PACERS at BOSTON CELTICS
Tonight, 7:30, TD Banknorth Garden
TV: Fox Sports Indiana Radio: 1070 The Fan
Injury Report presented by Ortho Indy

Jim O'Brien
Scouting Report
The Pacers are rapidly eliminating any chance at all they might be able to sneak up on somebody. Their 7-10 record doesn't exactly scream for attention until you consider this: their first victory of the season came over the Celtics; their most recent came over the Lakers, a 118-117 thriller Tuesday in which they wiped out a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter. In fact, the six teams (including the Nets twice) the Pacers have beaten this season are a combined 63-34 (.649) against the rest of the league but 0-7 against Indiana. Which brings us back to the Celtics (17-2) who are riding a nine-game win streak and no doubt have vengeance on their minds for the 95-79 loss to the Pacers on Nov. 1. Boston shot .346 from the field and had 24 turnovers in that game.
Doc Rivers

T.J. Ford
Point Guard
After playing a strong game against the Lakers (21 points, eight assists three steals, one turnover), T.J. Ford said something very interesting: that this was the first situation he'd been in where the team needed him to take an aggressive offensive stance every night. To be sure, the Pacers are much better off when Ford is taking charge, looking at the open shots and pushing the tempo. In the last three games he has showed signs of emerging from a slump, averaging 15.7 points, 5.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.67 steals. Rajon Rondo had trouble keeping up with Ford in the last matchup and will no doubt seek to be more aggressive.
Rajon Rondo

Marquis Daniels
Shooting Guard
He didn't make the game-winner but without Marquis Daniels' presence of mind in a pressure situation Tuesday it never would've happened. Daniels made a hard cut to the basket in a scramble situation and put up the left-handed shot that Troy Murphy tipped in at the buzzer. In addition to his consistently solid defense, Daniels has averaged 18.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in the last seven games and is already earning mention as a leading Most Improved Player candidate. Ray Allen is a tough matchup because he's constantly on the move and must be closed out because of his 3-point ability.
Ray Allen

Danny Granger
Small Forward
Rarely has a player missed 17 shots and had such a positive impact on a game. Danny Granger was 10-of-27 against the Lakers but came up very big in the clutch, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter to lead the Pacers' comeback. He scored eight of his 32 points from the line, more than he'd totaled in the three previous games combined. To emerge as a truly elite scorer, Granger must continue to find ways to get to the stripe. Paul Pierce is one of the masters at that particular trade, averaging nearly eight attempts per game.
Paul Pierce

Troy Murphy
Power Forward
It was fitting Troy Murphy's first game-winner came as the result of a rebound because that has always been his forte – but even moreso of late. Murphy has nine straight double-figure rebounding games, averaging 13.4, and his next double-double will match his output of all of last season (10). He's averaging 15.6 points and 13.6 rebounds in the last five games, giving the Pacers consistent, reliable production. Dealing with Kevin Garnett will be a challenge. Garnett's numbers are down (16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.33 blocks) but he's still one of the toughest matchups in the game.
Kevin Garnett

Rasho Nesterovic
Center
Rasho Nesterovic had his second double-double of the season (16 points, 10 rebounds) against the Lakers and played a major role in rendering Andrew Bynum moot. The steady veteran has been a major stabilizing influence on the court. Kendrick Perkins is a big, strong defensive presence who struggled with foul problems in the last meeting which was a quiet key to Boston's problems. He's really the only reliable big body they have.
Kendrick Perkins

Roy Hibbert
Bench
With Roy Hibbert returning to a more regular role (totaling 47 minutes, 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in the last four games) the Pacers have a more well-rounded second unit. Jarrett Jack has been steady and Brandon Rush is emerging as a scoring threat. In Jeff Foster's absence due to a sore lower back Tuesday night, Josh McRoberts stepped into the rotation and pulled six rebounds in 11 minutes. He has the size, athleticism and energy to make a difference if it can be harnessed. The Celtics' second unit is generally underrated because it lacks a singular scoring threat but there are a number of players that can cause damage, from Tony Allen to Eddie House to Leon Powe.
Tony Allen