 |
PACERS at PHOENIX SUNS Tonight at 9:00,, US Airways Center TV: Fox Sports Indiana Radio: 1070 The Fan Injury Report presented by Ortho Indy |
 |
 Jim O'Brien |
Scouting Report
The good news is Mike Dunleavy wikk make his season debut tonight after missing the first two months with a right knee injury. The bad news is that probably won't do much to help the defense. The offense has purred along quite nicely of late, racking up 138 first-half points in the last two games and averaging 118.5. Of course, they only won one of those because the defense yielded 135 in a 20-point loss to the Nuggets Monday. The Pacers have lost seven in a row to the Suns, including a 113-103 decision on Nov. 3 in Conseco Fieldhouse as Amare Stoudemire racked up 49 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals. The Pacers scored 38 in the first quarter but 37 in the second half. Phoenix (19-12) has won three in a row and eight of 11 as the offense has come back to life, averaging 109 points in that span.
|
 Terry Porter |
 Jarrett Jack |
Point Guard
With T.J. Ford missing four of the last 10 games with groin and back problems (not to mention Tuesday's practice) Jarrett Jack has stepped in and generally performed admirably. He has averaged 20.3 points on .585 shooting in the last four games and chipping in the game-winning shot in New York. If Ford can't play, Jack will have his hands full with the speed and shiftiness of Steve Nash. After some difficult early adjustments to a new coach, new style of play and new teammates, Nash has brought the team's offense back to life. He has been struggling with back spasms, missing one game and most of another before returning to play 32 minutes (with nine points and 11 assists) against the Clippers Friday.
|
 Steve Nash |
 Mike Dunleavy |
Shooting Guard
O'Brien isn't tipping his hand about how he intends to use Dunleavy but with Marquis Daniels hurting -- he sat out the second half in Denver Monday and missed Tuesday's practice with a strained groin -- there may be a need for a change, anyway. Dunleavy ultimately will start and needs time with the first unit to develop the necessary timing and chemistry. He'll likely play around 20 minutes and the Pacers will welcome his ability to just make the offense work with his relentless passing and cutting. Jason Richardson has transformed his game. Once primarily a dunker, he has evolved into the league's leading 3-point shooter (.485) and his acquisition has sparked the team to a 6-2 record in his eight appearances.
|
 Jason Richardson |
 Danny Granger |
Small Forward
No one should feel the relief of Dunleavy's return more than Danny Granger, who has been carrying the offense to this point. He has averaged 29.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his last 11 games and has averaged 13.3 free-throw attempts in the last four. Grant Hill is a strong complementary player and sound defender who can still hurt you in a variety of ways; he just doesn't have the knockout punch anymore.
|
 Grant Hill |
 Troy Murphy |
Power Forward
As solid as Troy Murphy has been, with five straight double doubles (averaging 13.6 points, 14.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in that span) and 10 straight double-figures rebounding games, he's no match for the athleticism of Stoudemire, who simply dominated the Pacers' frontcourt in December and has 11 games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
|
 Amare Stoudemire |
 Roy Hibbert |
Center
Matching a rookie against Shaquille O'Neal will test any coach's will but Roy Hibbert has performed well as the short-minutes starter, averaging 11.0 points and shooting .609 in just 15 minutes per game in the last six. With Stoudemire at power forward, there's no double-team help available from the frontcourt. Shaq (17.2 points, 8.9 rebounds) is having a very strong bounce-back season and is once again a force at both ends.
|
 Shaquille O'Neal |
 T.J. Ford |
Bench
If Ford's back allows him to play, he'll provide much-needed speed in the backcourt. If Dunleavy initially comes off the bench, that also would be a big lift for the second unit. Jeff Foster pulled four rebounds against the Nuggets to pass Herb Williams for fourth place on the franchise's all-time NBA rebounding list. Stephen Graham tied his career high with 16 in Denver but Rush has totaled 24 points in his last six games and just 15 minutes in the last two. Phoenix has a strong, versatile bench led by Leandro Barbosa (11.9 points) and Matt Barnes (11.8).
|
 Leandro Barbosa |
