Indiana Pacers (4-0) 1st in Eastern Conference, 1st in Central Division
Starting 5
Rotation PG - CJ Watson/Donald Sloan SG - Lance Stephenson/Orlando Johnson/Rasual Butler SF - Paul George/Solomon Hill PF - David West/Luis Scola/Chris Copeland C - Roy Hibbert/Ian Mahinmi
Stat Leaders Points - Paul George (27.0) Rebounds - Roy Hibbert (8.8) Assists - Lance Stephenson (4.8)
Chicago Bulls (1-2) 12th in Eastern Conference, 4th in Central Division
Starting 5
Rotation PG - Derrick Rose/Kirk Hinrich/Marquis Teague/Mike James SG - Jimmy Butler/Mike Dunleavy SF - Luol Deng/Tony Snell PF - Carlos Boozer/Taj Gibson/Erik Murphy C - Joakim Noah/Nazr Mohammed
Stat Leaders Points - Carlos Boozer (22.3) Rebounds - Joakim Noah (11.7) Assists - Luol Deng (4.7)
Injury Reports Pacers Danny Granger (calf) - Out until mid-November George Hill (hip) - Out
Bulls No Injuries
Game Preview
Spoiler:
With the Indiana Pacers dealing with key injuries and the Chicago Bulls back to being healthy, the early season Central Division focus was supposed to be shifting back to the latter.
But it's the Pacers hosting the Bulls Wednesday night with a shot at a franchise-first 5-0 start as they try to remain the NBA's only unbeaten team.
"It would be a big win, a huge confidence booster," Indiana's Paul George said. "But it's no statement. The season's still early."
Frank Vogel's team reached 4-0 for the first time since 2004-05 and the third time in history with a 99-91 win at Detroit Tuesday.
Consistent with strong defensive efforts in their first three games, the Pacers jumped out to a 29-14 first-quarter lead by holding the Pistons to 7-of-23 shooting. But they followed that up with just nine second-quarter points.
"Our starters' disposition and attitude and energy took the game back over," Vogel said. "We were able to ride it out."
With Danny Granger still inactive with a left calf injury, George continues to elevate his game. He scored 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting for his second 30-point game this season, bumping his scoring average to 27.0.
The Pacers are holding opponents to 85.5 points per game on 37.9 percent shooting a season after allowing an NBA-low 42.0 percent from the floor.
If there's been anything to complain about, it's been turnovers. They're averaging 19.5 and haven't had a game with fewer than 18.
In addition to being without Granger, the Pacers will be missing guard George Hill for a third straight game with a sore hip. C.J. Watson will again start in Hill's place.
The Bulls (1-2) are trying to avoid losing three of their first four for the first time since drafting Derrick Rose before the 2008-09 season.
They lost 107-104 at Philadelphia Saturday after blowing a 20-point second-quarter lead.
Rose went 4 for 14 with 13 points and six assists. His eight turnovers tied the third highest total of his career.
"I would blame tonight on me," said Rose, who has been dealing with a neck injury. "Turnovers, missed shots, miscommunication -- I just couldn't get in my groove."
Rose is averaging 14.3 points on 28.8 percent shooting with 4.3 assists in his first three games back from knee surgery, but it hasn't been only him struggling.
Joakim Noah, an All-Star last season, is averaging 6.0 points on 31.8 percent shooting after averaging a career-high 11.9 points last year.
Opponents are shooting 47 percent from 3-point range against the Bulls while they're hitting just 23.2 percent of their 3s, including a 6-for-30 mark in their last two. Luol Deng is 1 of 12 from long range.
"You've got to correct things immediately; you got to put the work into it," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau told the team's official website. "You can't hope it to happen; you have to make it happen. And we need everybody doing it. We can't rely on a certain two or three guys to do everything. Our entire team is needed. This isn't a Derrick issue, this is a team issue and we have to correct it."
One of Rose's three career 40-point games came at Indiana on March 18, 2011, when he scored 42. Three of his 13 games over 35 have come against the Pacers.
The Bulls are 14-6 against the Pacers with Rose and 4-5 at Indiana. They went 1/3 against the Pacers last year without him, including 0-2 on the road.
George scored 34 points -- the second-highest total of his career -- in the first meeting with the Bulls last year, an 80-76 Pacers win Dec. 4, 2012. via ESPN.com
Bulls Fan............ Personally, I'd like to think we here in Chicago are better. Honestly, I think this year is going to tell us alot about both our favorite teams. (At the end of the season, only one of us will be considered a contender).
I really like how your team is being built. I think smart decisions have been made in your organization. I first saw you guys as a legitimate threat 2 years ago, after what you guys accomplished last season, you are more than just another threat. You're now a potential road block.
I honestly think your team has more raw talent than the one I choose to follow. My hope is that our coach, has the ability to out-think your talent.
Don't take life to seriously and find your potential. Most importantly, have as much fun as you can while you're still here.
