Pacers Will Need To Conjure Up Some Sort Of Defense To Stop Jazz
by spstevenson on Dec 4, 2009 9:59 AM EST
in News
11 comments
This probably isn't the best time for the Indiana Pacers to visit the Utah Jazz. Of course, really when would there be a better time this season? Definitely not until the Pacers learn to play defense.
The Jazz (10-6) and Pacers are streaking, although both in opposite directions, and Utah's recent six wins in seven games have allowed the team to find its offensive intensity and efficiency that was missing at the beginning of the season. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the Jazz nearly set a team record the other night by shooting better than 60 percent from the field for the third straight game (the team made 58 percent of its shots in a 120-93 thumping of Memphis on Monday). The Jazz have also scored more than 100 points all but three times this season.
Umm, as you can guess, that's probably not good for the Pacers right now. Unless the team picked up some sort of magical defense elixir on its trip from Sacramento to Utah, Indiana will need to conjure up players who can defend the pick-and-roll and the perimeter for tonight's matchup. Neither of those things have happened often this season.
Indiana will continue to use its new nine-man rotation tonight against Utah, but the team will probably run into problems in the fourth quarter again when Mike Dunleavy and Tyler Hansbrough reach their maximum minute schedules of 20 minutes and 16 minutes, respectively. No doubt about it, tonight will be a tough game for the defensive-lapsing Pacers.
But don't get down and turn that frown upside down. Check out the links after the jump and give a little prayer. Miracles still happen.
- Mike Wells reports that the Pacers are still trying to find excuses for their poor play of late. He notes that the Pacers last had success this season when Troy Murphy wasn't in the game and when the team played small-ball, but coach Jim O'Brien said that lineup isn't likely to return because of how vital Murphy is to spreading the floor. Also, here's a quote from T.J. Ford, effectively citing enough evidence for his own benching:
"I don't know what we're going through right now, but it's not good. I don't know, but we have to figure out how to be consistent as a collective group. I guess you find the guys that are the most productive and play them. Just do what it takes." -- T.J. Ford
- Bruno talks about the new playing rotation (Dahntay Jones and Roy Hibbert in the starting lineup) and how it affects the team.
- ESPN's 30 for 30 series has been really good so far, but apparently the sports movie that has everybody talking is the one about titled "Winning Times: Reggie Miller vs. The Knicks". The film, by documentarian Dan Klores, will be featured at the Sundance Film Festival and is being touted on many "hot topic" lists for films being shown there. Sounds like a good one.
- Ron Artest clarified his statements about drinking during the halftime of NBA games during his first two years in the league, according to the Indianapolis Star. The former Pacers player said he wanted to get the information out there so young people could learn from his mistakes.
- Don't try to reconfigure your TV screen tonight during tonight's game against the Jazz. Standard.net reports that the Jazz are set to wear their green throwbacks tonight. No word if the Pacers are joining the retro party.
- The Indianapolis Star writes that Bright House has extended its partnership with the Pacers.
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memories......
Remember when we were the jazz of the east? The small market club that fielded a competitive team year in and year out and had a home arena that was always a tough place to play because it was full of passioniate fans who loved to support their team and filled the place night in and night out. Those were the days
If Youre not First, Youre Last
by drsuessrunner07 on Dec 4, 2009 11:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'll be watching and hoping
JOBs comment about how important it is our PF be used to spread the floor is beyond me. I’ll be paying attention to how many times that same PF fails to defend the pick and roll, gets used by Boozer off the dribble, rotates to his man late, and just simply loses his man on D (which happened alot at Sac). Good luck with that theory coach.
by Rush Rules!!! on Dec 4, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I agree. What’s the point of having Murphy “spread the floor” if he isn’t playing D and isn’t hitting his shots. For that matter, what’s the point of spreading the floor when Foster is in the game and you have no post presence…
by indy62 on Dec 4, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Too bad T-Brough is still on a maximum minute schedule
It would be great to see him bang with Boozer for a game.
Miracles still happen. Good point. The first miracle needs to start with Okur sitting out tonight. I seem to remember him torching the Pacers for a career high last year in Utah. Dude was on fire. Then Boozer having a rough night from the field would be nice too. If Jason Thompson can score 20 by hitting outside shots, Boozer will be earning his paycheck by shooting 18 footers all night. This might be a tough one to watch.
by jantz101 on Dec 4, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Okur had 43 in the game at Utah last year. If you think about it, Okur is probably the guy you want to make beat your, but he did just that last year.
by Tom Lewis on Dec 4, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was just going to post that!
I remember that game like ti was yesterday. Okur gave me nightmares for a week.
by captain flitzy on Dec 4, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Maximum Minutes
I get Duns, but is Hansbrough really still in that bad of shape that he can’t go beyond 15-20 minutes? I think there are instances when he could’ve been of use in a game beyond that time frame…but instead we play Danny, who is also nursing an injury, over 40 minutes.
Can’t wait until we get these training wheels off of Hansbrough and let him bang down low in games when we could use his fire late in the fourth. See if he’s really worth our time when we need what he brings instead of relying on defined increments throughout the night.
Could really use a win tonight, but that goes without saying. Hopefully wearing the home whites will inspire them to play like they’re not in Utah.
by goodlucksaturday on Dec 4, 2009 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think the recent knee bruise kept the minutes limit going for Hansbro, although I’m not convinced the limit isn’t just an easy way to manage expectations for the rook.
by Tom Lewis on Dec 4, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously,
if they are managing expectations I will be so pissed. Let the man sink or swim on his own. He’s not a 19 year old kid. Bird is probably just keeping his minutes down so as not to expose how poor of a draft pick he might have made. As long as we don’t very much there’s no way to know. By the way, another great night from Blair last night, 18 and 11 against the Celts.
by ThirtyOne on Dec 4, 2009 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I meant it more in the way that Hansbro had no training camp and hardly practiced with several of the players before playing. Gotta give him a chance to get acclimated to the game so people don’t…ahem…make a snap judgment on him. Also, my comment above is based on nothing I’ve heard or seen directly.
by Tom Lewis on Dec 4, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here's the ESPN link for the Reggie vs. the Knicks movie
http://30for30.espn.com/film/winning-time-reggie-miller-vs-the-new-york-knicks.html
looks amazing, we have to wait until mid-March to see it though.
can’t wait
by Jamison1 on Dec 4, 2009 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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