With the season approaching the quarter pole, it might seem crazy to guarantee that the Pacers, at 9-10, will make the playoffs.  However, according to ESPN's John Hollnger, the Pacers are a virtual lock for the post-season .

Interestingly, Hollinger projects Indy as the 6th seed in the East, exactly the same spot predicted by Keester99 last month .

I haven't had time to digest this yet, but espn.com is reporting that Reggie Miller is considering a comeback with the Boston Celtics.  

The Celtics appear intent on capturing the title in Boston's 30 and over league.  No word yet on whether Bob Cousy has been asked to spell Rajon Rondo for 11 or 12 minutes per game.

I'm excited by the fact that there will be a buzz around the Celtics next season.  I'm disappointed, however, that the youth movement was scrapped out of what appears to have been Ainge's apparent discontent with any of the options that were available with the #5 pick in the draft.  The KG trade doesn't bother me -- the fact is that it was a trade that HAD to be made once Delonte and #5 were exchanged for Ray Allen.  All in all, I predict nothing more than an unfulfilling short-term fling that, in a few short years, leaves the C's worse off than the morass of suck that was last season.  

Anyhow, thought this news would interest Pacer Nation.  Frankly, nothing Ainge does from here on out would surprise me.  Maybe he'll become player/GM as well.

Several months ago, I used this space to argue that the Pacers should push for the playoffs rather than "tank" to get into the lottery (and keep their pick).  My thought was that it was better to take pride in making the tourney than to tank for the right to end up with what most likely would be, and was, the 10th pick, which most likely would be, and was, Spenser Hawes.

Hindsight is a Lasik-like 20-15 and, with the clarity it provides, me thinks I was wrong.  

Like Cornrows, I'll chuckle every time I hear his name, but Stanko underwhelms.  Perhaps shutting things down and ending up with Hawes, Al Thornton, Julien Wright or Acie Law was the way to go.  Who knows.  I wouldn't be surprised however, if Carlisle, JO, Granger and every other Pacer who busted tail down the strecth find "thank you" notes from the Atlanta front office in tomorrow's mail.

Speaking of front offices, it appears more certain than ever that neither Ainge, McHale, nor LJL spent much time seeking Red's tutelage after practice.  

Two segues and I'm finally onto the Celtics and the Ray Allen acquisition.  The deal reminds me of my five years at UVM.  What looks sexy at 11:30 PM, seems horrific at dawn's early light.  Take heart Pacer fans, as you enjoy your morning coffee,  your team is not any worse than it was yesterday.  I'm sure that there's a philosophical argument, then, that the Pacers improved simply by not getting any worse.

The Celts have no such argument.  The 5 pick, a solid young PG, and a decent shooter with a contract that will be attractive bait as it expires in 08-09 were exchanged for an aging shooting guard with a huge contract and fresh scars from double ankle surgery.  Wow.

Just popped in from the first day of summer camp to find this blockbuster rumor.  What strikes me isn't the deal, but the way the authors treat the JO-to-the-Celts piece as an afterthought.  The main deal -- KG to LA, Bynum & Odom to Indy, unnamed bodies to Minny -- is deemed workable only if a fourth team gets involved, with no mention of the fourth team.  It wasn't until I scrolled down and saw the link to Ford's Insider that I noticed the "oh yeah, the 4th geam would be Boston. They'd get JO."  WOW! That's a rather important "oh, by the way..."  

If this is true, Wally and his contract must be going back to Minnesota, but who is going with them? Has Danny traded the one the game's best young power forward so that Paul Pierce can make a run with JO?  With Chauncy opting out, Sheed on the block, the Spurs dominating the Cavs, and the general dearth of quality in the East, will teams (Celts) take on huge contracts to make one brief run?

Love this stuff.  Hurry back Cornrows.

Well, the reverse psychology didn't work.   I tuned into SportsCenter around 630PM and noticed the following scrawl across the Ticker: "Bucks G Michael Redd to miss rest of season". Where's my bookie when I need him? Yikes.

Final result was as predicted: Orlando in a walk.. Redd's absence is especially noteworthy in games in which the Bucks defense is absent as well.  Nothing like going into a shoot-out without your top gun.  Oh well.  We knew the Magic wouldn't lose EVERY game down the stretch.  Now's the time to keep pace in Philly .

