George Hill criticizes lack of Pacers fan support

Maybe they should move this team to Seattle...

Fans won't like this...but he is right. The fans should get out there and support their team. There are other fans and cities in the NBA who would kill to have an NBA team to root for. Especially one that is playing as well as the Pacers have this season.

Fans pick and choose the team(s) that they support. Just because you are the 'home' team does not mean that everyone will cheer you on. The Lakers probably have the biggest bandwagon fan base in the NBA so it's no surprise that they were out in force in Indy.

the fans are soft.........like their team

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:09 AM ET  03.16 by Klockwork33

Fans won't like this...but he is right. The fans should get out there and support their team. There are other fans and cities in the NBA who would kill to have an NBA team to root for. Especially one that is playing as well as the Pacers have this season.

The bad economy has hit. People have to spend their money on essentials and as they don't have enough lose change to go WATCH grown men do their job.

It aint like the players pay to watch me do my 9 - 5 job... This shows how shallow and clueless Hill is... do your job.. with or without fans!

Sorry George but this isn't the old school NBA any more. Fans grew weary of being loyal to the brand while watching you clowns pick where you played based on the biggest contract.

You are in a smaller NBA market and there will always be more Laker, Celtic Knick fans around cheering. You have two choices. Either move to a larger market team or win a championship in Indy. That will bring out fan energy.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 11:06 AM ET  03.16 by Em Em Aye

Sorry George but this isn't the old school NBA any more. Fans grew weary of being loyal to the brand while watching you clowns pick where you played based on the biggest contract.

You are in a smaller NBA market and there will always be more Laker, Celtic Knick fans around cheering. You have two choices. Either move to a larger market team or win a championship in Indy. That will bring out fan energy.

Yep. Almost word for word of my first thought about this.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 11:13 AM ET  03.16 by Just another DJ

The Lakers defense was excellent. Howard scored 20 points (on "7 of 17 shooting"), had 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks.Metta had 19 points and 7 rebounds.Blake was amazing with five 3-pointers, 18 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals.Jamison had 17 points and 7 rebounds.Nash scored 15 points and dished out 9 assists.A great team win and a statement without Kobe.

Too bad you didn't support your team. You picked the Pacers.

Mick can't even look at you right now...smh.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 11:19 AM ET  03.16 by Eli...

Yep. Almost word for word of my first thought about this.

These guys want their cake and eat it also. Some fans grew weary of it.

I did notice on some of the big plays down the stretch, like Jamison's 3, and Dwight's dunk, that the crowd was cheering loudly, but I thought it was the way they miked the stadium! I guess there were a lot of Lakers fans there.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 11:06 AM ET  03.16 by Em Em Aye

Sorry George but this isn't the old school NBA any more. Fans grew weary of being loyal to the brand while watching you clowns pick where you played based on the biggest contract. You are in a smaller NBA market and there will always be more Laker, Celtic Knick fans around cheering. You have two choices. Either move to a larger market team or win a championship in Indy. That will bring out fan energy.

While I understand your larger point, I still lean towards backing George Hill on this. First, there are smaller market teams who have great fan bases and ride or die with their teams. OKC comes to mind. And while they have superstar players, they haven't yet won a ring. If the NBA was to take the Pacers from Indy, the fans there would scream bloody murder. But why should you have a team that you don't support?

Also, in the earlier part of this decade, Indy had a team that they didn't want to associate themselves with coming off of the Malice in the Palace. Now they have a group of squeaky clean, hard working, overachieving guys. Role model type guys. Guys who DESERVE their support. There is no excuse.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 11:36 AM ET  03.16 by Klockwork33

While I understand your larger point, I still lean towards backing George Hill on this. First, there are smaller market teams who have great fan bases and ride or die with their teams. OKC comes to mind. And while they have superstar players, they haven't yet won a ring. If the NBA was to take the Pacers from Indy, the fans there would scream bloody murder. But why should you have a team that you don't support?Also, in the earlier part of this decade, Indy had a team that they didn't want to associate themselves with coming off of the Malice in the Palace. Now they have a group of squeaky clean, hard working, overachieving guys. Role model type guys. Guys who DESERVE their support. There is no excuse.

I kind of agree with both views.....

I think the issue is when 'super teams' like miami, LA come to town-
in basically every market- but especially smaller market ones...the fringe fans come out to see the stars like kobe, lbj.....so it is expected that many seats are taken by non-regular fans, which in turn means that when/if the other team is doing well- you will hear cheering
- I highly doubt that if say phoenix came to town - you'd hear a peep

but as for the other point of view-
I can see why fans get tired of supporting players, when they do bolt
although with indy- not many guys actually have bolted

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 11:36 AM ET  03.16 by Klockwork33

While I understand your larger point, I still lean towards backing George Hill on this. First, there are smaller market teams who have great fan bases and ride or die with their teams. OKC comes to mind. And while they have superstar players, they haven't yet won a ring. If the NBA was to take the Pacers from Indy, the fans there would scream bloody murder. But why should you have a team that you don't support?Also, in the earlier part of this decade, Indy had a team that they didn't want to associate themselves with coming off of the Malice in the Palace. Now they have a group of squeaky clean, hard working, overachieving guys. Role model type guys. Guys who DESERVE their support. There is no excuse.

