Pacers Links: Pacers focus on better effort against Nets

The Indiana Pacers return to action a the Fieldhouse on Friday when they host the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets remain in play to pass the Pacers for the third seed in the East thanks to a three game winning streak while the Pacers have stumbled a bit of late.

A few recent losses have the Pacers attention heading to the opening tip tonight as the look at their game against the Nets as an opportunity to improve their level of play against a quality playoff team, as Mike Wells reports in the links today. The Nets can throw matchup problems at opponents all over the court and when they play well together are among the toughest challenges the NBA has to offer. The Pacers were unable to solve those challenges in the first two meetings, so avoiding the season sweep is also a point of emphasis for the Pacers.

So while they need a win to lock up the three seed, they really want to play like a three seed against the Nets.

"That's in the back of our minds," Pacers swingman Paul George said of postseason seeding. "Coach (Frank Vogel) brought it up. We know how we react playing in big games and it hasn't been as well as we want."

Check out the links:

Game Preview: Pacers vs Nets | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE INDIANA PACERS

Pacers look to improve on their performance in big games | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

Nets-Pacers Preview - AP

On the road to 50, a pothole the size of Indiana - NetsDaily

A look at the lives and careers of controversial NBA players Ricky Davis and Lance Stephenson - Grantland

Notebook: Urgency for Third Seed, Vogel Tops One Coaching List | Pacers Blogs

Inside the Pacers pregame routine | Video Library | Indianapolis Star

Deron: With Gerald hurt, it's next man up - Newsday

Sources: New York Knicks to sign veteran center Solomon Jones - Yahoo! Sports