Open Game Thread #20: Pacers at Magic

by Tom Lewis on Dec 7, 2007 4:12 PM EST in Indiana Pacers News

The Pacers are in Orlando tonight to take on the Magic, a team that has emerged as an Eastern Conference heavyweight so far this season.

Check out Bruno's Scouting Report for the details. Thoughts and prayers with Shawne Williams and his family on the passing of his grandmother. Shawne is back in Memphis to attend funeral services.

If you want to learn more on the daunting task facing the Pacers tonight, check out TrueHoop's post on Dwight Howard. Howard is the consensus 'Beast of the East' if not the whole Association. The fact that he's only 21 makes the whole situation borderline disgusting.

Enough for now, I'm home early from work to take the boys sledding.

For some Magic perspective, check out Third Quarter Collapse.

Here's what the efficiency numbers say:

Team	Pace	Off.Eff.	Def.Eff.
IND	97.9(2nd)	104.8(18th)	106(12th)
ORL	94.4(7th)	110.3(11th)	101.4(2nd)

Projected Starters

PACERS	pos.	MAGIC
Jermaine O'Neal	F	Rashard Lewis
Danny Granger	F	Hedo Turkoglu
Jeff Foster	C	Dwight Howard
Mike Dunleavy	G	Keith Bogans
Jamaal Tinsley	G	Jameer Nelson

Feel free to leave your thoughts on the game in the comments.

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Comments

Tonight

This game should be pretty good. The Pacers are a team that can give the Magic fits because they're equally fast. Hopefully Dwight will get Jermaine into foul trouble. I doubt anyone else can stop him.

Third Quarter Collapse: An SB Nation blog for Orlando Magic fans

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 7, 2007 5:14 PM EST reply actions

If the Pacers are hitting their shots

this could be a doozy. JO helps the interior D, but not on a "stopping Dwight Howard" level. David Harrison will get a chance to use his 6 fouls.

by Tom Lewis on Dec 7, 2007 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

Harrison

I was about to say, doesn't he have an absurdly high foul rate?

Third Quarter Collapse: An SB Nation blog for Orlando Magic fans

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 7, 2007 6:01 PM EST up reply actions

Harrison has played well this year

but he still picks up fouls before he even touches a guy. Against, Howard it could get comical.

by Tom Lewis on Dec 7, 2007 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

He's out

The Magic's radio guys just said DH is not expected to play due to a sore back. Shawne Williams just landed in Orlando and could be available in the second half.

Third Quarter Collapse: An SB Nation blog for Orlando Magic fans

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 7, 2007 7:27 PM EST reply actions

JO could pass out in the second half

He's already logged a lot of minutes.

by Tom Lewis on Dec 7, 2007 8:10 PM EST up reply actions

Congratulations

You guys wanted that one more than we did. Great win.

Third Quarter Collapse: An SB Nation blog for Orlando Magic fans

by Evan Dunlap on Dec 7, 2007 9:42 PM EST reply actions

YES!!!

Survived a couple of haymakers along the way but found a way to take it over down the stretch.

by Tom Lewis on Dec 7, 2007 9:45 PM EST reply actions

Pacers are so weird

Historically in the post Miller era, I mean. I don't understand how they lose to terrible teams one night and then contend or beat the top ranked teams in the league the next.

I thought the Magic went to lobbing up threes a little early in the 4th once they were down and they could've just thrown it down low to Howard and had him do his thing. That's just me though. Good game.

by stephanie on Dec 7, 2007 10:08 PM EST reply actions