Game Thread 02/26: Pacers vs. Mavs

[Pacers_Freak]

My observations from last night:

1. Like I said earlier in this thread it is hard to win on the road in the NBA. We just don't have as much separation from the bottom teams as folks think. On the road there are no easy or must wins for us.

2. We are really bad on offense without Dipo. We saw it in the games he missed. Last night he barely played due to foul trouble. Offense looked great with the he and Myles pick and pop in mid-late 4th. He can't get hurt or in foul trouble or we are in big trouble.

3. Dipo is not yet getting the benefit of being an all star calls. Couple of tough foul calls on him. And they missed a couple on his drives. That will come as he continues to play well.

4. I love Lance more than anyone but he was a flat out defensive liability last night. Defense, particularly off the ball defense isn't his forte to begin with, but last night it was dreadful. Embarrassingly bad. I'm usually wondering why he doesn't play more, last night I was yelling at Nate to take him out.

5. Great to see GR3 back and looking pretty good. If he continues to get confidence on that leg he is going to be a big big boost here down the stretch. He has impressed me in both games.

[DoubleEagle4]

Yikes, Lance and Sabonis were -20 in the +/- column last night. Hard to win on the road when your bench doesn't show up and your star fights foul trouble.

[Pacers_Freak]

Yikes, Lance and Sabonis were -20 in the +/- column last night. Hard to win on the road when your bench doesn't show up and your star fights foul trouble.

I hadn't looked up the +/- but it doesn't surprise me. It is about as bad as I remember Lance playing in a Pacer uni.

[Revived]

Need Collison back more than ever. For all the trade rumors there was about him, games like these (when Dipo gets in foul trouble or is off the court for any reason) shows Collison’s true value.

[Jake0890]

wow

[Wizop]

having slept on it, I think the Dallas matchups required us to try Thad at the 3 to guard Harrison Barnes.

[Topofthekey]

So much for Pacers win when Bogie scores 15 or more.

I think the long term solution for Pacers at SF is going to be one where there is no permanent starting SF, but one or two or three guys who can slide to that position depending on matchups.

Thad (or even AG if Pacers sign him) are both options, depending on matchups. Alternatively, go small ball and start 3 guards. Someone like Bogie can start for games where the opponent's SF isn't a major threat and 3pt shooting is required.

Basically just give the coach options, and then it's up to him to figure out the gameplan for each, and let the opponents deal with the mismatch

[Wizop]

Basically just give the coach options, and then it's up to him to figure out the gameplan for each, and let the opponents deal with the mismatch

I'm all for that although I've heard a bunch of NBA coaches over the years defend substituting by the clock by saying the players are more comfortable when they have a routine.