Game Thread #3: Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers
by Tom Lewis on Nov 3, 2009 5:00 PM EST
in Events
Email
PrintDenver Nuggets at Indiana Pacers, Nov 3, 2009 7:00 PM EST
 |
@ |  |
|---|---|---|
| 3-0 | 0-2 | |
| Novermber 3, 2009 - 7:00PM EST | ||
| Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Radio: 1070AM WFNI TV: Fox Sports Indiana | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Chauncey Billups | PG | T.J. Ford |
| Anthony Carter | SG | Brandon Rush |
| Carmelo Anthony | SF | Danny Granger |
| Kenyon Martin | PF | Troy Murphy |
| Nene Hilario | C | Roy Hibbert |
The Indiana Pacers face a friendly foe in the Fieldhouse tonight with the Denver Nuggets in town for the 7:00PM tip.
The Nuggets and Pacers faced off twice in the preseason during their Asian excursion with each team looking darned good in one game and relatively poor in the other. The Nuggets are off to a strong start at 3-0 and look to be every bit of the Western Conference finalist they were last year. The Pacers meanwhile are still looking for a solid 48 minutes of play.
For a Denver perspective, check out Denver Stiffs.
Leave your thoughts and comments on the game in the comments. After the jump, more on the Nuggs.
As the Pacers are well aware, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups make the Nuggets go. Melo unleashed a lethal scoring binge on the Pacers in their second preseason game in Beijing, pumping in 45 points in a mere 24 minutes of floor time. It appears that Customs let him return to the States with his combustible offensive game because in the Nuggets' three regular season wins, Melo is averaging over 37 points. I have a feeling Melo bounced out of bed this morning looking forward to meeting the Pacers again in the Fieldhouse tonight.
As for Billups, he's spent many years causing problems for the Pacers. Fortunately now that he's in the Western Conference, those problems only present themselves twice a year. Billups has complimented Melo with 23 points per game. He's also playing a healthy dose of minutes, just over 37 per game, to start the season.
So, suffice it to say, no matter how much the Pacers emphasize their defense tonight, there's going to be a lot of points scored. The Pacers struggled against Miami to generate much offense, but with a few days off they should be fresh and ready to run. And running is the key since we saw against the Heat that the Pacers are still mixing and matching players and struggling to sync up the halfcourt offense.
The Pacers need to lean on the horses with some big production from Danny Granger and Troy Murphy. If Melo is staring at 40, Danny better be staring right back. The Pacers also need to squeeze more out of T.J. Ford, Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert to combine with the play of Earl Watson and Dahntay Jones off the bench.
All hands on deck making a positive impact. After the first two games, I know that sounds like a novel idea, but team will come together sooner or later, why not tonight?
188 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Go Pacers!
I’m ready for tonight. This is a team that we’re familiar with, Jones will be as aggressive as ever and Melo will finally have his first offnight of the season. Get ready for an upset!!
I hate thinking this
But maybe we should try and get Iverson since he’s not happy sitting and we don’t exactly have any legitimate options at the point.
Eh, maybe it’s too early to think about that, let’s see how they do tonight. Let’s go Pacers!
Haha
PTI just praised Hansbrough for that commercial, calling it the best on TV. I’m ready to get this guy on the floor to see what he has to offer.
Not enough ball movement
In my eyes.
Then again, it’s a turnover waiting to happen when they do, so it’s almost lose-lose.
I remember when it was this bad last year
We just haven’t seen the good yet. I think it’s about time for the good!
Nowhere to go but up
Then again, this is the that beat New Orleans by 60 points, so I guess it can get worse.
Where's Danny's aggressiveness?
Just drive and hope for the best…it’s already really bad, no sense in worrying about it getting worse taking a bunch of bad jumpers.
Obie is not the one to lead these Jedi ....
I wouldn’t have taken free tickets to watch a team I love get slaughtered ….
and after they fire Obie the trainer should be called in the office next …..
Come on guys, let’s call a spade a spade. As I’ve said all along subtracting Jack and Daniels and adding Jones, Watson and Jones is a net loss. I think we’re seeing that on the court.
You’re right it wasn’t and that’s because neither of those guys had any interest in coming back to play for us. Mostly because the talent on this team is weak. So why bring in three more marginally talented players. Honestly, what is/was the point?
