The New York Knicks are in town and I'm actually going down to the game after work tonight. With Eddy Curry out for the Knicks, the matchups set up well for the Pacers to stay small and run it up and down the floor. With the Beach Boys setting the tempo for the Knicks, I'm expecting a wild game with plenty of excitement. Of course, all of the wild excitement could turn out of control and sloppy with missed shots and turnovers mounting. Sloppy? Pacers and Knicks? Nah.
Here's Bruno's Scouting Report setting a now or never tone for the Pacers' lingering playoff hopes. With the remaining schedule including six games against teams fighting with the Pacers for a playoff spot, the Pacers still control their own destiny. But no since looking ahead now, it's one game at time and tonight the focus is on the Knicks.
For a great Knicks' perspective, check out Knickerblogger and Posting and Toasting.
Update: Man, I love it when the Pacers play the Knicks. The NY tabs always bring us some juicy stories. Doesn't get much better than this one, with private plane tracking, clandestine meetings, oh, and this throw away line.
Update II: One more little nugget of happiness for the Pacers here, as the 8 Seconds Saloon trial for Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels is slated to begin this morning. A three or four day trial with around 20 witnesses testifying? Great.
Here's what the efficiency numbers say:
| Team | Pace | Off.Eff. | Def.Eff. |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND | 96.0(3rd) | 107.0(18th) | 109.5(18th) |
| NYK | 89.4(20th) | 104.9(24th) | 113.4(28th) |
Projected Starters
| PACERS | pos. | KNICKS |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Dunleavy | F | Wilson Chandler |
| Troy Murphy | F | Zach Randolph |
| Jeff Foster | C | David Lee |
| Danny Granger | G | Jamal Crawford |
| Flip Murray | G | Nate Robinson |
Feel free to leave your thoughts on the game in the comments.