FanPost

The Indiana Pacers in financial turmoil... a dose of perspective.

People were pretty down after the loss last night, and contrary to my optimistic nature, I was pretty bummed as well. We lost a very winnable game at home to the team nipping at our heels for the seventh seed.

What we all need is a bit of perspective. Today, an article was published over at ESPN. The subject? The Indiana Pacers.

The team is suffering enormous monetary losses, with low attendance and a bad arena deal. Indiana could lose its franchise.

"It's possible they could move the team," Early said. "It's possible they could sell the team. It is also possible they could shut the team down. What's not possible is the Pacers losing the kind of money they're losing this year indefinitely."

So, no matter the losses of this year (and we will make the playoffs, barring an unfathomable collapse along the lines of 5-13), we have a franchise that is going to be in Portland a long time. Gone are the days of tinfoil in airports, I-5 road trips in yellow hummers, and J.R. Rider's coke can. Gone are the days of having to be excited about Sergei Monia, Sebastian Telfair, and Viktor Khryapa. Instead of fretting about Omar Cook as our opening day point guard, we debate between a steady vet and two talented prospects.

We have a great team full of great guys in a great city. It's a great franchise with a great general manager and a great owner who is a real fan.

Indiana is a basketball state, but even that may not be enough to save their franchise. Just a few years ago, speculation abounded that the Blazers could leave Portland. Thankfully, that never happened and we still have our Blazers.

I just hope Indiana can feel the same way in a few years.