Game 2, Grizzlies vs. Pacers

[Jake0890]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

October 31, 2014
7:00 PM ET
Bankers Life Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, IN

Indiana Pacers

(1-0) 1st in Central Division, 1st in Eastern Conference

Starting 5


Rotation
PG - Donald Sloan
SG - C.J. Miles | Rodney Stuckey
SF - Solomon Hill | Chris Copeland
PF - Luis Scola | Lavoy Allen | Damjan Rudez
C - Roy Hibbert | Ian Mahinmi | Shayne Whittington

Stat Leaders
Points - Roy Hibbert (22.0)
Rebounds - Donald Sloan (10.0)
Assists - Donald Sloan (6.0)

Memphis Grizzlies

(1-0) 1st In Southwest Division, 1st in Western Conference

Starting 5


Rotation
PG - Mike Conley | Beno Udrih
SG - Courtney Lee | Jordan Adams
SF - Tony Allen | Vince Carter | Quincy Pondexter | Tayshaun Prince
PF - Zach Randolph | Jon Leuer | Jarnell Stokes
C - Marc Gasol | Kosta Koufos

Stat Leaders
Points - Marc Gasol (32.0)
Rebounds - Zach Randolph (13.0)
Assists - Mike Conley (6.0)

Injury Reports

Pacers
George Hill (knee contusion) - Out multiple weeks
C.J. Watson (foot) - Out multiple weeks
David West (ankle) - Out
Paul George (leg) - Likely out for season

Grizzlies
Nick Calathes - 20 day suspension, HGH

Tradition

Spoiler:

[Jake0890]

Pacers standing up to the Grizz surprisingly well.

Rudez 3 of 3 from deep, but Hibbert doesn't have anything after 22 points last game.

[Jake0890]

21-2 run, lol.

[Nuntius]

21-2 run, lol.

Yeah, that run killed us. That 3rd quarter was awful.

Other than that, we played really well considering our injuries. The 2nd quarter was amazing and the team can be very fun to watch at times.

All in all, I saw several good signs tonight. Copeland's and Allen's play was really encouraging.

[Grangerous]

Anyone else feel like our 5 coming off the bench would stomp our current starting 5 in a game? I'm not saying we need to switch around the current starters, and the bench would be a very unconventional line up but just interesting to me.

[EuroPacer]

Interesting game, I didn't expect a lot against a good team with our depleted squad. Also knowing that Roy usually loses against Gasol inside (Boy do I love watching Gasol play btw...)

Another really poor start, 6 turnovers in 6 minutes, that is nearly half the offense lost to silly mistakes, most of them coming from Luis who had a NIGHTMARE game against Z-Bo. I think we would have won had D.West been healthy.

I thought Copeland played with a lot of confidence, which was great to see and Rudez finally knocked down his open looks, one of which was actually a rather cute step-back sort of play.

Hill is still too passive for my liking, he should be a bundle of energy, charging the baseline and cutting/diving and slicing on offense, but he doesn't. I am not sold on him and I have this feeling I won't be. I don't know whether it is the big stage or his skill level, but I am not convinced he should be in the line-up even at this stage with all the injuries.

I thought we took too many threes, going 8-21 is decent, but some of the looks they got were terrible, particularly Miles was a bit too happy to launch.

Stand-out performance for me, Lavoy Allen. I genuinely think he has what it takes to stay in the rotation when everybody is healthy again. He rebounds, which is crucial for us, he hustles (nice steal) and adds presence down low. On top of that he shot well from the top of the key. I'd happily give him all of Scola's minutes once D.West is back.

[Jake0890]

The biggest takeaway from this game for me is just how bad Luis Scola is. Can't defend, can't shoot, can't rebound, I can't even think of a redeemable quality he showed. Lavoy Allen and Rudez should be getting ALL of his minutes.

Otherwise, Cope looked like he's our go-to scorer this year, Lavoy looked really good, Sloan still made too many mistakes, and Rudez shows he can play if he can continue to shoot like that.

But our bench definitely outplayed our starters this game. Hopefully Vogel swaps Cope into the starting 5 for Solo soon.

[wildcat62]

I agree with giving Allen all of Scola's minutes when possible. Surprised Stuckey isn't getting more minutes.

[Scoot McGroot]

Surprised Stuckey isn't getting more minutes.

Why? He's got a bum foot. They're playing him all he can play right now. Otherwise, he'd be inactive.