| ||
| PACERS | vs. | NUGGETS |
 J. Tinsley |
Point Guard |
 A. Iverson |
 M. Dunleavy |
Shooting Guard |
 Y. Diawara |
 D. Granger |
Small Forward |
 C. Anthony |
 T. Murphy |
Power Forward |
 L. Kleiza |
 J. Foster |
Center |  M.Camby |
 M. Daniels |
Sixth Man |
 J. Smith |
 J. O'Brien |
Coach |  G. Karl |
Offense delivering on promise but defense key
By Conrad Brunner | Nov. 27, 2007
Tonight 9 p.m., road TV: FSN-Indiana Radio: WIBC 1070-AM |
Their scoring average of 102.8 would be the team’s highest since 1992-93 if maintained, and the Pacers have scored at least 100 points in six consecutive games. They’ll try to make it seven for the first time in seven years against the Nuggets.
“I do know we’re going to be able to put points on the board,” said Coach Jim O’Brien. “I have a lot of confidence in our ability to attack. We really attack the rim on drives and post-ups. We run, we consistently push the tempo, so we’re going to be able to score points. We’re not always going to have good shooting nights but the key thing is that we have quality shots every night. If we get quality shots, more times than not we’ll put them down.”
They’ve produced prolific offensive numbers with only spotty production from their best offensive player. Jermaine O’Neal missed the last three games due to swelling in his left knee, a season-long problem that has brought down his productivity. O’Neal returned to practice Monday sporting a brace to support and protect his knee but his status for tonight’s game likely won’t be determined until the last possible moment.
Weary of the topic, O’Neal didn’t want to talk about his health Monday other than to say, “I’m taking it day by day.”
O’Neal’s return might have a bigger impact on the defense, which could use the help. The Pacers are allowing 105.3 points per game, which ranks 27th in the league and also is the team’s highest since 1992-93.
“It comes down to the other end of the court,” O’Brien said. “Defense truly wins. It’s going to be the difference between us having the type of season we think we can have, which is a very strong season, and having one that we would be disappointed in. It’s not going to come down to the offensive end, it’s going to come down to the defensive end.”
Having played nine of their first 14 at home, the Pacers now enter a less-friendly stretch of schedule with six of seven and 21 of 31 on the road.
“I anticipate the team’s going to handle it well because our team tends to focus on what they have to do the next 24 hours,” said O’Brien. “We get on the plane, we’ll have a good practice tomorrow, we’ll give our best effort tomorrow night, then wake up and do the same thing in Portland. We don’t look at sequences of games. We have a style of play, if played well, wins wherever you are. It doesn’t matter whether you’re on the road or at home.”
KEY TO THE GAME
With Nene and Steven Hunter out and Kenyon Martin doubtful, the Nuggets are very thin in the frontcourt. This promises to be a fast-paced game with a lot of shots going up. Whoever wins the rebounding battle, particularly on the offensive glass, could have a big advantage.
TRENDS
In their last three losses, the Pacers have yielded 38-of-72 shooting from the 3-point line (.528). … Marquis Daniels has averaged 13.5 points on .545 shooting in his last six games. … Mike Dunleavy averages 21.2 points on .505 shooting in victories but 11.0 points and .400 shooting in losses. … Jeff Foster has averaged 11.0 rebounds in the last seven. … Danny Granger has averaged 22.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting .535 from the field in the last three. … David Harrison has averaged 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots in the last four. … Jamaal Tinsley has averaged 21.5 points, 9.3 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals in four games O’Neal has missed.
SERIES
Denver has won the last seven meetings, including a stunner in Conseco Fieldhouse on Nov. 10 when the Nuggets wiped out a 25-point deficit to pull out a 113-106 victory. The Pacers scored 46 in the first quarter and 74 in the first half but went flat thereafter. Indiana leads the NBA series 38-30 but is 14-19 in Denver.
INJURIES
Pacers - F-C Jermaine O'Neal (left knee swelling) is day-to-day; F Ike Diogu (torn left calf muscle) is out.
Nuggets - F Linas Kleiza (sprained left ankle) is questionable; F Kenyon Martin (bone bruise, right knee) is doubtful; G Chuck Atkins (right groin strain), F Nene (left thumb surgery) and C Steven Hunter (right knee surgery) are out.
