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PACERS vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS Tonight, 7:00, Conseco Fieldhouse TV: Fox Sports Indiana, NBA TV Radio: 1070 The Fan Video preview | Injury Report presented by Ortho Indy | Buy Tickets |
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 Jim O'Brien |
Scouting Report
Welcome to NBA Finals week, or the closest that level of competition can be approximated during the regular season. The Pacers have a back-to-back set with last season's NBA Finalists, the Lakers and Celtics, followed by Cleveland Thursday and the Celtics again Sunday. Those three opponents have a combined record of 44-6. The Pacers (6-10) have lost two in a row and seven of nine after a 4-3 start and a number of statistics stand out. They were plus 25 in turnover points in the first seven but minus 61 in the last nine; they were plus 6 in free throws made in the first seven but minus 69 in the last nine; they were plus 11 in turnover differential in the first seven but minus 39 in the last nine; they averaged 9.0 steals in the first seven but 4.3 in the last nine. The Lakers (14-1) have the best record in the league, a seven-game win streak and a 5-0 record on the road. They lead the league in scoring (107.8) and steals (10.2) and have an average margin of nearly 14 per game.
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 Phil Jackson |
 T.J. Ford |
Point Guard
The Pacers' slump coincides with that of T.J. Ford, who got off to a fast start in the first seven games but has slipped in the last nine, shooting 39-of-111 (.351) with averages of 12.6 points and 4.3 turnovers. The team is at its best when his level of aggression is high. Steady veteran Derek Fisher averages 10.0 points on 27 minutes and he's out there for three reasons: experience, 3-point shooting (.434) and defense.
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 Derek Fisher |
 Marquis Daniels |
Shooting Guard
So, what can Kobe Bryant do to contain Marquis Daniels? OK, that's probably not the question they're asking in Lakerland but the Pacers hope it is a storyline. Daniels has been very effective of late, scoring at least 20 points four times in the last six games while averaging 18.7 with 6.5 rebounds and he's the best finisher on the team. Bryant doesn't have monster numbers (24.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.67 steals) because he doesn't have to. With so much depth and balance on the roster, he doesn't have to win games by himself.
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 Kobe Bryant |
 Danny Granger |
Small Forward
Though he has totaled 62 points on 26-of-45 shooting (.578) in the last two games, Danny Granger has done most of his work from the perimeter (9-of-17 from the 3-point line), a fact reflected by his lone free-throw attempt. Granger is too mobile and athletic not to attack the rim more frequently. Vladimir Radmanovic, on the other hand, is a player whose chief attribute is the 3-point shot (.455 for the season).
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 Vladimir Radmanovic |
 Troy Murphy |
Power Forward
Though not flashy, Troy Murphy has been getting the job done consistently for the Pacers. He had 10 double-doubles in 75 games last season; he has eight in 15 games already. He's averaged 13.0 rebounds in the last eight, pulling double figures in each. His role in the offense tends to fluctuate from game to game but he could be more of a focal point against Pau Gasol (16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds), a very effective low-post threat who won't want to chase Murphy to the 3-point line.
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 Pau Gasol |
 Rasho Nesterovic |
Center
As the Pacers have gone to more small lineups lately, Rasho Nesterovic's minutes have started to dwindle (17.0 in the last three games) but foul trouble has also been a factor. Having faced Yao Ming and Dwight Howard in the last three games, he now gets burgeoning young star Andrew Bynum (12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks), another big, strong, active athlete inside.
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 Andrew Bynum |
 Brandon Rush |
Bench
With Brandon Rush coming alive and Roy Hibbert (10 points, six rebounds in Orlando) giving notice he's ready for more consistent minutes, the second unit may finally be coming around. It'll have to against the Lakers, who just might have the best bench in the league. They average 39.9 points per game from the reserves, with Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic leading the way.
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 Lamar Odom |
