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PACERS vs. NEW JERSEY NETS Tuesday, 7 p.m., Conseco Fieldhouse TV: Fox Sports Indiana Radio: 1070 The Fan Video preview | Injury Report presented by Ortho Indy | Buy Tickets |
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 Jim O'Brien |
Scouting Report
Though buoyed by Mike Dunleavy's return to practice Monday – though he's still not close to being game-ready – Coach Jim O'Brien still was uncertain just exactly who would be available to play against the Nets Tuesday. Though Danny Granger, Marquis Daniels and Troy Murphy are no longer hospitalized by viral infections, none were strong enough to practice. They may well be in uniform but likely would be available, if at all, for limited minutes. Even without their two leading scorers and top rebounder the past two games, the Pacers (10-17) could've gone 2-0 but lost to the Clippers on overtime before winning in Philadelphia. They've beaten the Nets twice already but Devin Harris did not play in either game and he has evolved into New Jersey's most important player.
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 Lawrence Frank |
 T.J. Ford |
Point Guard
Though T.J. Ford is at something less than 100 percent due to a groin strain his productivity has been full-capacity. He hit the game-winning shot in Philly and has averaged 19.4 points, 6.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting 32-of-64 (.500) from the field and 31-of-32 from the free-throw line in his last five games. Harris is making the Jason Kidd trade look like a steal. He has boosted his scoring average by nearly 10 points from last season's 14.8 and has been given virtual free reign to run the Nets offense.
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 Devin Harris |
 Brandon Rush |
Shooting Guard
Brandon Rush has carried a heavy load of minutes with the Pacers shorthanded at the wing positions but has held up relatively well, averaging 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in starting the last three games, though he has struggled mightily with his shot, going 13-of-48 (.271). Vince Carter isn't as spectacular as he once was but remains an extremely potent scorer who combines with Harris to form the league's highest-scoring duo.
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 Vince Carter |
 Stephen Graham |
Small Forward
Stephen Graham, who normally puts up big numbers in short minutes off the bench, has been oddly non-productive as a starter, totaling nine points on 4-of-17 shooting in 47 minutes in the last two games. The Nets' Trenton Hassell is known for his defense and the occasional scoring outburst. Both players are strong and aggressive so this could be one of those unheralded matchups to watch.
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 Trenton Hassell |
 Jeff Foster |
Power Forward
Jeff Foster has made the most of his opportunities to start, averaging 9.3 points and 7.9 rebounds. Most impressive, the Pacers have been a plus-53 with him on the court and in those games have gone 5-3. Foster has pulled double-figures rebounds in the last four games, averaging 10.8. The Nets' Yi Jianlian has a versatile offensive game and can pull defenders away from the basket with his shooting ability. Few big men shoot the 3-pointer better (.406).
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 Yi Jianlian |
 Roy Hibbert |
Center
Roy Hibbert's four starts have been a mixed bag of one very good performance and three that were not so much. The averages are adequate (8.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, .517 shooting, 18.8 minutes) but there's a consistency lacking. Like many young players, his game seems to hinge on whether he makes his first couple of shots. He's matched up against fellow first-round rookie Brook Lopez who is developing quickly for the Nets, averaging 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game.
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 Brook Lopez |
 Jarrett Jack |
Bench
Despite being shorthanded, Indiana's bench has been long on productivity lately, racking up an average of 37.6 points in the last five games while outscoring their counterparts by an average of 16 per game. Travis Diener and Josh McRoberts combined for 22 points in Philly to join the consistently productive Jarrett Jack and Rasho Nesterovic as key contributors. The Nets depend on Jarvis Hayes, Keyon Dooling, Ryan Anderson and Josh Boone.
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 Jarvis Hayes |