I wonder what Mel Daniels is thinking right now?
I have never seen a Pacer team look this un-organized and inept …
come on we are begging for a break ?
by Man of Pace on Nov 3, 2009 7:54 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Speaking of which
I’m ’bout to reach in my backpack and get some studying done. Might give this game a rest for awhile
Wow
This is just sad. Nuggets basically turn the ball over four times on that possession and end up with three.
Unfortunately
They have young guys like Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young. We have Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert, which isn’t exactly the same here in 2009-10.
Only 5 turnovers (searching for something good)
The north rim will be happy the teams are switching sides, though.
There are no people in the arena!
Maybe the Pacers shouldn’t have paid all that money just for a guy to do polls. I could have done a poll. I could have called random people to answer a poll.
Yeah
This is a bad situation with these operating fees, this product on the floor, and the Colts continuing to steal the show every game they play. I just hope I’m still watching the Indiana Pacers in a decade.
Another foul on Roy
McBobs can foul out in thirty seconds, who exactly do we have behind him again? Can Larry Bird walk through that door?
Free throws
Not only does the differential suck horribly, but to not basically shot 90% once you’re there? That hurts a lot.
Danny doesn't look good offensively tonight
Think this foot is still bothering him? Hopefully it’s not his above average defensive effort holding him back offensively.
I *know it's only the 3rd game of the season
I *know there are a lot of new players to incorporate. I *know we are getting some players back…I *know these things, and I’m still bummed.
It's definitely too early to panic
But by the third game of the season, you should have a microcosm of an idea of what to expect, and I don’t like what microcosms I’m seeing of this team.
Everytime we doing something well, I'm going to end it with an exclamation point
and annoy everyone.
Cornrows, for after the game
May I suggest the Whiskey Bar on 2nd ave. Good place to forget about this game
The Nuggets announcers just said Josh is out of Miss. St. How does an announcer not know he’s out of Duke?
There are a lot of jump balls tonight
If this were a college game, I’d be really mad at the possession arrow right now.
Pacers actually within striking distance
Need to actually get a run started to open the fourth.
Think of the children who need backpacks, guys!
Why?
His tweets in the offseason made it sound like he was really gonna try to get better this season. I don’t see it on the court. Does this mean I can’t believe everything I read on Twitter.
If it's one the internet, it's always true!!
Next thing you know someone’s going to tell me Santa is fake.
for starters, yes on the last question
He’s not showing much fight, though. Seemed real happy working out for the summer, but when things go bad seems like he goes south instead of digging in.
Ford leads with his shoulder
Gets absolutely nothing that helps him, and fouls out.
Awesome. Let’s get Price in there.
On a positive note
both Danny and Brandon’s man defense look better this year. Brandon needs to see the ball go in the bucket a couple of times and get some confidence out there.
We are loaded at PG
Just none of them are starters. Thats got to be an area of concern this offseason
I really hate to pass a six-month judgment on a team six days into the season
But we don’t have anything. And not even in the same way Jack and Daniels could help. Last year’s energy is not there, and we can’t even hang with contenders right now. Dunleavy can’t even save this.
We’ve got a long way to go. Hope it’s not too late when we finally have cap room to make real moves.
by Nathan S. on Nov 3, 2009 9:17 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
This team has so little fan interest that we can’t even get more than 6 people involved in a game time thread. I can’t imagine how little interest will be here by the end of this season.
I realize
Not all Colts fans are from Indiana, or even the ones in Indiana are all Pacer fans, but it’s pretty frustrating at how lopsided the fan interest is here. Getting blown out in the first three games doesn’t help at all and won’t help the interest moving forward.
Roy's going to have himself a pretty good statistical game
Shame he has at least half of it here in garbage time.
Hawks, Heat, Nuggets
All going to be really good teams this year.
The Knicks…not so much.
A pretty big psyche test tomorrow for this team.
Think I might
open up the Crown Royal after that game. See you guys tomorrow for some sweet Pacers action
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Video: Boston works in a half-court football snap after winning the tip
- Judging the choices for the Eastern Conference All-Star team reserves
- Judging the choices for the Western Conference All-Star team reserves
- Jeremy Lin draws inspiration from Tim Tebow
- Stephen Jackson is already tired of Milwaukee
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
