After losing to the seventh seeded Chicago Bulls, 112-106, the Indiana Pacers can’t make the playoffs and are now 30-43.

With 3:20 left in the game, Brandon Rush hit a two-point jumper to cut the deficit to three, making the score 102-99. But it wasn’t over for the Bulls. The Bulls’ trade deadline acquisition John Salmons answered back by making two straight three-pointers that gave the Bulls a comfortable lead.

There is no hope for the Pacers now, right?

Wait a second, there is still hope! With the Detroit Pistons at 34-37 and holding the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers can beat out the Pistons. The Pistons have been struggling all year and the Pacers just may be able steal that seed. The Milwaukee Bucks, the next possible contender, don’t stand a chance for a spot in the playoffs.

With the NBA playoffs coming in less than a month, the Pacers are going to have to give more than they ever had to this season.  They have one more meeting with the Bulls again on March 31st.  They can bounce back and beat them; however, the Pacers have this one shot, and they can’t fail.

The Bulls capped their fourth straight win. Ben Gordon led the team with 25 points, while John Salmons had two key three-pointers late in the game to go along with his 22 points scored.  Tyrus Thomas pulled his effort into the mix with 18 points and eight rebounds while star rookie Derrick Rose made his presence felt with his 16 points. Surprisingly enough, this is the Bulls’ longest win streak in two years!

Even though the Pacers are 2-6 in their last eight games, there superstar, Danny Granger, has been consistent as he piled 32 points. As Granger was knocking down shots, Rush had a career-high 29 points scored. Rush, I think, is the X-Factor to the Pacers. He is, what I consider, the sixth man for Indy.

The Bulls had a very nice lead, 92-82. But after a Granger’s important three-pointer in the 13-2 run, the game was all changed as the Pacers led, 97-96. The Bulls blew a 10-point lead that could have made them destroy the Pacers.

Troy Murphy missed his second-straight game because of injury. If the Pacers had him, oh boy, the Pacers could have won. But the could have and should have and almost isn’t enough. You have to win it. Not almost. The Pacers just couldn’t hold on.

The Bulls couldn’t stop Granger and Rush. We all know nobody can stop Danny Granger, but Rush proved he is a very important player to the team. I just hope the Pacers get the playoff spot. I mean, you are talking about four years that they haven’t made it to the playoffs.

Watching the Pacers for so long. Four grueling years of no playoff spot, I can’t take it. I don’t want to go to five. 2005 was the last time the Pacers made the playoffs. They blew a 2-1 lead in the series to the New Jersey Nets, but lost the series, 4-2.

I was heartbroken from Indy losing in that series. Now I can’t wait any longer, the Pacers need to make to the playoffs. Like I said, you are talking about four years. I can’t go to five. Hope is the answer. Granger is hope. T.J. Ford is hope. Troy Murphy is hope. Brandon Rush is hope. But most importantly, the Pacers are the hope.

The Pacers can surprise the NBA by making the playoffs. And that is why “amazing happens” in the NBA. It’s passion, pride, and the PACERS!