The Pacers are in Miami for a Saturday afternoon game against the Heat. The Pacers are struggling, having lost three of their last four games, but they have nothing on the Heat. Mark Montieth breaks down the Heat in The Star today. Needless to say, they're frustrated by all the losing, which has them heading into the game today with a 15-game losing streak. The Pacers slump busting abilities will be put to the test today. The Heat took home the O'Brien trophy less than two years ago, but the glamour team has dropped at a rate that would make Britney Spears feel sorry for them.
The Pacers better not show the Heat any mercy because as we know, the schedule takes harrowing turn after today. Here's Bruno's Scouting Report begging for some help from the bench which was nowhere to be found in Milwaukee. Quisy and Shawne, we're talking about you. O'B, don't forget the handsome, high-flyer sitting at the end of the bench. Stephen Graham, is healthy and ready to go. Always.
The availability of Jamaal Tinsley and Kareem Rush is unknown. The Pacers need as many options available as possible. They have to get the pace moving and make shots. Sounds simple enough to me. I'll be working the sidelines at the YMCA this afternoon so I won't be able to watch the game until this evening. If anyone actually watches live, please let your thoughts be known in the comments.
Here's a couple of links to lighten the mood. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. First, we have Kelly Dwyer transcribing a "conversation" between a suddenly aged Shaq and Zo.
The second link is from the spectacular Euroball blog, Ball in Europe. The logo alone is worth a click. Tobias asked a bunch of us Yank hoop bloggers to offer a one word desription of European basketball. Check it out.
Here's what the efficiency numbers say:
| Team | Pace | Off.Eff. | Def.Eff. |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND | 97.2(2nd) | 105.7(19th) | 107.4(13th) |
| MIL | 89.9(15th) | 103.2(27th) | 109.6(23th) |
Projected Starters
| PACERS | pos. | HEAT |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Dunleavy | F | Udonis Haslem |
| Danny Granger | F | Dorell Wright |
| Troy Murphy | C | Mark Blount |
| Kareem Rush | G | Dwyane Wade |
| Jamaal Tinsley | G | Jason Williams |
Feel free to leave your thoughts on the game in the comments.