Game Thread #44: Charlotte Bobcats at Indiana Pacers
by Tom Lewis on Jan 25, 2009 11:20 AM EST
in Indiana Pacers News
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PrintCharlotte Bobcats at Indiana Pacers, Jan 25, 2009 7:00 PM EST
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@ |  |
|---|---|---|
| 18-25 | 16-27 | |
| January 25, 2009 - 7:00PM EST | ||
| Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Radio: 1070AM WFNI TV: No local TV | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Ray Feltonon | PG | Jarrett Jack |
| Raja Bell | SG | Mike Dunleavy |
| Gerald Wallace | SF | Danny Granger |
| Boris Diaw | PF | Troy Murphy |
| Emeka Okafor | C | Jeff Foster |
UPDATE: Bruno's Inside the Game LIVE blog is up.
Don't look now, but the Indiana Pacers appear to be in prime shape to put together a stretch of winning basketball. With the messy back half of the Eastern Conference, there's plenty of playoff math equations left that include the Pacers in post-season play.
That makes tonight's game against Charlotte even more interesting since the Bobcats are two games ahead of the Pacers in the East and playing some solid baskteball of late. Larry Brown seamlessly incorporated a few new faces and suddenly Charlotte has gone 7-3 in their last ten games.
Here are the Pacers.com Matchups. With Raja Bell and Boris Diaw in the mix for the Bobcats they present a different challenge than the team that beat the Pacers in overtime in late November. Without Jason Richardson the Bobcats are as imposing offensively, but they make up for it on the defensive end which is making them a more difficult team to deal with lately.
I guess what I'm saying is, the matchup of the Bobcats vs. Pacers may not light up the marquee but if you look below the surface this should be a very entertaining game. Larry Brown is coaching the Cats and has them playing well. The Pacers are desperate for wins and starting to show signs of better play at the defensive end. Plus, neither team has given up on the playoffs so taking down one of their competitors for a playoff spot becomes a guts-spill-worthy prize to play for tonight.
For the Charlotte perspective, check out Rufus On Fire and Queen City Hoops.
Gameday Reading
- Mike Wells focuses on Troy Murphy's serious on-court effort this year which is in contrast to his goofy off-court theatrics.
- Ron Green, Jr. updates the situation on former Bloomington North star, Sean May who is struggling to work his way back into playing shape for the Bobcats.
- Sweet read from Eddie Johnson on HoopsHype with lots of love for Danny Granger's Old Man Game.
There's no Fox Sports Indiana broadcast of the game and I'm not sure if the Charlotte broadcast will be available on free NBA League Pass. I'll be down at the Fieldhouse for this one and checking in form there, so leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments.
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league pass preview
Looks like this game will be available on League Pass, so if you’re enjoying the free preview like I am, you can catch this game.
Sounds good, thanks
Mute the Charlotte announcers and turn up Mark and Slick to enhance the experience.
Very important game...
…in fact, I am going to proclaim tonight as the most important game of the season so far. It’s a game they MUST win if they are serious about the playoffs.
One other tidbit…Michael Redd is done for the season. Hate to get excited about an injury, but this would seem to spell the end of the Bucks’ playoff chances. Good, one less team to worry about.
Agree
and on Redd, could the basketball gods influence be turning positive for the Pacers?
A W tonight is required to make it so.
Adam Morrison
is draining three after three in front of me with a nice tight stroke that is a pleasure to watch. Reminder that there are plenty of facets to the NBA game a player must be able to bring before they succeed.
Can't complain about this start
Pacers up 8-1 and LB needs a timeout.
Active defense with Murph, Danny and Dun draining jumpers. Go, go, go.
Bob's cats up 20-19 with 2:56 left in 1Q
Offense struggling to finish looks at the bucket. Boris, killin’ ’em at the other end.
End 1Q: Pacers up 26-25
Both teams trading blows and blown possessions at this point.
A few possessions ago, a sweet baseline dunk by Stevie Graham from Rasho save an otherwise mangled trip.
TJ scores on DeSanga Diop
after working him one-on-one. Strange matchup but credit to TJ for getting him off-balance for an easy bucket.
Bobcats shooting
suddenly the ’cats are shooting 55% on the night. Pacers are clokcing in at 42%. Pacers seem to be controlling the game but the good shooting percentage for Charlotter keeps it a one-point game with 8:49 left in half.
Granger hits his first jumper after returning to the floor
He was 2-8 in his first run earlier in the game.
JOB avoids getting tossed
probably should have after Dun was pasted into the hoop on a drive to the bucket.
Ball don’t lie- T shot missed.
10 point lead heading into second half
Charlotte held to 33% shooting in 2nd quarter helped the Pacers put up a lead.
24 minutes of the same and the W is there for the taking.
10 point lead heading into second half
Charlotte held to 33% shooting in 2nd quarter helped the Pacers put up a lead.
24 minutes of the same and the W is there for the taking.
Turnovers kept Pacers from increasing lead
They were up 14 with a couple of chances to make it worse and now lead back to 10.
Once again
FG%s have evened out and the ’cats are back in the game. Pacers up 74-70
Also big FT differential building. Fortunately, Okafor has missed 7 FTs.
Meanwhile
TJ bounces a dribble off his foot and it ends up in Fosters hands and quickly to Dun for a three. Take what you can get.
Make up
Ref creates a carry call on Granger after swallowing the whistle on a potential charge.
Lead down to 5 after Diaw 3
Charlotte is in game-theft mode
1:53 left, lead down to 3.
Pacers need to make some plays. Really need a bucket out of this timeout.
confusing
I’m just following the game here and on ESPN’s gamecast – sounds like a wild and weird last minute or so. 8 second call? 2 big boards from the smallest guy out there? Huge block by Foster? What’s going on?
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