RealGM

VS

New York, New York...New York.


Starting Lineups

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TJ Ford, the streaky speedster and Chris Duhon, the consistent producer, will be looking to exploit each other's defensive weaknesses throughout the game. While TJ Ford has been inconsistent, he has performed better in the second night of back-to-backs thus far this season, and with his offense more important than ever, he may very well be the difference between moving up the ladder towards the last playoff spot and falling two rungs towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

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As the starting shooting guard at Madison Square Garden last time, Jarrett Jack successfully channeled Reggie Miller and torched the Knicks for 29 in victory. He continues to have difficulty stopping opposing shooting guards, however, allowing Ben Gordon to score 22 in the first half against him. He faces a different brand of guard in Wilson Chandler, but the challenge will be just as great. Jarrett Jack has had success on offense in the absence of Dunleavy and Granger.

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Walsh favorite Al Harrington continues to lead the Knicks in their era of rebuilding, and has good games against the Pacers. Marquis Daniels is a key player with the injuries, and has had his share of big games. Hopefully his play will continue and he can defend the athletic and versatile Al Harrington. Marquis is not the greatest three-point shooter on the team, but if he can hit an early one, it will force the Knicks to be more careful.

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Troy Murphy will get his double-double, but he must prevent David Lee from doing the same. Even though David Lee trumps Murphy in that category, both consistently average the requisite numbers. Without Granger, Troy will be called upon to create offense at times, and he must take care when passing, which is not his strong suit. David Lee is more athletic, so Murphy needs help in the board department.

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Roy Hibbert actually shot poorly and rebounded well against the Bulls, and if he starts he should be the focal point of the Pacers offense. His presence in the post will open up the three-point shooting game of the Pacers. Jared Jeffries is not a pivotal player, but may be matches up against Jeff Foster in the war for rebounds.

The Key Reserves

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The Knicks have a deep bench, and they can all score. The Pacers bench is depleted due to injuries, but if Brandon Rush makes good decisions, the Pacers bench has a good chance. Blastin' Baston has the potential to be an inside threat when he is active, and Travis Diener may be one of the best third-option point guards out there. Jeff Foster's return gives the defense a boost, and he may start instead. For the Knicks, the addition of Larry Hughes increases the offensive capabilities of the bench by a lot.

The Coaches

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The Pacers have won four in a row at Madison Square Garden. Perhaps the spirit of Reggie Miller will bless O'Brien again and let him coach a good game. The matchups are difficult, but many factors are still undecided, and the game can still go either way. Any given Pacer can step up, and though the mustaches are gone, the intensity is not.

Injury Report

Pacers
Danny Granger-Knee
Mike Dunleavy-Knee

Knicks
None

Final Points

-The game should be decided by which team has the more cancerous NY point guard: Stephon Marbury, or Jamaal Tinsley.
-Channel Reggie Miller.
-Make choking gestures at Spike Lee.

Tradition





RUN N' GUN!!!



I don't care, she's beautiful to me...

Play BALL!
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nice game thead

Let's GOOO P's!

wooohoooo lets play ball(s)

YES! Walt Frazier is a commentator, they didn't have him last time. Of all the commentators in the NBA that I've heard, I think hes my favorite.

Hes already used to word "auspitious", this is going to be a fun game

Ford is not playing, out with the flu. We are officialy doomed for today

This might be the worst lineup in the history of the Pacers.

EDIT: What was post brawl lineup again?

Harrison might have been a smarter defender than Hibbert. -_-

OMG this has to be the worst game I have ever seen LOL

Its like watching two high school teams.

Brush is 0-7. -_-

Jeff Foster should not be playing at this point. It seems like everytime the ball has been in his hands he's made a terrible pass and turned the ball over. The stats people messed up somewhere because it only has him listed with 2 turnovers but I've seen 3 for sure, and they've all been forced passes to a cutter (twice to Rush, and once to Daniels).

Dunthreevy wrote:Jeff Foster should not be playing at this point. It seems like everytime the ball has been in his hands he's made a terrible pass and turned the ball over. The stats people messed up somewhere because it only has him listed with 2 turnovers but I've seen 3 for sure, and they've all been forced passes to a cutter (twice to Rush, and once to Daniels).

Speaking of the devil....

This game is as ridiculous as it is because NY is working with a new lineup and we're working without two awesome players. Both teams are in the second night of back-to-backs.

I've lost soooo much faith in Hibbert over the last 2 weeks. I'm starting to think this guy is never going to grasp defense.

I wish I had the .gif of Phil Jackson telling Mike D'Antoni to "sit the **** down" when he was crying to the refs last year.

Dunthreevy wrote:Jeff Foster should not be playing at this point. It seems like everytime the ball has been in his hands he's made a terrible pass and turned the ball over. The stats people messed up somewhere because it only has him listed with 2 turnovers but I've seen 3 for sure, and they've all been forced passes to a cutter (twice to Rush, and once to Daniels).

^^^^^^

Why would Obie have a bad passer doing the inbound?

We hung in there, but it's going to be a lot more difficult to win games until #33 comes back.

More importantly, when will #32 (or for that matter, #31) suit up and take us to that 9th seed?

It sux the Pacers haven't been healthy. They would be having a solid season.