The Pacers have struggled recently, but president Larry Bird still expects the team to make the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference.

"I'm disappointed we've lost as many games as we have," Bird said. "In the East we should definitely be a playoff team. I'll be very disappointed if we don't make the playoffs. That was my goal the whole time."

The Pacers have gone 7-16 in their past 23 games.

Bird also denied that coach Jim O'Brien may be on the hot seat because of their slide.

"You can't put this all on Jimmy. It's on all of us," he said.

"When I hired Jimmy, I told him how I exactly thought it was going to be. Last year I thought we could have won some more games. But this year, I think we should be in the playoffs."