Not much in the Philly papers about the 76'ers.  Nice bit on the new AI and his commitment to defense.  Might be required reading for the young Rebs next year.

Sixers are sneaky.  GSchindo, a Sixer fan since Doc was an intern, points out that, but for AI (the original) sitting for several games before being traded, Philly might be talking playoffs.  Andre Miller and friends are 16-14 in their last 30; not spectacular, but, over a full season, a playoff pace in the East.  

[Editor's Note: coachk brings a little reality check this morning.]

My optimistic musings are a thing of the past.  I'm a cynic this morning, my coffee cup already half empty.

Milwaukee has no chance against Orlando tonight.  The Bucks have lost 9 of 10, including consecutive losses to the lowly Hawks and Knicks.

Michael Redd's knee will keep him from scoring, if not from playing.  Earl Boykins is too small to play in the NBA.  Dan Gadzuric v. Dwight Howard?  Two words:  Ms. Match.  

Don't bother Pacer fans.  Finish your taxes. Watch 24.  Check out The Black Donnellys.  (Oh Jenny....) Whatever you do, no need to catch the Bucks-Magic.  Tomorrow will dawn with the Pacers needing a win in Philly to stay within a game of Orlando.  I can feel it.

Psych.

[Editor's Note: coachk watched the game and has the story behind the numbers in the box score which explains the key to the Pacers win.]

  JO is a man.  

  Today's write-ups will undoubtedly focus on Dunleavy's first-half, 14 points, and McLeod's three-point plays (of the old-fashioned variety nonetheless) that finally put the C's to bed.  Let's not lose JO's work -- and I mean WORK-- in the proverbial shuffle.

   I sat down to watch the game with a strange mix of emotions.  (more on that later).  The Pacers bolted to a 26-15 lead after the first. In the process, JO had 10 rebounds.  Check it out for yourself.  There were 22 rebounds in the first quarter.  The tally:  

     Jermaine:    10
     Boston:       7
     Other Pacers: 5

That's professional.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter. The Celts' started pressing. The inbounder's man doubled the ball, with Rajon Rondo playing free saftey behind them. Nothing fancy, but it caused the Pacers fits. McLeod -- before his 3-point plays -- made consecutive turnovers.  The first led to a lay-up for Alan Ray, the second gave the Celts the ball with a chance to cut the Pacers' lead to 4.

JO drew an offensive foul.

Ensuing Indiana possession, Keith's first "and-1".

Game over.

Jermaine showed up at the office and put in a HARD night's work. Dirty work. But the work that must be done for a team to remain in the hunt. And, this morning, in the hunt is exactly where the Pacers remain. Nice work JO.

A few random thoughts -- as you might know, I've been a Celtic fan all my life.  As I went about my Saturday, I found myself anticipating a steak on the grill and the Celtics-Pacers game. Then, it struck me: I hadn't looked forward to sitting down to watch the Celtics in years.  My rough guess was 5 years -- the Eastern Conference finals in 2002.   Unfortunately, for a Celts fan, it was the Pacers that rekindled the feeling. How times have changed.......gotta give a nod to the Pacers girls and the short-shorts with bikini tops......does Conseco have the loudest generated-noise in the league?  The bit that "yells" DEFENSE is so loud the Fieldhouse sounds eerily quiet when Indiana gets the ball back....I'm not sure I'll ever believe that Bassy is the all-time leading scorer in the history of NYC high school hoops.

Fear not Pacer Nation, the Grizz aren't sleepwalking into Orlando tonight.  Time out -- how long is the NBA going to let Memphis be the Grizzlies?  While Paul Gasol does his best to win the "Looks Most Like the Team Mascot" award, he's about the closest thing to a Grizzlie bear inside the Tennessee state lines.  As usual, I digress....

