After 16 games

[thedoper]

I am not sure we are not a playoff team. No bench. Very streaky offense, and mediocre d. Tough to watch tonight after so much anticipation.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

The Pacers are the best team in the NBA. We shouldn't get killed like this in the fourth, but they are the better team at home. Oh well.

[thedoper]

We got killed in the 4th because our guys were tired. I see this happening more and more with this team. Since we have no faith in our bench our starters log too many minutes. Love is a completely different player tired.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Unfortunately it's going to get worse before it gets better. We are in for a tough stretch of games and it's entirely likely that it puts us in a bit of a hole.

[WildWolf2813]

This team can't even get to 4 games over .500. We can't take these guys seriously.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Wildwolf, I think we'll make another nice run and potentially get to 4 or 5 over .500 at some point this season. It just won't be over the next week or two.

[TravisT [enjin:6669699]]

.500 team. Sounds about right. Fighting for the 8th spot in the playoffs. Yawn...haven't we seen this before? Same old Wolves. At least I didn't get my hopes up too high. I guess after all the terrible years we should be happy with that.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Travis, It takes years to build a contender, even after you have your core in place (unless you're Miami and have multiple stars collude to play with each other, but even then, it doesn't always work out). Making the playoffs would be a massive step forward for this squad.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Travis, It takes years to build a contender, even after you have your core in place (unless you're Miami and have multiple stars collude to play with each other, but even then, it doesn't always work out). Making the playoffs would be a massive step forward for this squad.

This >>>

This Pacers team made the playoffs during the 2010-11 season. They were the 8th seed in the weak East and had a record of 37-45 record. Bulls beat them in the first round in five games. Next season (11-12), the Pacers were the 3rd seed with a record of 42-24. They beat the Magic in the first round and took the Heat to six games in the second round. They've continued to grow after that playoff series and clinched third seed again last year (12-13). Once again beat in the second round of playoffs by the Miami Heat. Now in the third year after first making the playoffs, they're the best team in the NBA with fantastic team chemistry. It's a process.

Look back at the Thunder. OKC's 2009-10 season was their first playoff experience and clinched the 8th seed with a 50-32 record. Lost first round to the Lakers. Next season (10-11), they went 55-27 and snatched the fourth seed. They beat the Nuggest 4-1 in the first round, beat the Grizzlies in seven games in the second round, but lost to the eventual NBA Champion Mavs in 5 games in WCF. Just the third season (11-12) after first making the playoffs with their core, they eventually went all the way to the NBA Finals.

Now that the flash from the past is over, my point was that Q is right. It takes time. I still don't see why we can't grab the 6th seed like some of us predicted, but even just getting into the playoffs as an 8th seed would be huge for this team. It's something to build off and as shown by previous "built-not-bought" teams like the Pacers and Thunder, teams can take a huge leap the next year after just making the playoffs as an 8th seed.

[TravisT [enjin:6669699]]

There's no guarantee this team can develop the same way as the Pacers. You're referring to an aberation, not the norm around the league. Ricky has no offensive game what-so-ever, Pek and Love are below the rim players who are poor defenders. Martin is an aging 2 guard who also cannot defend. Don't get me wrong, they're all solid players with Love being the star of the group, but is he that type of star player that can carry and lead this team? Of those 4 players, 3 have already peaked. Pek is who he is; a solid center who thrives mainly in the pick and roll, but after that has pretty limited offensive and defensive ablility. Martin is a scoring 2 guard who's best days are behind him. Love can be an anual All Star, but can he develop into the defender that will make him that all around star that we need? To me, only Ricky can develop into something much more than what we're seeing at this time. If he can learn how to shoot jumpers better than a high schooler, then he could be the wild card that really helps this team blossom.

With the team's track record of poor drafting and the inability to bring in free agents I feel this team's ceiling, as constructed right now, will only be as the 8th seed in the playoffs. At least they'll be somewhat entertaining. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'm still not sold on the direction of this team.