Game Thread #20: Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics
by Tom Lewis on Dec 7, 2008 1:28 PM EST
in Events
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PrintBoston Celtics at Indiana Pacers, Dec 7, 2008 6:00 PM EST
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@ |  |
|---|---|---|
| 19-2 | 7-12 | |
| December 7, 2008 - 6:00PM EST | ||
| Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Radio: 1070AM WFNI TV: Fox Sports Indiana | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Rajon Rondo | PG | T.J. Ford |
| Ray Allen | SG | Marquis Daniels |
| Paul Pierce | SF | Danny Granger |
| Kevin Garnett | PF | Troy Murphy |
| Kendrick Perkins | C | Rasho Nesterovic |
UPDATE: Bruno's LIVE! Blog is filing updates from courtside. Lots of good pre-game quotes from JOB.
The Indiana Pacers have to bounce back from a less than inspired effort in Clevelan on Friday to play the defending champion Boston Celtics tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse. Note the early start time at 6:00PM EST instead of the normal 7:00PM.
The Celtics used a huge triple-double from Rajon Rondo and a huge number (six) of triples from Ray Allen to overwhelm the Pacers in Boston this past Wendesday. Paul Pierce was able to ease his way through the game, front-rimming shots all night will no ill-effects for the C's.
Oh, and there's more bad news. The Celtics have won 11 in a row and have matched the 19-2 start of last year which is the best in franchise history. Considering the history of the franchise, that's pretty impressive.
Fortunately your Indiana Pacers won't back down from any challenge a visiting team presents as they proved earlier in the year when they hung one of those 2 L's on the Celtics. If the Pacers take care of the little things and on big thing, THE BALL, they'll always have a chance to win.
Here are the Pacers.com matchups. My man, Stephen Graham makes the sixth man matchup. That's hard work and persistence bearing fruit.
Also, for a Boston perspective check out CelticsBlog.
Gameday Reading
- The Pacers have seen three of the top title contenders up close this past week, so Mike Wells checked in to see which team impressed them the most. Jim O'Brien liked them all and sounds envious of their ability to defend the paint.
"They're all very focused on not letting the ball get into the paint," coach Jim O'Brien said. "When the ball gets into the paint, there's going to be a collision. In Cleveland and Boston's case, you have guys that are willing to sacrifice their bodies. When the season is over, these teams, Boston, Cleveland and L.A., will be one, two and three in field goal defense.
"There's not a weak link on any of the teams from the standpoint that you just say you don't have to worry about this guy being in the game." - Kendrick Perkins has been doing his part to help out the star-studded lineup around him. Perk is certainly a nasy matchup for the Pacers.
- Enjoy your Birdmas today and celebrate Larry Bird's 52nd birthday.
Leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments. I'll be at the game doing the same.
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Comments
Pre-game individual work wrapping up
Always enjoy watching players put in the work in an empty arena. Quisy has added some cornrows to his look for tonight. That can’t be a bad thing, right?
Celts
Watching the C’s workout, their youth was glaring. They have some great young players and other young players that are developing. Take away the “big three” and Sam I Am and there several-year vets left. I don’t count Perkins either because he just turned 24.
Lots of Colts jerseys in the crowd
A few Bengals jerseys, as well. Pretty good late-arriving crowd, considering there was a Colts’ game across town. I think the Rajon Rondo friends and family section is behind me. Big roar during warm-ups. Must be a Kentucky thing.
Pierce not missing tonight
Hits his first three. Quisy has four. C’s up – 7-6.
2 out of 3 refs missed a blatat double-dribble/travel by Rasho earlier. I almost thought he was going to get away with it.
Danny with two quick turnovers
Rondo returns the favor getting called for a carry, which he does quite often.
Beautiful Quisy
Passed up a 3-ball, drove to the lane for a beatiful runner plus the foul (missed the FT). Smart play. C’s up 22-15.
Roy with the D
Blocks Perk once then alters his shot and clears out the rebound to Jack. Nice.
