Playoffs Game 2: Pacers vs Magic, 7:30 EST (caution)

[Nuntius]

You said the play wasn't his fault. I said the ball shouldn't be in his hands or shouldn't have been on the court.

If Hill was playing defense then Darren wouldn't be on the court. But Hill wasn't defending. Darren did a better defensive job on Nelson. And that's why he was there to finish the game. That's why he had the ball in his hands. It wasn't Darren's fault that GH could not keep Nelson in front of him in game 1.

[Miller4ever]

Hansbrough didn't look so hot in the first. Then again, neither did the Pacers.

They looked tired tonight. Since there's only one day of rest, we might be able to press that advantage and steal one right back.

[Miller4ever]

The fact the ball was in his hands at that point of the game is the issue. He shouldn't touch the ball or even be on the court.

Your stance is well-known. Unless you clarify your statements they will be interpreted in that unilateral context. You can't backpedal on such a sweeping statement because it did nothing to address the specifics of the previously made point and it doesn't differ from every other statement you've made about Collison this season. Another way you could've said it is "Hill should've closed the game out" which would've been an improvement in rhetoric.

[FreeRon]

It really seems like all of the long shots they take that result in long rebounds are negating our advantage down low. It seemed like the West-Hansbrough-Lou lineup was pretty effective as we had players to chase down the rebounds rather than work for position down low while the ball bounces all over the court. The thing we have to be careful of is Jameer driving the lane on that team. DC has defended him pretty well, though, and really seemed to step up his game outside of shooting the ball. I'll take 15 near turnovers over 1 turnover any day of the week. I have liked Hill better for this team up until these last two games, but if we're going to have these really low-scoring games we should be working to get the team on the court that can protect the ball, rebound, and defend. I liked what we did this game in not trying to force the ball into Hibbert. Most of our offense seemed to come on the break and slashing to the basket. If they're going to take those long shots, run the floor when the rebound comes back long.

[Miller4ever]

Mainly it came down to effort on the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls. It seemed like we fought way harder in the second half, and it resulted in better position for better rebounding. Stan Van Gundy got praised coming into this game, and rightfully so, but I think Vogel is no worse as a coach.

[SunsRback4Good]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to jinx your team I was just happy they played great tonight. I'm a Suns fan first but two other teams I'm rooting for to do well in playoffs are OKC and Pacers.

[Gremz]

PhxSuns85, you are a cool cat.

[Wizop]

If we don't win this game, I'm going to blame the girls in the OP

but we won even with the girls and even without white rally towels. glad to put those issues behind us.

took us 6 quarters but we finally sat Lou and pulled away. now I'm not blaming Lou but against Orlando we just can't play Lou and Tyler at the same time as it makes it too easy for them to switch a shooter open. another way to say the same thing is that West or Hibbert needs to be in the game at all times and West got about 40 last night. why we don't play D Jones on Riddick remains a mystery to me. we did play a little with DC and GH both on the floor and that's a step in the right direction of matching up with their 3 guard lineups.

[Wizop]

He was a clear weak link in the offense tonight too.

and a clear strength in the defense. we've got a real rotation problem in this series but I don't see DC as the problem. if we can't find a second unit that can score and defend, we're going to have to cut back to seven or eight players and have four starters on the floor at all times. I don't see any rotation that works and leaves DC on the bench.

[Pacersike]

I don't have anything to complain about our rotation last night.
Hibbert and Collison getting limited minutes.
Granger getting minutes at the 4 and George at the 3.
Hill and West not getting substituted when they are playing well and the egg timer runs out.

Great game from our coach and a couple of players. About time for Granger and Hibbert to join them in our next game.

[Indy2thaWindy]

He was a clear weak link in the offense tonight too.

and a clear strength in the defense. we've got a real rotation problem in this series but I don't see DC as the problem. if we can't find a second unit that can score and defend, we're going to have to cut back to seven or eight players and have four starters on the floor at all times. I don't see any rotation that works and leaves DC on the bench.

He's a part of the problem. I think we're overrating his defense because we see the pressure he's putting on Duhon, like every other point guard does in the league. In game 2, Collison and Nelson were on the floor together for a total of 55 seconds. I'm with you that 3 or 4 starters should be on the floor at all times. Ever since we moved Hill into the starting lineup, our bench has been pretty bad.

[mizzoupacers]

It really seems like all of the long shots they take that result in long rebounds are negating our advantage down low.

I think you hit it right on the head.

Orlando's team reminds me of Missouri's this college season. Missouri had great guards but was really thin inside, so they spread the court and held their own on the boards by outquicking opponents to the ball and by gathering in long rebounds.

Mizzou struggled against teams that could guard them on the perimeter (example, Kansas State). That's what the Pacers need to do on defense--stay on their men, not get caught on switches and get their spacing all screwed up. If they can do that, they'll dominate the boards.

On offense, they need to move the ball, work the passing angles to get it to our big guys inside, and pound Orlando's bigs into foul trouble. Orlando is only bringing one big guy off the bench, and he's not that good (Clark). Make Davis and Anderson have to choose between getting in foul trouble or getting out of the way!

[Wizop]

I don't have anything to complain about our rotation last night.

not in the second half but our first half rotation mirrored the game one rotation and the second unit gave back the first units ten point lead each time. Lou didn't play in the second half of game two and we didn't give the second lead back even though Roy was limited by fouls.

[Nuntius]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to jinx your team I was just happy they played great tonight. I'm a Suns fan first but two other teams I'm rooting for to do well in playoffs are OKC and Pacers.

Thank you. I wanted the Suns to make the playoffs as well. Nash deserved a last run with his favorite team. Too bad they couldn't make it

Anyway, we appreciate the support

[Nuntius]

Mizzou struggled against teams that could guard them on the perimeter (example, Kansas State). That's what the Pacers need to do on defense--stay on their men, not get caught on switches and get their spacing all screwed up. If they can do that, they'll dominate the boards.

Agreed. Long rebounds are the responsibility of our guards.