Pacers should say "no thanks" to tank talk

The Pacers had reason to smile after Monday night's win over the Utah Jazz broke  a six-game losing streak.

The Pacers defeated the visiting Utah Jazz 97-86 Monday night. The Pacers now 2-6, broke a six-game losing streak, while the Jazz are 3-5.
Forethoughts
For the first time since the season opening win over the 76ers, the Pacers finally have a win to show for their effort. Sure, it came against a Jazz team that was on the second night of a back to back while the  Pacers were off Sunday, but the Pacers will take a win any way they can get it right now. Yes, there had been some folks calling for the Pacers to go for a tank season, you know, pretend you are playing to win, but you are really not in order to help your odds at getting a top draft pick. And while there is certainly some logic in it from a numbers standpoiint, the problem is that the Pacers have  a bunch of players who just don't like to lose. And that's still a good thing. Because sometimes, when you go from being good to bad, then go back to trying to be good again, it's not just a numbers thing but an attitude thing. And even with just two wins in their first eight games, you have to appreciate the attiitude of this team. Just how many wins it can translate into when other key players return to health is hard to say. Just remember a team can't win when it has a loser's mentality. It can be just awful to watch and an even more awful thing to change. So when it comes to tanking ... no thanks.
The Big Plays
There were three occasions where this game was tied late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter, and each time new/old Pacer (or is that old/new Pacer?) A.J. Price broke it with a key bucket. Price hit a 3-pointer to break at 67-67 tie, then hit a 19-foot jumper to break a 72-72 tie, then hit another 3-pointer to break a 77-77 tie with 8:45 left to give the Pacers the lead for good.
The Ups
1) When the Pacers picked up Price last week mostly as a desperation move because they were down to one point guard, it was bit interesting to read some comments on Facebook questioning why the Pacers made such a move. It was quite obvious considering they only had one healthy point guard in Donald Sloan. Also, Price, at the very least, is not going to hurt a team when he is on the court. So for those of us who watch the Pacers regularly it seemed like a common sense transaction, That move made a whole lot more sense Monday night when Price scored 22 points (just two points off of his career high) on 8 of 12 shooting from the floor. Price has not all of a sudden become an all-star, but give him credit for being ready not only to play when called upon, but to play well.
2) Roy Hibbert had his best game of the early season with 29 points. It was good to see the Pacers be able to take advantage of the undersized Jazz by using Hibbert as primary option on offense. It was also good to see Hibbert to continue to play with confidence with his second straight 20-point game. The Pacers can only hope he can keep the offensive momentum going.
3) Pacers coach Frank Vogel deserves a little credit for this one, too. Vogel stayed with Price and reserve power forward Lavoy Allen, who had 12 points and 15 rebounds, deep in the  fourth quarter. Vogel stayed basic by rewarding the players who were playing well on this night by allowing them to play more minutes. It may not seem like a big deal, but it's something that a lot of coaches would not do.
4) Former Butler star Gordon Heyward has turned into an NBA star now. The always highly skilled, but skinny kid, has now grown into his body and is the complete package. He showed that by scoring 30 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists Monday night. And in case you've forgotten, the Pacers didn't have a chance to pick Heyward in the NBA Draft as he went ninth, one pick before the Pacers selected  Paul George in 2010.
The Downs
The Pacers so-called shooters, Chris Copeland and Damjan Rudez, combined to shoot  just 3 for 12 in this game, so you'd like to see them do a little better than that. However, all three of their field goals were 3-pointers, including one by Rudez that tied the game, so it wasn't all bad.
Next Up
The Pacers will travel to Miami to play the defending Eastern Conference champion Heat. Last year, this was a big regular season game, but it certainly isn't this year, at least not for the same reasons. The Heat do have Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade back and are off to a 5-2 start. Bosh is leading the way at 23.6 points and 10.3 rebounds, followed by Wade at 19.7, Luol Deng at 15.6, Mario Chalmers at 11, and Shawne Williams (yes, that former Pacer Shawne Williams) at 10.1.