....the Hound Dogs have lost 4 of 6, but a closer look at the results shows that they might catch a rabbit tonight.   Sprinkled into the last half-dozen are wins at Portland & LA, close losses at Golden State and against Phoenix, and another loss to Golden State in which Memphis led by 2 to start the fourth.  Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick bring a Big East flava to Graceland, but,lately, Tarance Kinsey has put up numbers with Mike Miller and Damon Stoudamire out.  One last tidbit, the Grizz have won four in a row against Orlando, and 8 of the last 9.

I like the vibes coming from the Grizz camp.  A bona fide star in Gasol, a star in the making in Gay, and, in Kinsey, a guy who smells it -- he got his chance and is taking advantage.  Something tells me those three are going to do more than just play out the schedule.  

I predict the Grizz win a squeaker, with old friend Chucky Atkins -- the same Chucky Atkins who was added & dropped from my fantasy team about 372 times over the years -- doing what Chucky does and nailing a a deep three to Ice it.  Couple that predicition with the Pacers protecting the house against the Green, and I'm looking forward to a "Pacers Resurrected!" column from Cornrows on Easter morn'.

The loony's been MIA lately, but reappears today.  Living close to the border, I've often stumbled back across with Loonies in my pockets.  So, today's loony goes to the Toronto Raptors, your Atlantic Division champs. Really, the fact that the Raptors won the division that is home to the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Philadephia 76'ers is a fairly significant milestone in Stern's march to global supremacy. Imagine the Atlanta Thrashers being crowned division champs in a division that they share with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Chicago Blackhawks. Now that's loony.

Yes, the Pacers are hanging.  I know, you're sick of hearing it from me.  I can't help it.  Despite Marquis'knee and the other injuries, I see a chance, however slim, that the Pacers close the season with a 6-2 burst.  If so, it would force the Magic to go 4-3 to force a tie.  It's possible.  

Of course, if you'd prefer the lottery, the Pacers lurk a mere game "behind" the Knicks and Wolves, and just two behind Philly, Portland, and Seattle in the race for one of the 10 worst records.  I guess the lottery remains possible too.  

I fear the worst:  no playoffs AND no pick.

Last night's Celts-Bucks clash made me think of this riddle Any suspicions of "tanking" would have been cured if Doc and Krystowiak had to switch teams for the night. Each would have had no choice but to coach for the win.

Wow -- I guess we know what Flip Saunders thought of the Pacers/Warriors trade.  Chauncey's comments didn't surprise me; Flip's did.  Seems to me he's more than happy to face the reconstituted Pacers.  Was he just being honest, or did he throw Larry under the bus?

On another topic, who can blame a guy for not wanting to work during vacation?  Especially when he doesn't even have to leave the house to go on vacation!  

Seriously, is anyone surprised that, one year into the whole "we're committed to 2008!!!", that someone wants some time off?  If LBJ doesn't play this summer, what will Colangelo and cohorts do? Boot LeBron from the 2008 roster for failing to honor his commitment? That'd be funny. "I'm sorry Mr. James, you can't come. You weren't at practice last summer." Maybe we'll find out who runs USA Basketball -- USA Basketball or shoe companies/TV execs.

Personally, I hope it turns into such a fiasco that we end up having qualifying tournaments to see who will represent the USA in the Olympic qualifying tournaments. Like a civil war in which in USA Basketball's authority is challenged. The Nike guys could quit and form their own team. Same for anyone else. We'll allow 28 teams, with automatic top seeds, and first-round byes, to Team Nike, the Knicks, (so Zeke can botch that too), Team USA (non-Nike edition), and the original Dream Team. Winner gets to wear the Red, White and Blue in Bejiing.

Ok..I'll stop now......

[Editor's note: I was unable to see any of this game and I still can't believe it. The Spurs are in a battle for playoff position, J.O. doesn't play, AND Tinsley hits the game winner. This game had April Fools Day written all over it, but all of the reports seem to verify that this W actually did happen. coachk has the value of the victory covererd in his diary below -- Cornrows] Looks like the Pacers won't go easily my friends.  Rumors of their demise are still that: rumors.

Now, even I'd be hard-pressed to say that the P's can afford to lose to Detroit.  It's a must-win, if only for their collective psyche.   But, with a win, the remaining schedules might make things mighty interesting.

