IC Cold Links: Suns Deep Frye Good Vibe For Pacers

I had a great time at Conseco Fieldhouse yesterday with my boys right up until the last second of overtime when Channing Frye sent us home grumbling.

Considering at halftime it appeared the Indiana Pacers were headed toward getting handled at home by the Phoenix Suns, like they did on Friday against the Utah Jazz, it was nice to see Frank Vogel find something that worked and keep working it. Several players stepped up in the second half to dig out from under a 15-point deficit and put themselves in position to win the game.

But moral victories won't help morale any more. The Pacers can't dump these winnable games, especially at home, and expect anyone to keep believing the Vogel mantra that they expect to make the playoffs. And by anyone, I include the players.

Whatever boost in confidence and energy the Pacers absorbed from the coaching change has leveled back to ground zero. As has always been the case, the players still have to make the plays to get it done and with a chance to do that yesterday in regulation, it wasn't pretty.

The Pacers could only cash in on one of their final four possessions in regulation (Two Danny Granger free throws), which included a head-shaking shot clock violation and a 17-foot jumper from Jeff Foster. Regardless of how tough, gutty and blue-collar the effort was for the Pacers to get back in position to win, it's not enough at this point to come close. They have to win, otherwise they'll come close to making the playoffs...again.

After the jump, a few links from the loss yesterday.

• Box score
• PACERS: Game Rewind: Suns 110, Pacers 108 (OT)
  Game Rewind has highlights, postgame interviews, analysis, notes, quotes and stats from the Pacers-Suns game Sunday in Conseco Fieldhouse.
• Reality starts setting in for Vogel, Pacers | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
  Mike Wells reports on gut check time arising for the Pacers under interim coach Frank Vogel.
• AP: Suns beat Pacers 110-108 in OT on Frye's jumper
• Phoenix Suns edge Indiana Pacers in overtime
  Paul Coro reports on the Suns finding a way finish off a road win over the Pacers.
• Extra shooting helps Price
  Mike Wells empties the notebook with items on A.J. Price seeing extra work pay off, Lance Stephenson seeing the court and shot clock mismanagement by the Pacers.
• IndyStar.com | The Pacers have to turn it back on again
  Mike Wells shares a genuine concern about the Pacers handling the recent losses.
• Phoenix Suns Vs. Indiana Pacers Game Recap: Frye Hits Dagger at the Buzzer to Defeat Pacers 110-108 - Bright Side Of The Sun
  Channing Frye Ices the Pacers in Indianapolis: Suns Down Pacers in OT.
• NBA: Comebacks for Naught as Pacers Fall on Overtime Buzzer-Beater, 110-108 - SB Nation Indiana
• Aaron Brooks treads lightly in Phoenix Suns debut
  Paul Coro reports on newly acquired Aaron Brooks going to work for the Suns.