Game Thread #1: Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks
by Tom Lewis on Oct 28, 2009 4:00 PM EDT
in Events
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PrintIndiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks, Oct 28, 2009 7:00 PM EDT
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| October 28, 2009 - 7:00PM EST | ||
| Phillips Arena | ||
| Radio: 1070AM WFNI TV: Fox Sports Indiana | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| T.J. Ford | PG | Mike Bibby |
| Brandon Rush | SG | Joe Johnson |
| Dahntay Jones | SF | Marvin Williams |
| Troy Murphy | PF | Josh Smith |
| Roy Hibbert | C | Al Horford |
The Indiana Pacers tip off the season in Atlanta against the Hawks. Turn on the game, kick back and join us in the comments while we see if the Pacers can churn out some eye-opening plays of their own along with a W in the "Highlight Factory" against the Hawks. For a Hawks' perspective check out Peachtree Hoops.
After the jump, more on the challenging opener facing the Pacers.
I'm holding out hope that Granger will play tonight and his doubtful status was simply a hyperbolic health rating in the spirit of Bill Belichick. Now the Hawks don't know if Granger is playing, maybe they relax a bit knowing their home opener against the Pacers without Granger will turn into a party by halftime. Then Granger shows up ready to go and you catch the Hawks on their heels for a few minutes. Unfortunately, basketball isn't wired that way especially at the start of a long regular season. So let's just hope Granger guts it one out. According to Mike Wells, Granger was taped up and went through the team's shootaround and is now a game-time decision.
Considering this game without Granger, it's hard to imagine the Pacers making up for the offensive hole Granger's absence creates. T.J. Ford will have to have it going tonight while also getting some other teammates going. Brandon Rush, Troy Murphy and Roy Hibbert will need to pitch in on offense or else the Hawks will run and hide.
With Dahntay Jones in the starting lineup the Pacers may have a better defensive group for this Hawks team which is more athletic than big. Jones on Joe Johnson is probably the best chance the Pacers have to slow down the high-scoring guard for the Hawks. But now, according to this report from the mighty one, Dahntay has an upper repiratory infection and is doubtful. Wonderful.
While the talented Hawks offer plenty of problems with their starting lineup, where they really begin causing the Pacers problems is with their depth off the bench which was fortified this summer with the additions of Jamal Crawford, Joe Smith and former Pike Red Devil, Jeff Teague. Crawford may not be an ideal point guard for a winning team, but as a nuke 'em up scoring option off the bench he will be just fine. Then with Joe Smith and Zaza Pachulia, the Hawks have veteran front court help to let the Hawks go big if then need to.
The Pacers depth on the other hand is largely unproven and unknown. Both Solomon Jones and Josh McRoberts will probably play and need to play big off the bench. In the backcourt Earl Watson and Luther Head will need to come through. Yeah, like I said, unproven and unknown. Here's to sweet surprises (and Granger giving it a go)!
More links:
Check out Bruno's Live Blog during the game.
Game #1 Preview: Sekou Smith Talks Hawks
Jared Wade previews the game with former Pacers beat writer and current Hawks beat writer, Sekou Smith.
Indiana Pacers 2009-10 NBA season preview - IndySports
Indy Sports Nation previews the Pacers season.
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I hope Granger plays, even though his absence will help Brandon Rush’s stats and, in turn, my fantasy team.
So a perfect world scenario
Is Granger sits, rests the bruise, Pacers win, Rush scores 28 with 4 3’s, 5 steals, 6 assists, zero turnovers, one block, 6 boards, and is 9-10 from the ft line.
Ok. I’m on board with that.
I don't know if this is allowed but
is anyone gonna have a stream of this game available. I’m in Hawk Country and even though they usually have the Hawks on the FS affiliate they are showing the Bobcats tonight. I didn’t anticipate this. I would order League Pass again but I had issues with it last year and I just don’t want to spend the money on it again if I’m gonna have the same issues. If me asking isn’t allowed can a admin. just delete this? and I apologize for any rules being broken.
As always Go Pacers!!
Stacy, familiar theme song, and the increasingly annoying Pacers commercials
…all through tonight.
Yes, I am home.
enjoy the game everyone
I’ll be on campus doing Evidence homework while following your commentary. Hoping to start the season off with a good win!
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
I think this team makes the playoffs this year
If they don’t I know I will still be proud of the team. The players all seem to be really enjoyable guys to watch and I couldn’t be happier to have some class in the organization.
Let’s hope for an injury free W and being ahead of the Cavs for at least a night :)
Loved last year's team
Especially early before the flaws really started showing themselves deep into the season and we couldn’t get everything together.
But I’d still say I liked last year’s team more than any since the 99-00 Finals team. I just wish the wins were there. Hopefully a few extra wins will get me to top last year’s team, but even the same fire should get me excited again.
Wow
Take a look at Josh’s hair. Might have to call him McMopTop since McBeard doesn’t really fit right now, haha.
Of course I'm at my girlfriends house
and she has charter! so there goes the free preview week of League Pass :( hello stream!
