Carmelo Anthony Deal Could Derail the NBA Season for the Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers, who earlier in the NBA season improbably upset both the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers, entered 2011 sputtering, apparently confused and sliding down the standings. What was shaping up to be something of a turnaround season has Pacers fans singing the same old song, questioning coach Jim O'Brien's moves and bracing for another on-the-bubble second half that might, at best, give the team a low seed in the uninspiring Eastern Conference playoff picture. Now, with the swirl of rumors regarding a possible multi-team deal that could land Carmelo Anthony in New Jersey, even that kiss-your-sister consolation may be slipping from Indiana's grasp.

As January entered its second week, the Pacers found themselves in second place in the Central Division, nine games behind the Chicago Bulls, and sitting in the seventh slot in terms of playoff seedings. Given that eight teams qualify for the NBA's second season, the team obviously doesn't have much room for error, and they've been losing ground across the board since early December. Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert have both been in a funk, and O'Brien continues to fiddle with his rotations to the extent that point guard Darren Collison seems as confused as his predecessors, Lance Stephenson and T.J. Ford. Any marked improvement by teams below the Pacers could spell doom for their playoff hopes.

This is where the Melo trade talks enter the picture, as the New Jersey Nets currently sport the most anemic offensive attack in the league. Yet the Nets sit only about six games behind the Pacers in the overall standings. With the points-per-game increase that would likely accompany Anthony's arrival in New Jersey, it's not hard to imagine that cushion evaporating in the course of a few weeks. Since there are also other teams a lot closer to the Pacers "lofty" perch, continued bad play and Melo's presence in the Eastern Conference could combine to quickly knock the Pacers out of the picture altogether.

Even more disconcerting than a potential blockbuster that could ruin the Pacers' hopes for the playoffs this year are the implications for the long haul. New Jersey could build around Anthony in the off-season and rise from the ashes to become another Eastern power, representing one more obstacle to Indiana's long-term plans for contention. Add in the rumors that Larry Bird has at least considered trading Danny Granger (potentially as part of the multi-player deal that could bring Anthony to New Jersey), and it's clear that the Pacers don't have this thing figured out yet.

This is shaping up as another great year to pay attention to spring training baseball, the Indy 500, and those old videos of "Eight Points in Nine Seconds." Playoff basketball likely won't hold much meaning, again, for Indiana fans this year.