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PACERS vs. DETROIT PISTONS Tonight at 7:00., Conseco Fieldhouse TV: Fox Sports Indiana Radio: 1070 The Fan Injury Report presented by Ortho Indy | Tickets |
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 Jim O'Brien |
Scouting Report
Things got a little wild out West. On their just-concluded five-game road trip, the Pacers – who rank third in the league in scoring (104.6), faced the teams ranked first (Lakers), second (Warriors), fourth (Suns), fifth (Nuggets) and seventh (Jazz). A defense already struggling was taken down another notch or two as the Pacers went 1-4 and allowed an average of 124 points in their losses. They've lost three in a row, allowing at least 120 points in each, the longest such streak since 1989, but that could come to an end as the Pistons (22-14) haven't reached 120 all year. In fact, they hadn't reached 100 in 10 straight games, including an 80-78 home loss to Charlotte Tuesday night. The Pistons have dropped two in a row and three of four overall but have taken the last eight meetings with the Pacers including two this season, though both were close games.
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 Michael Curry |
 Jarrett Jack |
Point Guard
When T.J. Ford has been able to play he's been effective, totaling 31 points and 13 assists in 54 minutes in his last two games. Problem is, Ford missed four out of the last five with back problems so Jarrett Jack has stepped in. Jack has averaged 15.5 points, 4.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting .504 in 12 starts but the team has gone 4-8. The Pistons unearthed a gem in Rodney Stuckey, who has averaged roughly 17 points, six assists and four rebounds in 20 starts, with the PIstons going 14-6.
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 Rodney Stuckey |
 Mike Dunleavy |
Shooting Guard
Limited to roughly 20 minutes in his first four games back from a knee injury, Mike Dunleavy has been given clearance by the medical staff to increase his load to roughly 28 minutes, so Coach Jim O'Brien said this morning he will put him back in the starting lineup. There appears to be little chance he'll actually match up against Allen Iverson. That job most likely will fall to Jack. Dunleavy could be paired with Richard Hamilton, with Danny Granger on Stuckey. Iverson is a tough cover for anybody, a high-volume shooter who doesn't convert a high percentage but does get to the line and can effectively create for others.
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 Allen Iverson |
 Danny Granger |
Small Forward
Danny Granger's roll continues. He has scored at least 30 points in five of the last six, averaging 34.7 (with 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists). His scoring average of 26.5 is now threatening the Pacers' NBA record of 26.6 set by Billy Knight in 1976-77, the first after the demise of the ABA. He has enjoyed great success against the Pistons this season, racking up 75 points in two games including his career-high of 42. Richard Hamilton returned after missing eight games with a groin injury and scored 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
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 Richard Hamilton |
 Troy Murphy |
Power Forward
With his 18th double-double Monday night in Utah (12 points, 10 rebounds), Troy Murphy snapped a string of three games without. Murphy has made 12-of-20 from the 3-point line in his last four and has made 41-of-47 free throws (.872) after starting the season 7-of-17. Nearly half Murphy's shots (47 percent) have come from the 3-point line. Tayshaun Prince isn't exactly a traditional power forward but his long, angular frame and surprising quicknesscauses major matchup difficulties for defenders like Murphy.
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 Tayshaun Prince |
 Jeff Foster |
Center
After starting Roy Hibbert 14 of the last 16 games (the rookie averaged 8.9 points in 14.6 minutes), O'Brien will turn to Jeff Foster against the Pistons, who employ a smaller, quicker lineup. Foster has been productive as a reserve, totaling 61 minutes, 17 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in the last two, and is the Pacers' strongest interior defender. Though Coach Michael Curry has been toying with the idea of a bigger lineup with Rasheed Wallace at power forward and either Kwame Brown or Amir Johnson in the middle -- which would move Prince to small forward and either Iverson or Hamilton to the bench -- he started Wallace at center Tuesday night. Walace had missed four games with a sore right foot and came off the bench Saturday in Utah.
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 Rasheed Wallace |
 T.J. Ford |
Bench
With Dunleavy in reserve, the bench has outscored opponents 128-62 in the last four games. His return to the starting lineup means someone else will need to bring scoring punch off the bench, possibly Stephen Graham or T.J. Ford, as the latter recovers from his back injury. Travis Diener has struggled with his 3-point shot (4-of-22 in the last seven) but has 23 assists against three turnovers in the last six. The Pacers need much more consistent and confident production from rookie Brandon Rush who has gone scoreless in three of the last four games and totaled 18 in the last nine. Veteran Antonio McDyess anchors Detroit's second unit which otherwise features youngsters like Arron Afflalo, Brown, Johnson and Jason Maxiell.
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 Antonio McDyess |
