It is true the Indiana Pacers are a better defensive team this year than in years past. It's also true they probably aren't as good on that side of the ball as the first 17 or so games have seemed to suggest. It's not a bad thing, though. Certainly, being above average defensively, or at least better than the Pacers have been in past years, is a huge step forward, but for a team that's had to use defense as a stabilizer to their really poor offensive play, they really do need to be as good as their #1 in the league FG defense suggests they are. And you know, tonight, they just weren't.

The problems began, as they seem to often do, when the second unit took control of the game, turning a 19-17 game the Pacers trailed, a game where Danny Granger and Darren Collison seemed to have all the momentum for the blue and gold, into an 11-2 Celtics run that put Boston in control of the game. Even still, as the Celtics seemed to control the game while the second unit kept shooting blanks, Dahntay Jones and Paul George were able to cut the lead to six.

Even at six, it felt like a 25 point game, but Indiana had a golden opportunity to make it a game. But there was Brandon Bass. There was poor Pacers offense. And there was Paul Pierce. Suddenly, the game was back at ten, an all too familiar sight the Pacers hit the replay button on the rest of the night.

As has been the trend in just about every game this season, the Pacers stormed out of the half, erasing the eight point halftime lead in an instant. At 46 all, Indiana had just made it a game! Then Paul Pierce decided to show up. Paul George had nothing. Danny Granger had nothing. But Pierce had something; 17 of his game high 28 points in the third quarter, to keep the game right at the double digit marker, aided by more poor defense that allowed former Purdue Boilermaker E'Twaun Moore an easy look at the basket to wind down the third.

The Pacers continued to flirt with the game; using an 10-0 run to cut a 16-point lead to just six, but once again, when they needed a critical defensive stop, there was a breakdown to immediately erase all the good will and good momentum the Pacers spent possession after possession building up. The end result, even as the Pacers seemed to eternally have the game within one good run, was one they earned; a loss.

While this game was ultimately lost on the defensive side of the ball and the team's inability to make critical stops while letting players blow by and get easy or open looks, there were a number of contributing factors that helped solidify the loss. Poor shooting remains a constant. Despite a 7-13 start, the Pacers finished just 35% from the field, a pretty average number for this team, but not one you can expect to win consistently with. They went just 1-19 from three point range, notably missing their last 18. Add in struggles getting second chance points, holding onto the ball, getting points off of turnovers (until it was too late), and getting no ball movement, and it's really impressive this game ended up within ten.

After the jump, a hold your breath moment:

Continue reading this post »

	@
12-5		8-9
January 27, 2012 - 7:30PM EST
TD Garden
Radio: WIBC 93.1FM TV: Fox Sports Indiana
Probable starters:
Darren Collison	PG	Avery Bradley
Paul George	SG	Mickael Pietrus
Danny Granger	SF	Paul Pierce
David West	PF	Brandon Bass
Roy Hibbert	C	Kevin Garnett

The Indiana Pacers play the Boston Celtics for the third time in three weeks looking to remain unbeaten on the parquet while the C's are hoping the third time is the charm after losing the first two meetings.

The Celtics have been on a bit of a roll lately, winning their last three games and four of five while dealing with some injuries. Last night the C's beat Orlando without Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Jermaine O'Neal so they may not have the familiar look again tonight, but beating any team three times in a row is a chore no matter who is playing.

Here is the Pacers.com preview. For a Boston perspective, check out CelticsBlog. Also, after the game check out Pacers Overtime on WIBC 93.1FM with Eddie White. Need to have an Indy Cornrows mention on the show!

Leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments.

Parting with Peyton Manning is not such sweet sorrow for the Indianapolis Colts.

Through an incredible string of circumstances (Manning signs huge deal, Manning neck worse than expected, Andrew Luck goes back to school last year, Colts "earn" first pick in draft...), the legendary quarterback won't be playing with the Colts anymore. The answer to any equation with the variables in play seems to point to that same thing.

Unfortunately, Manning and owner Jim Irsay are having issues letting go and dealing with the situation. Hopefully they'll step away from the mics and find a way to work through the situation and bring it to a proper conclusion or at least as proper as possible.

It is tough, though thinking there won't be a big celebration to send Manning off the Lucas Oil Stadium field and into retirement in a Colts' uniform and of course, no Bentley like Reggie Miller was given at his well-done send off. Speaking of Reggie, this situation pains him too and he let it be known that he's with "Team Peyton" no matter what happens.

Its no secret who's I'm rooting for, I'm on Team Peyton. Get stronger, bigger, faster Superman... I know you heart is with da Colts,

but they wanna trip, may have to take your talents elsewhere... I know what you have done for that city, good luck my good friend...

We invite you to follow Indy Cornrows on Twitter and like Indy Cornrows on Facebook.

E'Twaun Moore may be undersized for his skill set as a combo guard and he may not be as athletic as you'd like, but the kid knows how to play basketball and the bigger the stakes the better.

That's likely a byproduct of playing older players while growing up in East Chicago while onlookers wagered on the outcome. There are plenty of good shooter in basketball at all levels, but being willing, even eager, to take big shots without hesitation is a strong trait Moore has displayed, well since those days on the blacktop in East Chicago.

The first time I saw Moore play was when he led East Chicago Central to a 4A state title over Eric Gordon's favored North Central team. Gordon threw his team on his back to mount a second-half comeback, but ECC didn't fold thanks to Moore, who rose up and knock down a couple of key shots late, finished with 28 points and won the title.

