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THE SKINNY



The Pacers continue their road trip with two tough tests in a row. Miami and Boston are both contenders in the East and coming out of these games 4-3 will really be a blow to the Pacers. However, the good news is the Pacers really got the ball moving (literally) on offense against the Nets and Heat guard Dwyane Wade may be out for the game.

THE LINEUPS



Point Guard

Darren Collison is averaging career-highs from the field and in the assists column while averaging career-low in turnovers. His piloting of this team will be a huge factor in getting the offense clicking against a tough defensive opponent. Chalmers is an easier cover for Collison compared to some of the other point guards he's had to face, but is by no means a liability, able to hit big shots when it counts and play defense.

Shooting Guard

If Dwyane plays, Paul George has his biggest test of the season. If he doesn't, then former Pacer James Jones will fill the role with his three-point shooting stroke, or Shane Battier will step in. George filled it up himself from deep for 21 points, and his offensive participation is correlated to how well the Pacers do overall.

Small Forward

Whether it's chemistry, confidence, or just plain luck, Danny Granger is not finding the bottom of the net. It's not going to be any easier with Lebron guarding him. Lebron James, on the other hand, has ditched 3-point shooting in favor of attacking the basket for a clip of 60% from the field and nearly 30 points a game. He is the unquestioned focal point of this offense and the Pacers need to make him their top priority.

Power Forward

David West faces a more athletic, younger version of himself in Chris Bosh. There are many comparisons between the rangy, crafty forwards, but at this stage in his career and so far this season, West has been more of a vocal leader and an enforcer inside. While he is not shooting particularly well, West is securing the ball. He has turned the ball over 3 times the whole season.

Center

Roy Hibbert's steady development has been instrumental in the Pacers 4-1 start, and he looks to sustain it this time, instead of hitting the wall like he did last season. The center position is where the Heat have the most obvious deficiencies, but Joel Anthony is not going to make it easy for Hibbert to get his points. Hibbert must also take care not to get in foul trouble when Lebron inevitably makes his way inside.

THE BENCH






Hansbrough and Haslem are both midrange shooting power forwards, but Hansbrough's shot has been more ineffectual this season. Haslem, on the other hand, has made it a habit to kill the Pacers with that shot of his over the years. The addition of Norris Cole and Shane Battier has done its part in bolstering the Heat bench, so they now have some depth to contend with the Pacers.

THE COACHES




Frank Vogel and Erik Spoelstra are both young coaches who have lofty expectations that they both expect to meet. Spoelstra's team came out of the gate looking more battle-ready, but Vogel has the hours put in and the Nets game might be what the Pacers needed to get into an offensive groove.

THE INJURY REPORT



Pacers
Jeff Foster: Back - Probably not.
Jeff Pendergraph: Knee - Probably not.

Heat
Dwyane Wade: Foot - Probably not.
Mickell Gladness: Foot - Who?
Mike Miller: Hernia - Out.
Eddy Curry: Hip - Out.

THE HEAVY MATTERS



-Win the battle of the boards. The best way to neutralize an opponent is to keep the ball away from them.
-Communicate on defense. Keeping everyone covered is more important than trying to stop Lebron.

THE TRADITION







BEAT THE HEAT!

respect from miami heat forum for the thread

I hope Wade plays. Want to beat 'em at full strength. Pumped for this game.

dont even care about basketball anymore

Best thread ever.

Damn OP - I needed a NSFW on the topic

Anyone know if there is an online radion station I can hear the game? (Not from the US)

GO PACERS!

You Pacers fans sure know how to make a good game thread.

Anyways, Jazz fan here with nothing better to do than cheer for the Pacers tonight on League Pass. Go Pacers!

I like the competitiveness to start. David West seems to be having trouble. Hopefully Hansbrough's shot falls tonight.

here's MIA's Bosh
giving props to
the IND frontline
prior to the matchup:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamih ... big-pacers

We haven't faced a team that has this level of ball movement, an it shows. Granger needs to not try to do so much. He serves as a good decoy. Georges getting going, Hibbert pretty solid, but the PF's haven't supported him well enough thus far.

TOs this 2nd Q
by far has been
traveling calls.

can't believe it. :-/

I'm as mad as West. A couple of iffy calls (didn't get to see it clearly myself) but that technical didn't help.

Those 5 against 8 are the toughest games.

I'm going to bed. It's clear who needs to win.

Pacersike wrote:Those 5 against 8 are the toughest games.

I'm going to bed. It's clear who needs to win.

It's not 5 against 8, it's 2 against 5. West just can't get going, Collison is being Collison, and Granger has to go. It's clear he wants no part in taking a reduced offensive role. It makes it even worse when you can't hit anything. He had a blatant and unnecessary offensive foul and then comes right back down and shoots a 3 with 17 seconds left on the shotclock and two hands in his face. I hope frizzledizzle tries to defend that with Granger's playoff numbers. And to whover said Stephenson is lost defensively a few days ago, I hope you are watching this game. He's been great, and had two great defensive stands against LeBron. Can't same for Collison. He was as lost as you can get on a few plays.

Danny better start shooting better from the field, I hate to be one of those guys who jumps to conclusions, but good lord. We traded Stephen Jackson years ago man.

Where's the PNR game? It's our most successful play and opens up our shooters. Stop the ISO ball.

Not enough decisiveness after a pick. Inopportune pick slips. There's a lot this team still has to practice. We now have the abilities to match up to Miami, we just haven't had the time to put it together. I bet the next meeting isn't as egregiously lopsided.

I agree. DC needs to be more decisive and assertive, even look for his own shot more. I like the occasional post up or ISO, but DC & West were at their best in NO w/ the PNR. We're still learning, but this is just ridiculous.

Danny is a weak link at this point. If he doesn't turn it around in the next two weeks, I would not be surprised to see him on the block.

dang this is depressing.