PACERS vs. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Tonight at 7:00, Conseco Fieldhouse
TV: None Radio: 1070 The Fan
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Jim O'Brien
Scouting Report
Even when the Pacers catch a break, they can't catch a break. Though the schedule turns friendly in terms of home games, it's very unfriendly in terms of activity. Beginning with the Bobcats, the Pacers play five games in seven nights. In winning three of five, the Pacers have showed signs of getting their defense together, limiting opponents to averages of 102.8 points and .431 shooting. They've also done a much better job of protecting the ball (11.8 turnovers) while outscoring opponents from the line (120-105). Rebounding has become an issue of late as they've been beaten 108-77 on the boards in the last two. Charlotte (18-25) is a mightily improved team, winning five of the last six and 11 of 18 since acquiring Boris Diaw and Raja Bell from the Suns. They beat the Pacers 115-108 in overtime on Nov. 28, before the trade. They, too, are tightening the defensive screws, holding seven straight opponents below 95 points while yielding an average of just 86.4.
Larry Brown

Jarrett Jack
Point Guard
Jarrett Jack's days as the starting point guard may be numbered. If T.J. Ford's performance against Houston (21 points, six assists, 33 minutes) was an indication of his physical readiness, he could regain his spot. Jack has slumped a bit, averaging 8.3 points, just 2.0 assists and shooting 10-of-26 (.385) in the last three games. The Bobcats' Raymond Felton torched the Pacers for 31 last time out, taking over the game in overtime.
Raymond Felton

Mike Dunleavy
Shooting Guard
Though Mike Dunleavy has struggled with his shot, making 25-of-68 (.368) in five starts, the Pacers have gone 3-2 with him in the lineup, an indicator of just what his presence means. He did not start the second half against Houston as Jim O'Brien opted to go with a small backcourt. Bell can be a devastating 3-point shooter but his primary value is as a defender; he is one of the toughest such guards in the NBA.
Raja Bell

Danny Granger
Small Forward
The odd thing about Danny Granger's game of late is that he has no problems from the 3-point line, making 13-of 28 (.464) in the last five games. But he can't buy a layup or a mid-range jumper, going 34-of-101 (.337) on two-point attempts. But he's not a one-dimensional player, as demonstrated against the Rockets when he contributed five assists, three blocks and two steals to his 25-point night. Gerald Wallace had a remarkable game in the Bobcats' 98-76 rout of Phoenix Friday with 28 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals, making 11-of-13 shots.
Gerald Wallace

Troy Murphy
Power Forward
In the last 31 games, Troy Murphy has pulled double-figures rebounds 26 times while posting 18 of his 22 double-doubles, a remarkably consistent run for the re-emergent power forward. In the last six, he has averaged 13.7 points and 12.5 boards. Boris Diaw is kind of glue player that make Brown's teams work, a skilled, unselfish player who makes his teammates better. He can also put numbers up when so inclined, as he posted 26 points and 11 rebounds on his former team Friday.
Boris Diaw

Jeff Foster
Center
There's more to Jeff Foster than the new mustache, but his impact goes well beyond the box score. He had a solid game against the Rockets (eight points, seven board) and has been the most effective of the three starting centers employed by O'Brien. Emeka Okafor seems to always put up big numbers against the Pacers and has been a consistent double-double producer.
Emeka Okafor

T.J. Ford
Bench
With either Ford or Jack at the point, Marquis Daniels on the wing and Rasho Nesterovic up front, O'Brien has the eight-man rotation he prefers but with so many games this week he'll no doubt reach deeper into the bench in an effort to keep the legs as fresh as possible. The Bobcats' second unit features former first-round pick Adam Morrison, a smooth shooter who hasn't quite fulfilled the potential projected when he entered the NBA as a hot prospect.
Adam Morrison