Moore had similar nights at Purdue. Again, it's not necessarily about making shots, it about the willingness to take tough shots and live with the consequences.

So last night after the Celtics had finally caught the Magic and tied the game at 76-76, it was no surprise to see how they took the lead. Marquis Daniels fired a cross-court pass to an open Moore who was set up behind the arc on the right wing. As he rose up to shoot without a hint of hesitation, I said out loud to an otherwise empty room, "That's good."

The kid still loves to take big shots regardless of the stage he's on. Hopefully he won't have the same opportunity tonight against the Pacers.

We invite you to follow Indy Cornrows on Twitter and like Indy Cornrows on Facebook.

The Indiana Pacers were in Boston on Thursday getting ready to take on the Boston Celtics tonight at TD Garden. Meanwhile, the Celtics were down in Orlando putting together one of their best wins of the season, erasing a 27-point deficit to win 91-83.

Paul Pierce and E'Twauan Moore led the comeback effort as the Magic self-destructed once the C's applied a little pressure. Yeah, you read that right. It wasn't Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo or Kevin Garnett teaming up with Pierce, but former Purdue and East Chicago Central star, E'Twaun Moore making it happen in his rookie season.

The Celtics have won three games in a row despite playing without Allen, Rondo and Jermaine O'Neal last night. So maybe those first two wins by the Pacers weren't so bad after all.

I'm sure Larry Bird enjoyed those win as he has the start of the season for the Pacers. Mike Wells check in with the Pacers' prez to find him finally enjoying his time at the Fieldhouse after reshaping the roster to the Pacers up for a strong future.

Check out the links after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

That's twice, Mr. Rose. Twice now that you've busted out of your docile shell to take aim at one particular team. And for those counting, that's two times more the overt emotion you've shown towards anyone else. If you recall, the first incident took place late last season. The Pacers won an overtime nailbiter at home; the competitive nature of the game was a more-than-apt foreshadowing of the direction these teams were headed. Derrick Rose took notice:

...It was the last regular-season meeting between the teams, but Rose wouldn't mind getting revenge."That's a team we could possibly see in the playoffs," he said. "I can't wait to play them again."

As documented by Tom and others, Rose's emotional instigator this time around centered on Indiana's celebration after getting a hard-fought, come-from-behind W in possibly the league's most hostile environment. Rose's insinuation? The Pacers celebrated too heartily. The real story? Indiana's a threat, and Rose knows it. The outcry of emotion only confirms it. You see, this wasn't about the celebration.Teams celebrate wins all of the time. Heck, Joakim Noah energetically celebrates any and every play that displays even a hint of team success.

But this wasn't just a celebration, it was a loss. Worse yet, it was a loss to "those guys." You know "those guys" who said they'd rather play the Bulls than anyone else in the playoffs. "Those guys" who warred against Rose's team in a physical five-game series, and who held a fourth-quarter lead in four of the five games. "Those guys" with the coach who tells anyone who will listen that his team can and will beat any opponent his Blue-and-Gold boys play.

Rose's emotional statements aren't going to suddenly convince the Pacers to become passive celebrators. No, no, what Rose's recent comments do is expose him as a player who's starting to get up for one team more than any other; a player who's starting to take certain games more personal than any other; a player who's subtly, but not-so-subtly announcing to the world that the NBA's got itself a new rivalry on its hands.

Rivalry re-visited March 5th 8:00 PM (EST) back at the United Center. Don't miss it.

Sometimes it is easy to forget Indiana Pacers guard Paul George is just 21 years old.

His fluid movement is quicker than it appears so he can go from appearing out of position on defense to shutting down an opponent in a few strides. His handle is still a work in progress, so his ability to finish at the rim often doesn't get off the ground.

But when it does...

That's when the eyebrows raise and you imagine a day in the future when opponents can't keep PG from the rim. Last night in Chicago, PG gave us one of those moments when he crossed up his defender on the right wing and then slid toward the hoop before bursting through the traffic for a two-handed dunk.

Can't lie, when PG started this move it looked more like a turnover waiting to happen, but instead he made the UC say, "Oooohhh." No easy task for a visiting player. So here's to a little patience and PG continuing to grown and deliver the "Oooohhhs" more often.

After the jump, check out a couple of clips of the nice cross-over dunk.

Continue reading this post »

Apparently Chicago Bulls' super guard Derrick Rose didn't enjoy seeing the Indiana Pacers enjoy beating his team. According to K.C. Johnson, Rose is already looking forward to the teams going at it again.

DRose: "I will never forget how they celebrated just from winning this game. I can't wait to play them again." #Bulls

Rose is admirably stoic after every game, never appearing too excited after a win, but the Pacers actually enjoy the process of winning. As an extension of their coach Frank Vogel, they are more engaged in the process from game-planning to executing on the floor, with the players having more input and thus appearing more invested than in past years.

So they take losses hard, as they did in Sacramento and again on Sunday after losing to Orlando, and they appreciate the effort it takes to put away a win, especially in Chicago. Fortunately, threats from Derrick Rose about the next game aren't too frightening since he always plays hard and demands the attention of all five defenders on the court. If he doesn't want to witness the Pacers celebrate a win, because they do celebrate wins, he just has to play better.

Also, as expected, Roy Hibbert did not sign a contract extension prior to Wednesday's deadline for 2008 draft picks. The deadline also passed without an extension for George Hill which is more surprising. According to Mike Wells, the sides were about $1.5 mil/year apart which doesn't seem like a huge difference to work through.

Check out the links after the jump.

Continue reading this post »