Here's Bruno's Scouting Report selling us hope that the Pacers can take care of the Jazz like they did earlier in the season at the Fieldhouse. That game took the Pacers out of a losing funk and propelled a 12-5 stretch for the team. Last year the Pacers lost by 22 at Utah and the matchup still makes me wince despite the magical night at the Fieldhouse in November.
Jamaal Tinsley needs to play. Jamaal Tinsley wants to play.But the training staff doesn't consider won/loss desperation if I guy can't go. It appears Mel Mel won't be going tonight. Also, J.O. and Daniels are day-to-day with their nagging ailments. Yeesh. Sorry to be so negative but when the only thing we can rely on is the sporadic availability of key players, it's hard to envision a favorable matchup against the Jazz. IF everyone is available let's talk. Unfortunately, the "ifs" and "buts" in the midst of a few too many losses is wearing out my enthusiasm.
Here's what the efficiency numbers say:
| Team | Pace | Off.Eff. | Def.Eff. |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND | 96.6(2nd) | 105.8(16th) | 106.8(13th) |
| UTA | 92.5(9th) | 112.6(4th) | 109.3(24th) |
Projected Starters
| PACERS | pos. | JAZZ |
|---|---|---|
| Jermaine O'Neal | F | Carlos Boozer |
| Danny Granger | F | CJ Miles |
| Troy Murphy | C | Mehmet Okur |
| Mike Dunleavy | G | Ronnie Brewer |
| Andre Owens | G | Deron Williams |
Feel free to leave your thoughts on the game in the comments.