Game 28: Pacers @ Hornets

[chube]

Beautifully timed put-back by Lance! If they hang on, that'll make up for those 2 consecutive airballs in the 1st half!

[Nuntius]

We're leading 77 - 75 with 31.6 second remaining in the game.

[Jake0890]

David West is a monster. He better be resigned.

I don't understand how we came back in this game.

[Jake0890]

I don't think Anthony Davis has quite lived up to expectations.

[Nuntius]

If they hang on, that'll make up for those 2 consecutive airballs in the 1st half!

It sure did. Lance was crucial in that 4th quarter.

[Jake0890]

Pacers win!

[Nuntius]

We won 81 - 75

[Nuntius]

I don't think Anthony Davis has quite lived up to expectations.

He is 19 year old big that is averaging 15 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 1.2 SPG and 0.7 APG. He has been good. He has missed some games due to micro-injuries, though. He has only played 13 games so far (14 including this one).

It's just that Lillard has been much better and much more important to the Blazers.

[chube]

What a gutsy win! David West was unbelievably good! And great D in the 2nd half.

Gotta love a good grind-it-out win on the road on the second night of a back-to-back like that. Sure, there was some extremely sloppy play, but all that mattered was we had more points at the end of the game then they did and it goes in the win-column.

I echo whoever said to re-sign West! I frequently hear that the 2nd year back from an ACL injury is when you get your game back. Exhibit A: David West.

*** As for Davis not living up to expectations, it's hard to get a good read since he's been slowed by nagging injuries so far. While his offensive game is maybe a step behind where I thought he'd be, his defense and rebounding is still great. What hurts him also is that the only other offensive option on the floor most nights is Ryan Anderson (until they get Eric Gordon back, anyway.) And that Austin Rivers is even farther behind in terms of expectations, both from a scoring and play-making standpoint. Vasquez has been a nice surprise, but still not the ideal PG running the floor for most teams.

[Nuntius]

*** As for Davis not living up to expectations, it's hard to get a good read since he's been slowed by nagging injuries so far.

Exactly.

Vasquez has been a nice surprise, but still not the ideal PG running the floor for most teams.

I'd love Vasquez here

[Grang33r]

Wow. Completely in shock that we won this. Watched the first part of the game, but with the down 42-20, and knowing the Pacers couldnt fly out last night and had to fly out this morning, thought they were tired and this was a mail it in game, i decided to leave the game and continue with my other plans. Just saw the score via twitter and had to come here. Incredible.

Quick thoughts based on what i've read on twitter-

-West went beast mode again in the second half. How he doesn't get to the all-star game is beyond me.
-Looks as if Hansbrough being the backup to Hill ended in the second half.
-Vogel will need to think of a way to continue to give Stephenson extended minutes even once Granger returns.

[Jake0890]

For Anthony Davis being the undisputed number one pick and the hype he had of being by far the best out of his draft class, I'd have to say he hasn't met those expectations. As you said, Lillard has been exceptional. A PG out of Weber State is the top candidate for ROTY, imo, rather than Davis. He no longer is the defensive playmaker as he was in college, as shown by David Wests dominance in the 2nd half. His injuries could also be a future problem for him.

[Nuntius]

-West went beast mode again in the second half. How he doesn't get to the all-star game is beyond me.

In the last 4 minutes of the game he went 4/4 from the field for 8 points against Anthony Davis.

He was perfect. All net. Spectacular execution. Without him, we wouldn't have won.

[Nuntius]

He no longer is the defensive playmaker as he was in college, as shown by David Wests dominance in the 2nd half.

To be fair, no one could do anything in that situation. You cannot stop West once he gets hot from 15-17 feet. You cannot block that fade-away. The only thing that you can do is to double him. But this opens a whole different bag of problems.