The Indiana Pacers will try to put an end to the Houston Rockets' 15-game winning streak tonight while running their own winning streak to three. Can 'three' be considered a streak. This season? Absolutely.
Here's Bruno's Scouting Report which focuses on the Pacers' continual search for the efficient and effective defensive effort Jim O'Brien craves. O'B is not giving up hope, but he's not letting a couple of wins distract from the defensive standards he expects and is not seeing. I admire O'B's spirit but with this current crew the search for defensive greatness may continue for some time. But, if they keep grinding, maybe once J.O. returns the mix will make O'B smile.
For a great Rocket-centric perspective and lots of chuckles make sure you check out The Dream Shake.
Here's what the efficiency numbers say:
| Team | Pace | Off.Eff. | Def.Eff. |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND | 96.1(3rd) | 107.0(18th) | 108.8(18th) |
| HOUS | 89.5(19th) | 107.6(16th) | 102.6(2nd) |
Projected Starters
| PACERS | pos. | ROCKETS |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Dunleavy | F | Shane Battier |
| Troy Murphy | F | Luis Scola |
| Jeff Foster | C | Dikembe Mutombo |
| Danny Granger | G | Tracy McGrady |
| Travis Diener | G | Rafer Alston |
Feel free to leave your thoughts on the game in the comments.