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THE SKINNY



The Milwaukee Bucks teased the Pacers with some hope before putting them away with a less-than-miraculous tip-in from Andrew Bogut. With that loss fresh in their minds, the Pacers look to pounce on the Bobcats at home and put them away early to save their energy for their trip to Atlanta tomorrow. The last time these teams faced off, the Pacers stole one in Charlotte late.

THE LINEUPS



Point Guard

Darren Collison is now finishing games with TJ Ford's recent slump. DJ Augustin is playing solidly in the starting role and shoots well enough to warrant defensive attention. He is one of the few guards in the league the Pacers enjoy a size advantage against.

Shooting Guard

Brandon Rush was quiet against the lengthy wings of the Bucks. Now the Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace tandem, which needs a lot of defensive attention, comes rolling through Indy. Rush needs to be on his game.

Small Forward

Gerald Wallace is a one of the best rebounding wings in the NBA. Granger needs to board better, especially after that embarrassing showing in Milwaukee.

Power Forward

Josh McRoberts needs to put more effort into boxing out and grabbing rebounds. The Pacers need him to return to form if they want to take the Bobcats on the boards. Boris Diaw is a dangerous player in many facets of the game, so McRoberts needs to do what he does best and give Diaw a hard time.

Center

Roy Hibbert did not rebound well against the Bucks, getting thoroughly manhandled by Bogut on the boards. He has a chance to redeem himself against the salty old veteran in Nazr Mohammed. He and McBob should be putting bodies on people during the rebound.

THE BENCH







With Tyrus Thomas questionable, the main punch off the Bobcats bench may not be as dangerous, but they are athletic and cannot be discounted. It would help if Dunleavy/Rush, Ford, and Posey could generate better offense than they have in previous games.

THE COACHES





Jim O'Brien has a team on his hands that needs some help with rebounding. With Solomon Jones on the block, Foster and Hansbrough become more important. Larry Brown has a freshly rested squad that is looking to steal one back form the Pacers.

THE INJURY REPORT



Pacers
None.

Bobcats
Gerald Henderson - Knee: Out.
Tyrus Thomas - Quad: Maybe.

THE HEAVY MATTERS



-Box out. The Pacers were absolutely anemic in the last game.
-Offense.

THE TRADITION

Dunleavy's D.

Quinn Buckner called Dunleavy a good team defender. Allows individual players to burn him, though. Rush should be the starter.

Miller4ever wrote:Quinn Buckner called Dunleavy a good team defender. Allows individual players to burn him, though. Rush should be the starter.

Quinn doesn't know what he's talkin about half the time. He is clueless trying to breakdown other team's players.

Why doesn't Clark Kellogg do all the broadcasts? He's so much better...

Miller4ever wrote:Why doesn't Clark Kellogg do all the broadcasts? He's so much better...

definitely

Unleavy stop complainin, it was a block. Your foot was on the line.

Granger, the star can take a charge. Unleavy, the scrub, can't.

Jackson's 7-7 with Dun on him, scoreless with Rush on him. I'd call that a clue...
Wish JOB would get one

Solid wrote:Jackson's 7-7 with Dun on him, scoreless with Rush on him. I'd call that a clue...
Wish JOB would get one

I think he made one on Rush. I might be wrong, but everyone has scored if Dunleavy was on them. Jackson and McGuire at least.

Roy Hibbert, outside of Hansbrough, makes the most hustle plays on the team.

Gerald Wallace misses a wide open shot. He gets the ball back and hits a shot contested by Dunleavy.

And Dunleavy tips it in for the other team. Get off the court.

Ford and Dunleavy don't look in sync. George and AJ Price should be in these spots.

Miller4ever wrote:Ford and Dunleavy don't look in sync. George and AJ Price should be in these spots.

It won't happen with O'Brien coaching. One more reason why he should be gone.

Rush is proving he's the better player, while Unleavy is showing he doesn't belong in the NBA. But O'Brien still thinks Unleavy should start.

20 games is a quarter of the season. George and Price and Hansbrough might not play the offense the way Obie likes, but the latter two can make things happen and the former could use the experience and confidence.

Dun's ok. Be a great scorer off the bench for a contender at the deadline, or for us cheaply next year. I would rather see Rush start now though and give PG some time.

Miller4ever wrote:20 games is a quarter of the season. George and Price and Hansbrough might not play the offense the way Obie likes, but the latter two can make things happen and the former could use the experience and confidence.

George and Price are good perimeter defenders. That's something we really need off the bench. And Hansbrough is one of the best offensive rebounders I've seen for his size. He definitely should get more playing time. I was one of the biggest Hansbrough haters comin into this season, and he has shown me will go after every rebound and has been really good on offense. I don't know what aquatic is talkin about when clowns on Hansbrough all the time.

I'm glad to have you on this, haha.

Solid wrote:Dun's ok. Be a great scorer off the bench for a contender at the deadline, or for us cheaply next year. I would rather see Rush start now though and give PG some time.

I never want to see Unleavy in a Pacer jersey after this season. I hope we trade him to a scrub team looking for cap relief, so he never makes the playoffs. He doesn't deserve it. He might be the laziest player I've ever seen on the court.

Seriously, though, Posey doesn't box out and McBob has been slacking in that category, and Hansbrough will always do that. Giving up offensive rebounds is such a weakness in our game that we need that.