C’s up 26-21
Foster T'd up
After not drawing an offesive foul on the past trip and then being called for a tough foul. Jeff couldn’t hold his tongue.
McRoberts in for Murph
Goes right at Garnett and Perkins, was probably fouled but no call. Then Josh picks up one at the other end. Pecking order sucks.
C's up 43-39
Danny had an And 1 overruled and another nice break ended with Rasho mishandling the finish. Plenty of good play at both ends.
QUISY!!!
After House returned the favor with 3 seconds left, Quisy drained a half-court shot to end the half. Pacers up 57-55!
You are definitely not an easy team to play ;-)
Able to hang with the best teams on some nights, then again giving away winnable games. Tough to plan for you, and the last stretch was impressive. We (the Blazers) didn’t look good at all against Boston.
B-Rex bandwagon begins
This game is getting tense and chippy as well
Murph and Ray were jackin’ back and forth and now everyone is engaged. C’s still have their starters out there. Not sure prodding them is a good thing.
Tied up 75-75
Surprisingly, Boston is better in some categories with him in the lineup over KG...
B-Rex bandwagon begins
Scal hits the 3-ball
But Jack races to somehow make an out of control runner to close the third.
Pacers up 81-79.
Foster has mucked up
two potential buckets at the hoop in the past couple of minutes. Been a long time since that has happened. Ack!
Tied up.
Can you guys teach us how to compete with Boston and LA?
I love your team— your bench is full of former Blazers, plus Granger is one of my favs.
Boomshakalaka
That's a habit in Indiana :)
Dallas would surely like Daniels back on some nights. Won’t take long until Toronto fans want to give O’Neal back for Ford and Hibbert.
But to be fair, we knew Bayless was a pick for the future, and he played decent against Boston.
B-Rex bandwagon begins
Pierces misses one FT, full timeout Indiana
Hero: Our commenters are indicating Jack :)
B-Rex bandwagon begins
Jack with great D on Pierce
But murph called for a foul. Perk to the line.
Misses both!
22.6 seconds left Pacers up 103-102
Granger was able to get rid off the ball to Jack, lol
And yeah, Jack is a pretty clutch guy.
B-Rex bandwagon begins
Jack is money from the FT line in the clutch
He’s fine as long as he doesn’t step out of bounds.
Boomshakalaka
This game shouldn't be going to OT
Pacers have outplayed them all night. Poor choice to go transition to win, IMO.
Like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli.
Whoa
With how last second shots have been falling tonight, we could win it now.
Like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli.
I watch the game on justin.tv since somehow league pass broadband has a malfunction today, and the idiot is playing his own music clips during breaks
Iglesias “Hero”, “Believe” and stuff like that. It’s unbelievably hideous.
B-Rex bandwagon begins
eh
It was probably a bit much to ask for a last-second miracle at home against top-3 teams twice in a row…
Like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli.
If we had a timeout
I thought we should have taken it. Hindsight’s 20-20 I guess. I didn’t like that shot selection.
Like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli.
Just curious
Has Jack had many “step out of bounds” turnovers this year? That was the most annoying thing about him last year— otherwise, I loved his heart and hustle.
Boomshakalaka
Ha ha
Someone brought that up a few weeks ago, so I paid attention and the next three games he had one. I was rolling.
I didn't watch the first half
Did McRoberts do anything good? I saw he got some PT.
Like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli.
McRoberts was solid
for an extended run in the first half. The P’s played their way back into hte game while he was in there. He didn’t do anything stunning but brought lots of energy at both ends.
Friggin' Allen again
Quisy nearly sent it into the stands but Ray doesn’t need much room to break your heart.
116-111…
bummer
I was pulling for you guys.
Looking forward to the Indy-Portland games. Both should be competitive.
Boomshakalaka
That was fun, sorry that the Pacers couldn't close the game in regulation
See you
B-Rex bandwagon begins
Strange
Off ball foul by Scal gives Jack a freebie, then TJ hits a three.
Pierce makes two with 22.5 to go, lead back to 5, 120-115.
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