It wasn't that long ago that the Pacers looked liked they were gaining some momentum and destined for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
How things have changed for them. The Pacers are on a three-game losing streak and looking more and more like they'll be missing the playoffs for the third straight season.
They definitely looked like that during their 23-point loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
The Pacers have 14 games to try to get past five other teams for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
"We'll see Wednesday (against Portland) if guys on this team are going to step up and show they have some (guts) and if we want to continue this season in the playoffs or not," center Jeff Foster said. "The last two games, it's been a sign of how bad our defense is. All the mistakes we're making defensively, it's causing us to struggle offensively as well. Teams are outplaying us and taking it to us. We have to man up and see how we respond."
The Pacers hope All-Star forward Danny Granger can quickly knock off the rust after missing 11 games with a partially torn tendon in his foot. He had 10 points off the bench against the Raptors.
"I'm glad I got that out of the way," Granger said after the Toronto games. "I played 18 minutes, but I thought I played 32. That's how it feels. It'll come around. It takes awhile to get back in rhythm."
RAPTORS 110, PACERS 87: It wasn't Chris Bosh that beat the Pacers. It was center Andrea Bargnani and journeyman forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu that had their way against Indiana. The two Raptors big men combined for 48 points and 21 rebounds in a game that wasn't close after halftime. Point guard T.J. Ford led the Pacers, who trailed by as many as 30 points, with 15 points.
