Harrington, Jackson Return As Warriors

by Conrad Brunner

Feb. 4, 2007

SCOUTING REPORT: MONDAY vs. GOLDEN STATE
Harrington, Jackson Return As Warriors

By Conrad Brunner | Feb. 4, 2007

Though it still is far too early to judge the ultimate impact of the eight-player trade between the Pacers and Warriors, both teams are largely satisfied with the difference it has made.

Less than three weeks after being traded away, Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Josh Powell return to Conseco Fieldhouse for the first time as members of the Warriors Monday night.

Golden State (22-26) has gone 3-5 since the ex-Pacers joined the team; the Pacers have gone 6-2 with Mike Dunleavy (11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds. 2.9 assists with Indiana), Troy Murphy (8.3 points, 9.6 rebounds), Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod. Indiana (26-21) will be going for a season-best four-game winning streak.

Dunleavy and Murphy moved quickly into the starting lineup. Though Murphy missed Saturday's 116-110 victory in Memphis while getting fitted for a mask to protect the broken nose suffered in Friday's 95-84 victory over the Lakers, he could return to face his former team. Diogu has been brought along more slowly but erupted for 19 points and nine rebounds against the Grizzlies. McLeod came to the Pacers with a strained abdominal muscle but has been cleared to play and was on the active roster for the first time Saturday night.

"There's still some learning involved but I'm encouraging all these guys to play their game when they're out there," said Coach Rick Carlisle. "That's one of the challenges of coming to a new team as a player. Sometimes the newness can be something that can really help a guy right away and sometimes it takes awhile for players to adjust.

"We like them all very much. There are some things Diogu can do that I wasn't aware he could do. Generally, I'm pleased with all the guys we got in the trade. And McLeod's a guy that's going to help us."

Harrington has thrived with the Warriors, averaging 20.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.63 steals in eight starts. He's struggled a bit of late, averaging 15.5 points on .361 shooting in the last four games while going 2-of-11 from the arc, but hit the game-winner with 1.2 seconds left recently in Philadelphia

Jackson scored 29 points in his Warriors debut but has averaged 12.5 point since. Jasikevicius scored 10 points in that same opening game but has totaled 10 more on 3-of-16 shooting since; he did not play in either of the last two games. Powell has been a pleasant surprise for Golden State Coach Don Nelson, averaging 4.8 points and 3.0 rebounds.

Carlisle isn't sure what kind of reception awaits the former Pacers.

"I hope they all receive a warm welcome," he said. "They all did some great things while they were here. These kinds of things are always weird. I've been through it, going back to Detroit and coaching against my guys there and some other situations. It's just a part of it. You get ready to play and you go play.

"Any time someone leaves you hope they get into a good situation elsewhere. I felt like the players in the trade fit their team well and we felt their players fit our team well. So you just go forward from there."

The Warriors are playing their fifth straight road game and are 1-3 on the trip, including frustrating losses in Atlanta and Charlotte, the latter a 98-90 decision Saturday night.

KEY MATCHUPS

Without question, both Harrington and Jackson will want to show up big against their former team and both will be fully stoked. Both ex-Pacers are bigger threats on the move inside the defense, so the challenge will be to stay in front of them and encourage jump shots.

TRENDS

Maceo Baston has made 11 of his last 13 field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers. … Granger has averaged 17.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.56 steals in the last nine games. … O'Neal has averaged 22.0 points and 10.6 rebounds in the last eight. … Jamaal Tinsley has averaged 21.8 points, 7.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.25 steals while shooting .561 from the field in the last four. … The Pacers have averaged 12.0 turnovers in the last five. … They haven't been outrebounded in the last seven games and haven't been outscored in the paint in the last eight.

SERIES

Getting 3-point field goals from Harrington and Jackson, the latter the game-winner, in the final 34 seconds to wipe out a 106-102 deficit, the Pacers beat the Warriors 108-106 on Oakland on Nov. 29. Indiana has won the last four meetings overall and the last five at home. Overall, the Pacers lead 36-30 with a 21-12 mark in Indianapolis.

INJURIES

Pacers - F Jermaine O'Neal (bruised left knee) and G Marquis Daniels (left knee tendinitis) are doubtful; C Troy Murphy (broken nose) is day-to-day.
Warriors - C Zarko Cabarkapa (back), G Jason Richardson (hand) and C Patrick O'Bryant (D-League assignment) are out.