The Indiana Pacers made their way to Canada yesterday while preparing to take on the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers will try to sneak a W back through customs on their return trip but also hope to build on their opening night win over the Detroit Pistons.

Knocking down open shots would be a great place to start, but more importantly the Pacers need to establish a consistent level of play with regard to their defensive and rebounding effort. Successful teams need something to hang their hat on when all else fails and rebounding and hustle are a great place to start (certainly better than three-point shooting).

Jeff Foster didn't make the trip so the playing rotation will likely remain the same with Lou Amundson playing the emergency big role off the bench. I heard from lots of folks who were impressed with Lance Stephenson and want him to play more, but don't get too excited. Stephenson will have to earn an expanded role and for the time being, playing five to ten minutes in the first half rotation will be his role.

Of course, as the season kicks into high gear, which is now by the way with three games in the next four days, Stephenson, Amundson and any live bodies on the bench will get some run depending on how games play out with foul trouble and minor injuries. Hopefully Stephenson will continue to leave people wanting more.

After the jump, check out the links with plenty on the game tonight as well as Josh McRoberts earning a new nickname with the Lakers.

• PACERS: Caught in the Web Indiana Pacers blog: Winning ugly a beautiful thing
• Rebounding, defense make up for Pacers shooting woes | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
• Pacers must learn, adjust on the fly | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
• Dwane Casey put a 1300-lb boulder in the Raptors locker room - Ball Don't Lie - NBA Blog - Yahoo! Sports
• NBA Preview - Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors - Dec 28, 2011 - CBSSports.com
• Raptors home opener may stir up old animosities - CBC
• 3 in the Key: Raptors' Game-Day Preview vs. Pacers - Raptors HQ
• Jeff Foster Missed Game Back Injury | Eight Points, Nine Seconds
• 2012 Spiderwebs: Game 1 Pacers vs. Pistons | Eight Points, Nine Seconds
• Hoops Addict " Indiana Pacers Scouting Report
• What's up with ... Jeff Pendergraph - AZ Central
• NBA Scores And More: Heat Hold Off Celtics, Lakers On The Board - SBNation.com
• First L.A. win is beautiful to Brown - TrueHoop Blog - ESPN
• Lakers FYI: Just call him Josh McRambis - latimes.com