After Detroit, Indiana will see teams with losing records in six of their final eight games.  The Magic have eight left, four of which are against teams with winning records.  And don't cede a spot to New Jersey.  The Nets have nine left on the schedule, with FIVE coming against teams that are over .500.

If the Pacers make it, I suppose we'll count last night's upset of the Spurs as the win that sparked the playoff push.  If so, it'd mean that the three guys who came back from Golden State played HUGE roles in one of the season's most important wins.  Troy, Ike and Mike combined for 59 and 21.  Nice sense of timing.

Ok, time to return to my New England roots. Last night's loony goes to every single player involved in the horrific Celtics-Cavs game.  With the victory, the Celts allowed the Bucks to "pull" within 2.5 games in the all-so-important race for the right to have the second most ping pong balls.  2.5 might sound like too big a "lead" for the Celts to blow, especially with only 8 remaining.  But, with Michael Redd's knee acting up, and the Celts & Bucks getting together TWICE in the final two weeks, I fear the Green are heading towards Brandon Wright territory.  So, here's to King James (DNP), Shannon Brown (useless in Lebron's stead), Delonte West (miss those!) and all the others who combined for such a disastorously loony result.

In 38 we trust.

I'm not sure why the NBA and ABC decided to schedule a re-match of last year's conference finals during the NCAA's Final Four weekend.  Talking to casual fans during a Final Four party, there's no buzz -- for today's games.  Among today's plans for last night's guests:  brunch, Martinsville, the driving range, wedding plans, and Opening Day. Not a word about the NBA.

Had  high hopes that this year's Final Four would give birth to a compelling rivalry that would flourish in the League.  Not sure we got one by the goalie. Part of me is still a teenager, longing for the days when Magic/Bird/Isiah/Worthy/MJ/Clyde/(H)akeem/Ewing battled in Final Fours, Conference Finals, and, eventually, the NBA Finals. Off the top of my head, of this year's probable playoff stars, Rip, Brand, D-Wade, 'Melo, and AI took their schools to the FF. (I'm probably missing a few others -- maybe Camby, a few of the current Bulls, a few of the ex-Tar Heels). Great names, but it's not the same. Or doesn't feel that way to me. Am I old? Or is it not the same? Whichever, in a sense, it makes it all the more appropos that last night's LonNy went to LeBron.

Staying on theme, the NCAA Final Four influences today's Loony.  If we'd have been at a Super Bowl party and I'd told you that, on March 31, 2007,  Randolph Morris would post 0 points and 1 rebound in 3 minutes, and told you NOTHING else, you might have dropped two months rent on Kentucky making it to Atlanta, hoping to turn it into a down payment for a new place for you and the lady. I wouldn't have lied, but you'd be on the curb. Now that's loony.

[Editor's note: I'll be checking in while taking it easy in the Lowcountry, but coachk has stepped up to fill the void and continues to hit it out of the park in the diaries. I'm pulling up his comments on the game last night. My only comments are, make the bad man stop. I guess I'm just warming up the beach for the Pacers because they'll soon be joining me on vacation.] Loved the start, rough second quarter. Granger hit the bunny to make it 32-30 Pacers, but then the game (and playoffs) slipped away as the Magic went 13-0 over the next four minutes.  Even this optimist is at a loss for words this morning.

So, moving on....

.....as Mike Wells writes, the losing is wearing on JO and he might want to play elsewhere next year.  Similar sentiments from Paul Pierce in yesterday's Boston Globe.

I'm always struck by the stories about the superstar on a bad team who wants to move to a contender -- even moreso when implicit in the story is the suggestion that the superstar "deserves" to be on a winner.

Who says?   Why is the superstar more deserving to play for a winner than any other player?  Why aren't similar articles written from Jeff Foster's point of view, or Brian Scalabrine's? Losing doesn't bother them? I just find it curious.

Ok...the LoNny belongs to Cornrows. I intruded yesterday.  For the rest of his swing, I'll stick to lines that are more loony than LoNny.  I might never find a line more enjoyably loony than Cuttino Mobley's last night.

