Game Thread #52: Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards
by Tom Lewis on Feb 8, 2009 1:35 PM EST
in Indiana Pacers News
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PrintIndiana Pacers at Washington Wizards, Feb 8, 2009 6:00 PM EST
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|---|---|---|
| 20-31 | 10-40 | |
| February 8, 2009 - 6:00PM EST | ||
| Verizon Center | ||
| Radio: 1070AM WFNI TV: None | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| T.J. Ford | PG | Mike James |
| Jarrett Jack | SG | Caron Butler |
| Mike Dunleavy | SF | Dominic McGuire |
| Danny Granger | PF | Antawn Jamison |
| Troy Murphy | C | Darius Songaila |
The Washington Wizards have served as a buffer between the Pacers and the basement in the Eastern Conference most of the year. When the two teams meet today, however the Pacers find themselves passing a couple of more teams in the standings despite the mixed results of late.
The Wizards have struggled to get anything going this year with injuries continually keeping their playing rotation in flux. Tonight they hope to have Caron Butler back on the court after the flu has kept him sidelined for the past two games.
The Pacers will likely start with a small lineup once again, but it appears that JOB will contrast the small ball with a dose of Roy Hibbert off the bench. Looking back at the small lineup against Orlando, their results were mixed, finishing with a 5-man +/- of -4. I wouldn't mind seeing that small lineup with Marquis Daniels instead of Jack.
As for Hibbert, it finally looks like he's earned another heavy look. He was in a similar situation when the Pacers played at Washington in December, but had one of his worst performances. He just needs to slow things down when he's on the court. As Jim O'Brien admits (to my shock), Hibbert is the Pacers "most legitimate low post threat."
So run when you can, but with Roy in the game, run things through him in the half court. He's a solid passer out of the post, and can make scoring opportunities for himself. The key, again, is for Roy to slow down and not make it too complicated. He needs to go easy on the "Dream Shake in progress" moves and stay within his game. If he does, then Roy can impact the game off the bench.
Here are the Pacers.com matchups.
For a D.C. perspective, check out Bullets Forever.
Gameday Reading
- Bob Kravitz Let's It Out and begs for the rooks to play and some executive or player from the local pro teams to sacrifice a little salary for the laid off workers in their respective organizations.
- Ivan Carter reports on a Wizards team getting frustrated with the team's lack of progress.
- Brendan O'Shaughnessy wonders how the CIB will solve their $43 million dollar deficit and how much of that solution will dip into taxpayers pockets.
Leave your thoughts and observations in the comments.
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I hope they don't bomb this game...
I wonder if Granger will sit. Cleveland is coming up next, right? Not that I’m looking past the Wizards because this season has taught me not to assume anything with this group…
Good start up 18-13
Keep getting this production out of Jack and Murph and it should be a good night.
Need a good win tonight
Because I’m not feeling too good about the game against Cleveland. Any word yet on Dun?
Left with knee problem in 1st, not coming back
Don’t know after that. We need him against Cleveland.
Not returning tonight
No other info as to the severity. Have to think it was precautionary because there was no mention when he left the game, only a few minutes later when the report came in that he wouldn’t return.
Thanks a lot.
I assume you’re watching the game … please post if there are any more updates. I’m having enough injury trouble as it is!
Thank god for Danny Granger. Funny how having the two of these guys has suddenly made me a Pacers fan …
i am a pacers
and oakland A’s fan…if your a dolphin fan as well god bless your sweet, sweet heart.
by captain flitzy on Feb 8, 2009 7:51 PM EST up reply actions
Rush shooting it better tonight
Made a couple of long ones and missed one that went all the way in and back out.
Maybe we should consider closing in on 3 pt shooters
And the Wiz was supposed to have the worst shooting 3 pt % according to Mark and Slick. Sheesh. What’s the problem with the 3rd quarter for this team?
Man, I put the kids to bed
and a classic 3rd quarter nightmare breaks out. Looks like they’re working back into it now though.
Wiz up 80-78
Yeaa...
Wiz 20-23 from the line
combined 47-51 that is ridiculous
by captain flitzy on Feb 8, 2009 7:56 PM EST up reply actions
Perfect finish
No D and both Ford and Jamison finish with buckets
Pacers up 94-92 end 3Q
This is crazy.
He did it
the same game as Kobe dropped 50 too right?? When he was on Golden State?
by captain flitzy on Feb 8, 2009 7:58 PM EST up reply actions
They mentioned it in the Indy Paper
Granger joked that he was going to rent a Bentley and stick it in his driveway…and even called an interior designer to finish a couple of rooms in his house.
Jamison may not have gotten a career high...
but he does have a season high. I don’t want to grouse about that, but this happens so often against the Pacers….
Oh come on
Seriously? How can this team be so up and down night after night after night after night?
and beat the best team in the NBA when they were fully healthy..
"I can resist everything but temptation." - oscar wylde
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