Game Thread #18: Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Clippers
by Tom Lewis on Dec 5, 2009 7:30 PM EST
in Events
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PrintIndiana Pacers at Los Angeles Clippers, Dec 5, 2009 10:30 PM EST
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@ |  |
|---|---|---|
| 6-11 | 8-11 | |
| December 5, 2009 - 10:30PM EST | ||
| Staples Center | ||
| Radio: 1070AM WFNI TV: Fox Sports Indiana | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| T.J. Ford | PG | Baron Davis |
| Dahntay Jones | SG | Rasual Butler |
| Danny Granger | SF | Al Thornton |
| Troy Murphy | PF | Marcus Camby |
| Roy Hibbert | C | Chris Kaman |
No rest for the road weary tonight, as the Indiana Pacers wrap up what has been a miserable four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Pacers have lost all three of their games on the current road trip and four in a row since beating the Clippers ten days ago in Indianapolis.
If you recall, the Pacers found their defensive edge in the second half of that game to come from behind for the win. Dahntay Jones and T.J. Ford came up huge down the stretch as the Pacers were without Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy. Everyone is available tonight, assuming all the nagging injuries of a few players like Granger and Jeff Foster are up for the back-to-back games.
Regardless of who is available, the Pacers theme of the night has to be 48 minutes. Playing well for stretches of a game hasn't led to wins lately and the Pacers certainly can't count on the Clippers going cold like they did in the last game. Local legend, Eric Gordon was day-to-day when they played in Indy but was able to play quite a bit off the bench. Unfortunately, he is day-to-day again with a hammy that forced him to miss the Clips' last game against Houston this past Wednesday.
Oh, yeah, that's another issue. The Pacers are playing their fourth game this week and second of a back-to-back while the Clips have been resting at home for a few days. All ten players in the rotation will have to do their part to bring some energy to the floor, so we're not talking about the Pacers running out of gas tomorrow. Hopefully this will be the game when the blue and gold shooters make some shots.
For a Clippers' perspective, check out Clips Nation and ClipperBlog. Also, Bruno's Scouting Report offers up some interesting numbers.
It's Saturday night. Grab you favorite beverage and stay up late with the Pacers. As always, leave your thoughts and observations in the comments. Also, pop open an extra browser to keep up with Bruno's Live Blog.
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Beverage of choice tonight...
Jim and Coke to start, then depending on the level of play Tecate thrown in. My girlfriend is away for the weekend, so this has been a sportstacular day.
Anyone watch the UK UNC game? I knew Wall was good but oh my! That dude can ball!
Saw a bit
Of Alabama/Florida, should say I saw the score and changed the channel, but haven’t spent much time on sports today. I’d like to see Paul Wall play, but I’d rather just not watch Kentucky play, so it’s a tough call. I’ll see what’s up next weekend when he destroys the Hoosiers.
Watching the games
So I live in St. Louis, but growing up in Central Indiana, I remain a huge Pacers fan. I can’t afford to shell out for NBA League Pass, so I am wondering if anyone knows of any other places to watch them games? I get FS-IND, but it is blacked out when the Pacers are on. Any suggestions?
P.S. – If this against the T.O.S., we can al pretend I never asked.
Cards, Colts, and Pacers - Baseball, football, and basketball or gambling, guns, and old cars?
Lupe Fiasco
Seems upbeat about this team, dropping “Pacers getting Feverish” on his latest mix tape. I wish the Pacers were really getting Feverish, then we’d be in good shape.
Alas, I can’t be so positive about tonight’s game. We can win, but seeing as an ugly win against this Clippers team is the only thing standing between us and a nine game losing streak, I think they’ll remember. Hopefully I’m wrong, but I don’t know that we’re good enough to win consecutive games against any one team if games are this close together.
When bbr.com is giving you a 40% chance of winning against the Clippers…well…I kind of wish plans would pop up tonight…
Good find
I’m a Lupe fan. Loved The Cool album. Got to see him that tour, it was a great show. I’ll take a win, but want to be reminded about how good this team is, not how bad they are…
I had to double take
when I heard that line.
I’m hoping for some positives tonight. This team can be a winning team, I just hope they actually piece something together tonight. I’d resort to drinking, but all I have is a few warm cans of Guinness, which is not going to do the trick at all.
I hope I'm not resorting to drinking
rather having a few drinks to celebrate a win tonight. But there is always the possibility of the flipside…
I don't think I'll be able to stay up for all of this one
Urgh. Hopefully it’s on the radio tonight unless the past couple of games this trip.
I went to Napa on a wine tasting excursion when I was out in SF several years ago
Really really enjoyed myself. Springtime in Napa is pretty great.
Look, I know JOB does the 'play who's playing well' thing
but I wish his rotations were more structured and stable. It’s ghastly at times.
I'm about over
This Michael Redd commercial. It was fun at first…but now it’s just getting annoying.