Ughh
Forgot the Hawks got Crawford. He is one of those guys that can light it up. On the plus side, he plays zero D so D Jones and Rush could have a good night…
Here we go!
Man I am excited for this season. My expectations are a bit tempered, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if we could put together a nice little run to start the season.
Hawks will be tough tonight though.
Cavs Raptors & Philly Orlando
on also. Good games on right away…
Gonna be switching to Cavs Raptors during commercials I think…
Hungry Hungry Hibbert Eating Rebounds
Is this really Atlanta’s opening night? There’s like no one there…
Unstoppable
I’m just going to skip the 3rd quarter tonight so I can revel in the greatness of the Pacers first quarter play
Turnovers
will always be a part of this style of offense. We just need to capitalize on the opposition’s turnovers
random
but look at all the empty seats. Atlanta is an embarrassment of a sports town.
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:29 PM EDT reply actions
don't get me wrong
i love Atlanta, but it consistently is mocked as one of the worst sports cities in America. people don’t support the teams down there. even Braves playoff games used to have empty seats.
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know if anyone has read the book Pacer Power
But this attendance issue is something Mannheimer mentions quite a bit when talking about the regular season matchups against the #1 seeded Hawks as well as the 94 playoff series. That’s always kind of stuck with me. They seem to do well in supporting the Braves and Falcons, guess the Hawks are a very distant third.
I live close to Atlanta
the attendance for the Braves is waaaaaay down. You can go to games on Sundays for a dollar. They are hurting but they sell a shit load of fan gear. The Falcons get very good attendance. The Hawks have been improving in that department.
Now that's how you sub in a rotation
Putting in four new guys…should be interesting to see how this bench works
Solo Jones
his PER numbers especially on blocks are going to be insane.
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions
Joe Johnson is in his 9th year?
i’m getting old.
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:39 PM EDT reply actions
I'm fashionably late - how many fouls does Roy have so far?
Has Brandon been going the basket strongly?
Has TJ been overdribbling?
FSIndiana
can’t give a replay before commercial?
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:43 PM EDT reply actions
"Got sad news to report"
first words coming back from commercial with atlanta broadcast
crawford shot no good
he was better with cornrows
ala his Pike days.
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions
he's got a ton of potential
it was weird how he went from top-five pick to falling out of the lottery. i don’t know how much of that was based on Wake peaking too early, but i didn’t get why people soured on him.
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Second unit
Putting the ball in the basket. Don’t see any go-to guys, but as long as everyone is finishing, I guess it doesn’t matter.
thumbs down
on the Diener faux-hawk.
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:54 PM EDT reply actions
Dear O'Brien:
When the Pacers start settling for 3’s, can you put D. Jones in and tell him to just drive to the hoop?
Watson
impressive so far.
Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!
by Anthony Masons Haircut on Oct 28, 2009 7:59 PM EDT reply actions
Everyone's shooting well
Only up five though. Then again, Atlanta’s shooting well too. Hopefully we can keep up when/if we hit a dry spell.
Again...Atlanta...
How do you leave Danny Granger THAT THAT THAT wide open!? Keep it up, however you’re doing it!
Roy gets #2
Really shouldn’t have come to that though after Josh Smith threw the ball at Murphy’s chest.
Most of the turnovers have nothing to do with the pace of play
just careless passes and ball handling in the half court.
Trademark
I have to know how you get the TM in your posts! I always see you use it and I want to steal the concept. It’s brilliant!
OT Confession - I looooved Michael Jackson....
Not to going to spend 8 bucks to watch his movie though. Still making money out of that guy.
League Pass
I want to buy League Pass so bad, but I know that every night until April will be like tonight and I wouldn’t survive..it’s too much
Sorry guys, I feel like this poor play is all my fault. I let my son pick my jersey tonight and his two year old mind thought I should wear my #23 Artest pinstripe jersey.
by ThirtyOne on Oct 28, 2009 8:31 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Team's been shooting well though
Maybe it’s good karma for the jersey itself, but the name might be giving it some bad vibes.
Yeah
-17 in points off turnovers…
Also getting outscored in the paint by 14. Atlanta getting too many easy baskets.
I can almost hear the sighs of disappointment
From all the Kings fans from my apartment here in Sacramento. Down 16-34 with 2:30 left in the first. Its gonna be a long season for them…
Only catching bits and pieces of it
It is in HD which is a plus. He is 1-4. Not much else to speak of…
Looks like the team still can't make stops
Doesn’t help that Atlanta is making a living in the paint tonight.
What's up with Indiana not trying to get players in the air?
Or driving the line? No fouls since the Hawks got into the penalty.
Missed technical
The oddest play in basketball. It never ceases to amaze me how often a player misses that free throw.
Ok - if you're guarded by 3 people,
Someone is going to be open or your teammates need to come and help. Gee!
It's over now....
get Price in there and let him mop up.
Rush
I hope him sitting on the bench doesn’t throw him into another psychological tailspin like last year
Keep moving it around, find the mismatch
Quit dribble driving it into the biggest Hawks defender on the floor.