Festivus atmosphere good thing for Pacers

Sure, there is the perception that a team that has fighting among its members is a bad thing. Afterall, it just doesn't fit our Disney-fied image of what a team should be: All members pulling together in the same direction all the time with zero conflict.

But as if often the case with the perfect life Disney ideology we are fed over-and-over-and-over again, it's just not reality. The recent reports of Pacers guards Lance Stephenson and Evan Turner getting into an actual fistfight may or may not be true. But, let's just hope they are at least somewhat true and here's why.

Pacers guard Lance Stephenson has reportedly been a part
of a couple of confrontations with teammates recently,
but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

If one guy doesn't like another on a team (and you know this does happen in the real world) it doesn't mean they can't get along between the lines. However, if one guy is always questioning the other's motivations and they are each wondering what the other is thinking without the airing of grievances (yes, like the Festivus episode on Seinfield), that's when the cancer spreads in a team atmosphere. Even if Turner and Stephenson, or any of the other players on the team, have it out, whether it be verbally or physically, and even if they agree to disagree, then they can finally move on and get on with the business at hand of trying to win playoff games.

There was some speculation that in the Pacers Game 2 win over Atlanta Tuesday night that Stephenson and Turner didn't play many minutes together because of what had occurred between them. However, it was just common sense by coach Frank Vogel to put smaller quick guards C.J. Watson and George Hill in the game together when the Hawks had their smaller quicker guards Jeff Teague and Lou Williams in at the same time.

And it doesn't make good sense to holding all that anger, frustration, etc., in. That does no one any good, especially the person who is holding it in. It can often cause that person to think about himself more than others, focusing on the negative feelings instead of just getting it out and moving on.

There has been a lot of speculation in recent days that the arguments, and possible fights etc., are a sign that the Pacers are coming apart at the wrong time. I say it's a sign that they are coming together at just the right time.

Which one of us is right will likely be determined in the coming days.