Pacers Show More Fight Than Expected, Which Isn't Really A Good Thing
by Tom Lewis on Mar 7, 2010 12:22 PM EST
in News
10 comments
When you closely follow a tough season like the Indiana Pacers are playing through right now, sometimes you lose track of just how far you've lowered the bar of expectations.
After three demoralizing losses in four days, my expectations for the Pacers' performance in Phoenix last night centered around the team getting home in one piece. Even with the Suns playing short-handed, the Pacers were playing their fourth game in five days against a team that would push the pace and likely push the Pacers around after wearing them out in the second half.
But when the Suns reached the point in the second half where they had the lead and could start pushing the Pacers all the way home, Earl Watson stood up pushed back. Watson lit a spark the shined a light on a fed up Pacers team that, for one night at least, showed some fight worth rooting for.
Fortunately they just pushed back, although since this is the Pacers, don't be surprised if David Stern decides Danny Granger should be suspended for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, Granger's efforts to use the juice from the dust up to deliver an homage to Reggie Miller came up short when his efforts to silence the boos he earned bounced off the rim. Granger was 2-6 when shooting to steal the game in the fourth quarter and in the end the Pacers are left with another loss.
But at least they showed some fight. See, severely lowered expectations. We were expecting the loss with no fight.
After the jump, a few links from the loss along with some great images via Bright Side Of The Sun.
- AP game report
- PACERS: Inside the Game: Suns 113, Pacers 105
Bruno's Inside the Game report has all of the numbers, notes, quotes and highlights. - Pacers get fired up, still go 0-4 on trip
Mike Wells reports on the Pacers at least putting up a fight in the loss and stirring up a little hate from the road crowd. - O'Brien must go -- for the good of the bad Pacers
Bob Kravitz joins the chorus calling for Jim O'Brien to be fired. At this point, I say don't mess with a good thing. Best shot at top 5 pick may be to keep him around. - Suns show some fight in victory against Pacers
Paul Coro reports on the Suns winning despite the Pacers showing more spirit than expected. - Suns Bash Pacers In Feisty Battle: 113-105
Seth Pollack recaps the action from Phoenix. - Pacers show some fight - finally
Mike Wells finds the Pacers rallying around each other and rallying around the DVD player to see just what happened during the skrimish with the Suns. - Paul Coro digs into the possible fallout from the skirmish for Channing Frye.
- Ex-Carmel star shows value on trip
Mike Wells reports on Josh McRoberts taking advantage of some minutes and actually getting a little praise from Jim O'Brien. - No magic for Bird in Indiana
Gary Washburn digs into Larry Bird's trying time in Indy for the Boston Globe.
Here are some great images from the game last night via Max Simbron from Bright Side Of The Sun.
This block makes me so mad, I might go nuts later.
Hey, Dudley, if you're going to treat me like that at least buy me dinner first.
Hey, pick on someone your own size.
Easy big fella, these hands are registered lethal weapons in 15 U.S. states and Canada.
Once these coaches get between us, I'm really going to get mad!
Keep holding me back so I can keep posin'.
Let's get back to ball, baller.
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JOB is doing great....
at increasing our chances in the lottery, Bird better not let him go until the end of the season. That’s all I have left right now, hoping that we loose ALL remaning games and that we get a coach that gets us into a winning mind set after all this HORRID loosing.
I’m done hoping that SOB..I meant JOB, does anything that makes an once of basketball sense, for instance ike playing all the young guys so we know what we have for the future.
I still await an apology for his blatant disrepect of McRoberts effort. (I know it’s futile)
GREAT pics Cornrows.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas Edison
Thanks (those are my pics).
I think your team has a lot of upside. Granger is, in my mind, an alpha dog. Willing to lead, make his presence felt, take the scoring upon himself. He’s grimy too (I say this as a positive). He’s talented, but that alpha mentality is what makes it possible to build around him.
Troy Murphy is a grinder. Rebounds, hits threes, hustles. I wouldn’t call him a starter on most teams, but he’s definitely part of the rotation.
McRoberts also has an edge to him. Hibbert, no clue about him. He didn’t impress me much.
I think the team needs a better point guard, Earl Watson is at best a bench guard, and TJ Ford… well I wasn’t even sure he was in the league anymore.
Interesting team, young, have a leader if they build right, and just need maybe 1 solid veteran and another young talent.
Awesome pics Max
Thanks for sharing.
Granger’s problem is consistency. He doesn’t always flash that alpha dog side. Some nights he just gets discouraged and hangs his head.
Essentially a team in serious transition.
My Bad...
Great pictures Max
Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas Edison
Really?
I’m a Wolves fan who doesn’t really care one way or the other about either team, but I was watching last night. That little skirmish was on you guys. Watson was acting like a petulant child who needed a nap. The long road trip got to him maybe. I halfway understood why he didn’t get ejected and Frye did (the punch throwing). But it was 100% on Watson for igniting it. His slapping tantrum was ridiculous. It really made me root for PHX to shut Granger up down the stretch.
But, not a huge deal. I was just curious about the Indy perspective and I thought I’d throw in my 2 cents.
Wolves fan watching a Pacer game?
I check out fourth quarters of Minnesota and GS just for lottery ball implications.
TL – Didn’t know that, guess I’d have to see that part to pass final judgment. Odd they never showed the replay of that, though.
STLPacer – What can I say, I was up late, and it was the only League Pass game on replay where I wasn’t sure who won. Can’t say I make a point of checking out the Pacers normally. Don’t take that personally. I’m a Wolves fan and even I have a hard time clearing time to watch the crap we put out there. Can’t imagine anyone else is terribly interested.
More fighting the better
Glad to finally see Granger get a fire lit under him. My problem is that Granger still missed four of his next six shots after he got all fired up. Guess there can only be one Reggie Miller in history. I just don’t see this as a good sign for whenever Granger actually makes the playoffs in his career (getting ahead of myself? Yeah, probably).
You know, I don’t mind the Pacers showing a little fight in ‘em. I don’t mind the “not taking shit from no one” thing.
1. It makes the game interesting.
2. It helps the home crowd get behind their team. It gives them a good show.
3. From the cover of the book point of view, it shows the Pacers still care a little bit.
Here are the problems.
1. Winning is the last thing we want to be doing. Lets face it: a loss is a win and vice versa. You keep up this passion, you might just win a couple games. Wrong answer.
2. A message to Danny: Don’t let your ego write checks your body can’t cash. I don’t mind the smack talk. It shows a competitive side. But you look like an ass if you don’t back it up. Earn the right to talk shit.
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