26 points and nothing else.  Not an assist, rebound, steal or block. Not even a turnover. Did he throw a pass? Was Elton never open in the post?? Mike Bibby missed 9 threes. Not one bounced long and into the Cat's paws? I don't want to see a single highlight.  I much prefer the vision in my head of the Cat standing on the wing, flinging three's, then standing there and watching the play go the other way.

Oddly, he had 5 fouls. At first, I assumed that they came at the end when the Clips had to foul. But the Clips won the game! Maybe the Clips had fouls to give, so he gave them. Maybe he got bored and tripped guys as the ran past. Who knows. I'd hate to learn that he bothered to contest a shot or something. Someone needs to alert the Sports Guy. He'd come up with a name for a line like this.

26-0-0-0-0.

Now that's loony.

Paraphrasing Third Eye Blind -- Step back from the ledge my Pacer friends!  MikeWells shows there's hope!  Fact is, win tonight and the Pacers are one-half game out of the 8-spot -- with the tie-breaker in hand.  Think of it like a pennant race -- Pacer Nation would be electric if it woke tomorrow to find itself 1/2 game behind the Yanks for the last wild-card spot with 9 to play. Keep the Faith!  Road win tonight, Minny & KG run wild in the Kingdom on Sunday, and, all of a sudden, the FieldHouse will be on fire Tuesday night with the Bad Boys in town and a tourney spot on the line.

Other news -- while Cornrows tries not to snap hook 3-woods into the Atlantic, i'm keeping an eye on the box scores.  He and I'd have a ruckus on our hands this morning -- Zach looks good-- but, at closing time, I ain't lookin' for good, I'm lookin' for sexy.  And 3-balls are the mini-skirts of closin' time. So, I'd have to push for J-Rich or that ex-Pacer .  

Take it from a Sox fan -- the roller coaster is what makes us love it. Pacers win tonight, not only are you steppin' back from the ledge, you're thinking, "if this and if that, not only are we in, we're the 7 seed."  I hope they pull you back tonight -- back from the ledge, back to believing. Finally, I know the folks in this town have a collective soft spot for the ABA. So, with pride from Vermont, I bring you the Vermont Frost Heaves, your new ABA champs.

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about -- Saer Sene.

I'm new to the Pacers Community, but find myself somewhat bemused by the talk re: "tanking".  First, it's a non-issue.  Pacers are 2-8 without JO this year.  As Cornrows suggests, when a 2-8 team loses, "tanking" has little, if anything, to do with it. So this post might be nothing more than an academic exercise.

But, assume JO's healthy.  Assume he played last night and led the Pacers to a win over the Nets.  Today would have dawned with the Nets and Pacers standing at 32-39, tied for 8th in the East, a half game behind Orlando for 7th.  Would Kravitz' article have been different?  I hope so.

Finally Jeopardy clue:  "Saer Sene, Andrew Bynum, Luke Jackson, Jarvis Hayes, Caron Butler."

Know the question?

If you wagered it all, I hope you came up with "Who was taken 10th in each of the past 5 NBA drafts?" If the talk is about having the 10th pick, as opposed to a free shot at either Detroit or Cleveland, two somewhat flawed "conference favorites", is there even a question?  

I know, this year's draft class has been heralded as one of the deepest in years. And, of course, the right ping pong ball might emerge and Durant or Oden will call Conseco home for the next several years.  

Is Spencer Hawes worth the risk?

My thought: when it comes to lottery hopes, be careful what you wish for.
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Random thoughts:   The NFL is dealing with steroids and arrests.  Baseball has PED issues and just enraged a lot of fans with the move to satellite.  The NHL is irrelevant.  What's the NBA's biggest issue?  Umm...I don't know.  The type of ball?  Stern needs some love.......Fascinated by the Knicks.  Is Zeke dumb like a fox?  Make the playoffs and he'll be hailed as a hero; miss 'em and there's a ton of blame to go 'round: injuries, Lil Stevie's act, and, I'm sure, Larry Brown, Zeke's perpetual fall guy.   No playoffs + bloated payroll = contract extension. I need a boss like Dolan. Zeke's a cat, always lands on his feet and has more lives .... Celts went 2-22 without The Truth and, barring a surge past Milwaukee in the last 10 games, stand poised to land one of the top 2 picks in the draft.  Best injury ever?