C3 wrote:It's hard to believe this thread is not more busy.......... I've been to your city before, been to your stadium, even went to a basketball game......
Why is know-body talking, your the hoosiers..... Basketball fans, Yes?
Game threads are just not very busy around here. Most people post after the games.
C3 wrote:It's hard to believe this thread is not more busy.......... I've been to your city before, been to your stadium, even went to a basketball game......
Why is know-body talking, your the hoosiers..... Basketball fans, Yes?
Two reasons, 1. we don't have the largest fanbase logged on to RealGM and 2. the excellent people that we do have here posting, prefer to watch the games and not have their faces inplanted to their computer screen.
I like our community as is.
The first rule of Basketball: Believe. Follow on twitter @Grang33r
1. Donald Sloan - WOW! Where did this guy come from? He was really up to the challenge tonight. Came up big several times, good defense and timely shooting. 4-6 shooting and played the most (21min) then any reserve.
2. What a difference Luis Scola makes on this team. "Only" 12 points but 6-8 shooting, hustle, defense, and very clutch shooting. Oh, and a very slick steal on Deng and then jam. Guy brought it tonight.
3. Hibbert is a legit DPOY guy. Dominated his battles tonight. Noah had no chance down low.
4. We still have few things to work on, as does every team. It's early. But, the way this team plays in the second half is killer. They have DOMINATED every single opponent in the second half so far this season. Statisically, our second halfs would of been even more lopsided if the Pistons didn't make their late garbage time comeback last night.
5. Not mentioned much, but worth noting- Pacers were on back-to-back nights, the Bulls have been off since Saturday.
The first rule of Basketball: Believe. Follow on twitter @Grang33r
I'd like to think the second unit just needs more time together although Vogel said post game he thinks he needs to give them some new plays to run or change the rotation pattern. we'll see how we do in the 2nd quarter against Toronto
Please edit long quotes to only show what puts your new message into context.
Mahinmi left with an injury tonight. Does anyone know how he's doing? I havn't seen anything on twitter. He was in the locker room for quite some time but did return to the bench for the end of the game, but when Hibbert got subbed out late, it was Copeland who came in.
I wonder who the "emergency" plan is for backup center? Last year we had ease, since we had Jeff Pendergraph or even at worse case, Miles Plumlee available. Don't have any options now.
The first rule of Basketball: Believe. Follow on twitter @Grang33r
C3 wrote:It's hard to believe this thread is not more busy.......... I've been to your city before, been to your stadium, even went to a basketball game......
Why is know-body talking, your the hoosiers..... Basketball fans, Yes?
We have a dedicated website to the pacers it's called Pacersdigest and it where most people go.,we post in here for more of the other fan bases .,at least that's why I do it.
C3 wrote:It's hard to believe this thread is not more busy.......... I've been to your city before, been to your stadium, even went to a basketball game......
Why is know-body talking, your the hoosiers..... Basketball fans, Yes?
As Pacerlive said we have a dedicated site to talk about our Pacers. Most of the Pacers community posts there while only a small percentage posts here. Some post on both. I wish I had the time to post in these game threads more often, though. Jake is putting in time to create some nice threads and he deserves recognition for it.
I appreciate your contribution to the thread, though
"No wolf shall keep his secrets, no bird shall dance the skyline And I am left with nothing but an oath that gleams like a sword To bathe in the blood of man Mankind..."
She Painted Fire Across the Skyline, Part 3 - Agalloch
Grang33r wrote:Mahinmi left with an injury tonight. Does anyone know how he's doing?
According to NBA.com he is fine.
"No wolf shall keep his secrets, no bird shall dance the skyline And I am left with nothing but an oath that gleams like a sword To bathe in the blood of man Mankind..."
She Painted Fire Across the Skyline, Part 3 - Agalloch
Grang33r wrote:2. What a difference Luis Scola makes on this team. "Only" 12 points but 6-8 shooting, hustle, defense, and very clutch shooting. Oh, and a very slick steal on Deng and then jam. Guy brought it tonight.
This was Scola's highlight, imo:
"No wolf shall keep his secrets, no bird shall dance the skyline And I am left with nothing but an oath that gleams like a sword To bathe in the blood of man Mankind..."
She Painted Fire Across the Skyline, Part 3 - Agalloch
Grang33r wrote:2. What a difference Luis Scola makes on this team. "Only" 12 points but 6-8 shooting, hustle, defense, and very clutch shooting. Oh, and a very slick steal on Deng and then jam. Guy brought it tonight.
This was Scola's highlight, imo:
I jumped off the couch when I saw this.
Loved the game, loved West's rebounding he was really going after it. I told my buddy when Lance broke that slump with that 3 he was about to turn it up and he did, all it takes is one for him, that's a good sign.
I saw a few plays were PG got a little lazy on defense but I'll take him doing that if he keeps playing the way he's playing.
