PACERS vs. BUCKS

Keith
McLeod		 Point
Guard
Earl
Boykins

Mike
Dunleavy		 Shooting
Guard
Mo
Williams

Danny
Granger		 Small
Forward
Charlie
Bell

Jeff
Foster		 Power
Forward
Ruben
Patterson

Jermaine
O'Neal		 Center
Dan
Gadzuric

Darrell
Armstrong		 Sixth
Man
Ersan
Ilyasova

Rick
Carlisle		 Coach
Larry
Krystkowiak
SCOUTING REPORT: TONIGHT @ BUCKS
Pacers Need Help For Playoff Push

By Conrad Brunner | April 11, 2007

Having lost control of their destiny with a frustrating 90-86 defeat in Philadelphia Tuesday night, the Pacers will need help from other teams if they are to reach the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.

But first, they must help themselves.

Tonight's Game

PACERS @ BUCKS
8 p.m., Road
TV: FSN-Indiana
Radio: WIBC 1070-AM

Trailing eighth-place Orlando (36-41) by two games and seventh-place New Jersey (37-40) by three with just five remaining, the Pacers (34-43) face nothing but must-win games the rest of the way, beginning tonight in Milwaukee. They would hold the tie-breaker against Orlando by virtue of a better record against Eastern Conference opponents, but do not have the tie-breaker with the Nets, who won the season series.

If Orlando loses in Detroit tonight, the Pacers would close the gap to one game with a victory over the Bucks.

"We'll take any help we can get but we have to win games," Carlisle said. "Right now, we're not at the point where we should be concerned with what's going on with other teams. We've got to bounce back from this. You can't let a night of bad shooting like this on Tuesday affect you on Wednesday. We've got to forget about it and get ready for Milwaukee. It's going to be a similar game in some ways and we've just got to regroup real quick."

The 76ers beat the Pacers despite the absence of their two top scorers, as Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver missed the game with injuries. With the announcement earlier this week Michael Redd would sit out the remaining games with a sore left knee, the Bucks' only healthy starter is guard Mo Williams. Milwaukee has gone 4-20 without Redd this year.

The Bucks have dropped three in a row and 10 of 11, with defense the big problem. In Orlando's 117-94 rout Monday, 30 of the Magic's 50 baskets were dunks or layups. Milwaukee has yielded 110.2 points in its last 11 and 116.7 in the last three.

KEY MATCHUPS
With four of the five starters sidelined by injuries, the Bucks will play a small lineup much like Boston's that will depend on perimeter shooting and a disruptive, trapping defense. Mo Williams remains a major threat and Earl Boykins can be tough to contain when he's on. Perhaps the toughest matchup, however, could be Ruben Patterson, a bullish but quick 6-7 forward who's been playing inside. He can be explosive and knows how to use his strengths against taller, leaner defenders.
TRENDS
The Pacers have won the last six games in which they've scored at least 100 points. They've lost the last six in which they've failed to reach 100. … In their last seven wins, they've averaged 110.7 points. In their last seven losses, they've averaged 86.9. … Darrell Armstrong has shot 26-of-71 (36.6 percent) overall and 10-of-40 (25 percent) from the arc in the last 12. … Since posting an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double against the Spurs, Ike Diogu has averaged 11.5 minutes in four games. … Mike Dunleavy has missed 14 of his last 16 attempts from the 3-point line but has averaged 10.3 rebounds in the last three. … Keith McLeod has averaged 12.3 points and 3.7 assists while shooting 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) in starting the last three at point guard. … Jermaine O'Neal has shot 30-of-86 from the field (34.9 percent) in his last five games. … Shawne Williams has averaged 8.0 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 22-of-38 (57.9 percent) in the last seven.
SERIES
With three victories over Milwaukee already this season, the Pacers are going for first series sweep of the Bucks since 1999-00. Since then, in fact, Indiana had won the season series just once (2002-03) prior to this year. The Bucks lead the overall series 80-63 and are 49-21 at home.
INJURIES
Pacers - C Jeff Foster (back spasms) is probable; G Jamaal Tinsley (right elbow) is doubtful; G Marquis Daniels (sore left knee) is out.
Bucks - F Brian Skinner (inner ear infection) is day-to-day; C Andrew Bogut (left foot), G-F Michael Redd (left knee), F Bobby Simmons (right heel) and F Charlie Villanueva (right shoulder) are out.