Everyone keeps referring to OKC as some example fan base. OKC fanbase is much like a young kid who appears to be a model citizen. Let's wait until that young kid faces the trials of adulthood and see how they handle things then.

Let a couple of stars walk out on OKC to go to greener pastures and let the management/ownership make a few mistakes first before we decide that the OKC fanbase is so different than any other fanbase.

Fans start to wake up after a while especially as they grow older. Fan "loyalty" in pro sports where players want to walk when they choose may be an outdated paradigm. Pro sports wants you to keep buying into it with your wallet though so they can keep selling shirts and cupholders and keychains.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 11:45 AM ET  03.16 by Em Em Aye

Everyone keeps referring to OKC as some example fan base. OKC fanbase is much like a young kid who appears to be a model citizen. Let's wait until that young kid faces the trials of adulthood and see how they handle things then.Let a couple of stars walk out on OKC to go to greener pastures and let the management/ownership make a few mistakes first before we decide that the OKC fanbase is so different than any other fanbase.Fans start to wake up after a while especially as they grow older. Fan "loyalty" in pro sports where players want to walk when they choose may be an outdated paradigm. Pro sports wants you to keep buying into it with your wallet though so they can keep selling shirts and cupholders and keychains.

I think loyalty is for older people.
a 14 year old kid is going to root for a 'star' or whomever wins
then as they get older- they either jump ship to the next team thats on top or the next star or they stay loyal to whatever team they started rooting for as a kid OR - and this is what's the worst thing for the NBA- they just stop watching altogether.

why do you think there are so many rogue cowboy fans and steeler fans across the country, or Laker fans and now heat fans....

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 11:49 AM ET  03.16 by jgb

I think loyalty is for older people.

I think the "rougue" fans as you call them often times seem to be attracted to sucess more than anything. That and sometimes a franchise's storied history like the Celtics.

I actually think it's the younger fans that are more sold on the passion and loyalty thing. I think many older fans like myself and Brotha see pro sports as a business and that they use the whole fan loyalty thing to support their product.

At some point no matter how hard you cheer or how loyal you are to a franchise they aren't going to put food on your table. When you realize that you start to question why you give them so much love and attention. There was a time in my life where Redskin games could effect my emotions for a day or two afterwards. It was like the classic "idol" for me. I bought shirts, jerseys and sweatshirts and wouldn't miss a game at all. But I grew out of that and now I just don't even watch NFL any more. It hasn't hurt my life in the least. What did all of my loyalty really get me back then other than become a distraction from my own personal life.

Disgraceful performance by Pacers answers all questions Hill has. Missing 8-10 layups, slogging thru game like they didn't care if they won or lost and he wants folks to spend their $ watching him strut around and count his money? Arrogance doesn't sell when you lose to washed up bench players.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 11:45 AM ET  03.16 by Em Em Aye

Everyone keeps referring to OKC as some example fan base. OKC fanbase is much like a young kid who appears to be a model citizen. Let's wait until that young kid faces the trials of adulthood and see how they handle things then.Let a couple of stars walk out on OKC to go to greener pastures and let the management/ownership make a few mistakes first before we decide that the OKC fanbase is so different than any other fanbase.Fans start to wake up after a while especially as they grow older. Fan "loyalty" in pro sports where players want to walk when they choose may be an outdated paradigm. Pro sports wants you to keep buying into it with your wallet though so they can keep selling shirts and cupholders and keychains.

Good point! OKC has been on an upward trajectory the last few years, first making the playoffs, then advancing to the WCF, then making the Finals. Of course the fans are loyal for that! But what if the Harden trade turns out to be the thing that keeps them from a title, and they even go backward a little?

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 12:13 PM ET  03.16 by Em Em Aye

I think the "rougue" fans as you call them often times seem to be attracted to sucess more than anything. That and sometimes a franchise's storied history like the Celtics. I actually think it's the younger fans that are more sold on the passion and loyalty thing. I think many older fans like myself and Brotha see pro sports as a business and that they use the whole fan loyalty thing to support their product. At some point no matter how hard you cheer or how loyal you are to a franchise they aren't going to put food on your table. When you realize that you start to question why you give them so much love and attention. There was a time in my life where Redskin games could effect my emotions for a day or two afterwards. It was like the classic "idol" for me. I bought shirts, jerseys and sweatshirts and wouldn't miss a game at all. But I grew out of that and now I just don't even watch NFL any more. It hasn't hurt my life in the least. What did all of my loyalty really get me back then other than become a distraction from my own personal life.

I am generalizing, of course.....
and I hear you-

but three are different kinds of fans- I mena personally speaking-
I love the knicks, but I have n't been to a game in a decade.
haven't bought any paraphernalia in more than that-
but I watch most of the games on tV (not west coast games as I am long asleep)
am I not 'loyal' ? or a fan

I'm still a fan- but I am like you- I get its a business, I get its every player for himself....
but I know plenty of people that still are hard core fans-
maybe more so in football- cause there are fewer games
and its easier to devote one day, 16 days a year....
rather than basketball or baseball- where games are basically every day for 6months