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PACERS at NEW YORK KNICKS Tonight, 7:30, Madison Square Garden TV: Fox Sports Indiana Radio: 1070 The Fan Injury Report presented by Ortho Indy |
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 Jim O'Brien |
Scouting Report
Two struggling teams that can score points in mass quantities but haven't been able to prevent opponents from doing so square off tonight in Madison Square Garden. The Pacers (10-21) bring their worst end-of-December record since 1988-89 into the New Year despite an offense that ranks second in the East in scoring (102.3). The defense, on the other hand, ranks 27th in the NBA (104.6) and has been the primary problem in their four-game losing streak. In their first season under Coach Mike D'Antoni, the Knicks (12-18) lead the East in scoring (104.3) but are 29th in defense (107.9), a prime reason they've lost 15 of 21 after a 6-3 start. They lead the NBA in 3-pointers attempted (29.5) and made (10.6).
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 Mike D'Antoni |
 T.J. Ford |
Point Guard
After missing 2½ games with a groin strain, T.J. Ford was back in uniform Tuesday against Atlanta but played just 11 minutes off the bench and wasn't particularly effective, shooting 2-of-8 with one assist. After two more days off, a return to the starting lineup would seem to be in order. The Knicks start Chris Duhon, a tough defender and dangerous long-range shooter (.398 from the 3-point line) who averages 12.0 points and ranks fifth in the league at 8.5 assists. He's a solid, energetic player.
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 Chris Duhon |
 Marquis Daniels |
Shooting Guard
Marquis Daniels has gone strangely silent in the offense of late, totaling 18 points on 8-of-18 shooting in the last two games. He had scored at least 20 in three straight and five of seven. The Pacers will need his activity and movement against the Knicks, not to mention his defense against the explosive Quentin Richardson, who is having an all-or-nothing kind of season. In the last four games, for example, he has scored as few as two points but as many as 29. He's a very streaky 3-point shooter.
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 Quentin Richardson |
 Danny Granger |
Small Forward
With at least 25 points in each of his last six games, Danny Granger has taken his game up another notch. He's averaging 29.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his last eight while averaging 9.6 free throw attempts. He faces Wilson Chandler, a second-year forward who is an emerging offensive presence for the Knicks, averaging 18.3 points in the last three games and 14.2 overall.
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 Wilson Chandler |
 Troy Murphy |
Power Forward
With his 14th double-double of the season against Atlanta (10 points, 14 rebounds), Troy Murphy (11.3 points, 11.5 rebounds) continued his solid all-around season. He has pulled double-figures rebounds in his last seven games, averaging 13.7 in that span. David Lee has emerged as a double-double machine with 17 in his last 19 games. He averages 14.4 points and 10.9 rebounds. It's not often two players that average double-doubles square off, so this matchup could be particularly fun to watch.
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 David Lee |
 Roy Hibbert |
Center
Given the Knicks' small lineup and fast tempo, Roy Hibbert may not start this one if Coach Jim O'Brien opts to go with a smaller group, with either Murphy or Jeff Foster at center. Hibbert's inconsistency, while not unexpected for a rookie season, has been nonetheless frustrating. He neither scored nor rebounded against the Hawks after totaling 34 points and eight boards in the previous two. The Pacers are 2-6 with Hibbert starting, 5-13 with Rasho Nesterovic and 3-2 with Foster. Defensive-minded Jared Jeffries was moved into the lineup against Charlotte and the Knicks responded by holding the Bobcats to 89, their opponent low for the season.
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 Jared Jeffries |
 Jarrett Jack |
Bench
In five starts, Jarrett Jack has produced three games of at least 20 points while averaging 17.7 points, 4.8 assists and 3.4 turnovers but the team is 1-4. Foster (12 points, 12 rebounds) is coming off his fifth double-double of the season but Brandon Rush has been invisible of late, totaling 12 points in 85 minutes in the last three. The Knicks' two top scorers come off the bench. Al Harrington has averaged 22.0 points and 6.5 rebounds since being dealt to New York and has started 13 of 17 games, so it wouldn't surprise to see him on the lineup. Nate Robinson (16.6 points) is one of the peskiest players in the league to defend.
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 Al Harrington |
