game, surrounded by fellow Pacers fans, I couldn’t help but to smile. There was such a sense of pride and happiness that I had never felt at a sporting event before. This city has yearned so much for a great basketball team, and it seems like they finally have it. Opening night was just the first game in the beginning of what could be a magical ride. 


Next three games for the Pacers: at Toronto (12/28), vs. Cleveland (12/30), at Detroit (12/31)