Haha
I hate that commercial with a passion. Just let the shredder eat that guy’s tie, Michael! It will all be better that way!
Clips broadcast on League pass tonight
that means the ipod gets some play. Medeski, Martin, and Wood “Combustication” getting some spins now
Staples Center
Was a hockey arena a couple hours ago? I would almost bet the Lakers never get that draw.
I always forget that Camby plays for the Clippers.
Sort of those ‘oh!’ moments. I just associate him with the Knicks during that Pacer year THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED.
Did the clipper just say that if the Pacers get it past the halfway mark under 3 sec
JOB won’t call plays?
D.Jones
Is becoming the new Quisy with three pointers. I’m starting to shake my head when he gets it behind the arc.
by Nathan S. on Dec 5, 2009 10:50 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
FYI - Sad news about Greg Oden
Knee injury during Blazers game tonight. Bad enough that he had to leave the court on a stretcher.
Eh
Not much he would’ve been able to do last year. Except score 35 a game and lead the Hoosiers to 9 wins instead of 6.
In some cases
But unfortunately, unless he came back for his Junior year…it would’ve been a waste for him.
He has to be
He hasn’t shown anything on the court that would lead me to believe he’s in the doghouse, but maybe he’s not very driven in practice. I dunno, but he can bring quite a bit to this team from an energy standpoint, no clue why he doesn’t get a few minutes a night at least.
no room at the inn
already using 10 guys in the rotation. Agree, he usually helped when on the court.
Hmm
Tough trivia question tonight: which Mike has scored more points in the NBA? Sr. or Jr.?
Jr. has been a double digit scorer his whole career, but I can’t place off the top of my head what kind of career Sr. had, though I think it was pretty solid.
Not a terrible first quarter. Could've been much worse.
Although…Pacers haven’t lead in a game for 84:36.
That couldn’t be much worse.
How do I do a mobile upload? Right behind the bench? Want to send a pic.
by indy62 on Dec 5, 2009 11:11 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Same warmup at the team. 2 rows behind TJ. (row 1 here is actually row 3…)
by indy62 on Dec 5, 2009 11:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
JAMMING INTO THE LEAD!
Oh, wow. 15-4 scoring run to give Indiana their first lead since 36 seconds left in the first half against Sacramento.
I grew up in Northern Ind. too. Went to IU though
and grew up watching ND. I saw Jerome Bettis when I was a kid. He was much thinner then.
Portland has hinted
Andre Miller might be available. Would he work in the Pacers system and do we have anything we could dangle for him?
That's funny. A lot of Portland fans didn't like Blake because they thought he bogged down their offense.
I posted on Blazers edge last year when they were my bandwagon team last season. Blake was serviceable.
I think Roy is more comfortable with him
and Bayless has shown signs recently. They are my bandwagon team this year for sure.
12 O-rebs for clips are a killer
considering this is a two-point game. Pacers getting burned on the glass.
Definitely better than some sort of knee problem
that heel may need some time off, but not a major thing.
It kills me that there are 4 pacers around the basket and a Clipper gets the rebound
or at least gets a foul from getting the rebound
3 offensive boards 26 defensive
compared to 14 offensive and 41 defensive boards for the Clips. Goodness
any work on granger's heel?
The Rivalry, Esq.
"Ricky Stanzi is to interceptions as Journey is to 80s rock ballads...inextricably linked."
not returning tonight
they don’t play again until wednesday, but it might be wise to let the heel heal a bit.
was it a single play or just built up pain
The Rivalry, Esq.
"Ricky Stanzi is to interceptions as Journey is to 80s rock ballads...inextricably linked."
by Graham Filler on Dec 6, 2009 12:42 AM EST up reply actions
damn
he’s a stud
The Rivalry, Esq.
"Ricky Stanzi is to interceptions as Journey is to 80s rock ballads...inextricably linked."
by Graham Filler on Dec 6, 2009 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Why does it seem
Pacers have no chance even though they are in the game. They have had what, one lead tonight?
I love seeing Earl on the floor
but he cannot run an offense. I am not for playing guys just to play them, but can putting AJ in be that much of a difference to our current options?
I’d be willing to donate a few more losses just to see what AJ could do in an extended stretch of playing time. Worse? Hardly possible.
AJ
From what I have seen of AJ he would fit in very nicely. As you stated, things cannot get any worse. TJ has looked lost and while Earl is serviceable as a backup, he should not be playing more than 20 minutes a game.
"My game’s like the Pythagorean Theorem. It ain’t got no answer." - Shaq
by bleedinblueandgold on Dec 6, 2009 1:36 AM EST up reply actions
Fun time anyways
Wish I could have brought some more luck to the game tonight. Was definitely a slow game, but still fun. Once Danny went down it was over. Great experience regardless. I’ve got lots of thoughts about the game. Will post them tomorrow or Monday.
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