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The Pacers pride in effort and teamwork took a bruising in Chicago on Saturday so logic dictates they will be dialed in and ready to atone for their first loss of the season when they face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Facing the Knicks in the Garden always helps sharpen the Pacers focus but throw in a national television audience watching on ESPN and the Pacers should be able to rise up and put down the struggling Knicks. The Pacers expect to have their full playing rotation ready to go (which at this point doesn't include Danny Granger), although Lance Stephenson missed a day of work with a sprained foot and Paul George shut it down early on Monday after banging the back of his knee against Roy Hibbert's knee. Both are expected to be ready to roll.
The medical report isn't so friendly for the Knicks who played in Detroit last night without Raymond Felton, Metta World Peace and Tyson Chandler. Among that trio, it appears Felton, out with a pinched nerve in his hip, would be the most likely to play. But his status remains doubtful.
So the Knicks are pretty small, especially when you consider center Andrea Bargnani more of a perimeter threat. Carmelo Anthony will see time at power forward, although I doubt he'll try to challenge Roy Hibbert at the rim. But with Melo and J.R. Smith in the gym, a nuclear night from behind the arc is always a threat, so the Pacers will have to tidy up an area of focus they are not happy with, which is defending the three-point shot.
For more on the Knicks, check out Posting and Toasting. Also, leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments.