The Pacers have the very fortunate opportunity to play the New Jersey Nets tonight.  They are in dire need of a win and a confidence booster.  So, they play Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, and rookie big man Derrick Favors.  Should be a cake-walk, right?? Well, the Nets are coming off of a 4-1 home stand and Lopez is putting up big numbers again as of late....

The Pacers are without Brandon Rush tonight, so Paul George will get even more minutes and it looks like we will see A.J. Price getting some 2-guard play tonight.  Hopefully Conseco will be nice and filled (without paper bags, as Mike Wells pointed out yesterday).  This young team needs as much backing as humanly possible right now.  A strong performance and a nice "W" would be a great boost for this team.  This is a team the Pacers "should" beat, but the way they have been playing it would be tough to say they "should" beat anyone...

After the jump check out the links of the day...

PACERS: Countdown to Tipoff: Pacers vs. Nets
Countdown to Tipoff has video, key stats, trends, matchups and injury info as the Pacers try to snap their six-game losing streak Friday against the New Jersey Nets.

Nets-Pacers Preview - Jan. 27, 2011 - NBA - CBSSports.com
The New Jersey Nets haven't won three straight games in nearly two years, and their recent history against the Indiana Pacers suggests that stretch may continue.

First, Pacers' offense vanishes, and now it's the defense | The Indianapolis Star | IndyStar.com
If there was one thing the Indiana Pacers could rely on early in the season, it was their scrappy defense.

Talkin' crap: JOB, Super Bowl, Crean, Matta... - The Ride with JMV | 1070 The Fan - Indy's Sportscenter
JMV chimes in on what he thinks the solution to JOB is....

Nets Get Defensive - Basketball News & NBA Rumors -
Their offense still needs work, but the New Jersey Nets are showing some signs of being a legitimate defensive force.

Nets, on heels of 4-1 homestand, are finally heating up | NJ.com
Once-slumping team is making the most of lessons learned

NetsDaily