Will the Pacers even make the playoffs now?
The Indiana Pacers landed a tough blow when Paul George’s tragic injury during a Team USA scrimmage, but according to Larry Bird, the Pacers are still going to compete at their highest level next season. The team expects him to be out all season, and they’re not going to bring him back any sooner than 100%.
As far as the team they have now, Frank Vogel is stressing how much other guys are going to have to step up in the absence of their All-Star, much like how PG13 and Lance Stephenson stepped up during Danny Granger’s injury a few years back.
As far as the rumors that Roy Hibbert was going to be involved in a trade with the Suns for Goran Dragic, Bird says this was the first time hearing of it and it’s completely false.
They both mentioned that the Pacers will surprise some people next year and go farther than people think. The organization will not be moving to tank the season in Paul George’s absence, and will try to compete after adding pieces such as Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles and Damjan Rudez out of Croatia to the mix. They didn’t add anyone in the draft this year, but 2015 may be a different story.
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