| ||
| PACERS | vs. | SONICS |
 J. Tinsley |
Point Guard |
 D. West |
 D. Granger |
Shooting Guard |
 K. Durant |
 M. Dunleavy |
Small Forward |
 D. Wilkins |
 T. Murphy |
Power Forward |
 C. Wilcox |
 J. Foster |
Center |  K. Thomas |
 M. Daniels |
Sixth Man |
 W. Szczerbiak |
 J. O'Brien |
Coach |  P. Carlesimo |
Pacers would welcome O'Neal's return
By Conrad Brunner | Nov. 29, 2007
Tonight 10:30 p.m., road TV: FSN-Indiana Radio: WIBC 1070-AM |
What, then, does the record in O’Neal’s absence indicate?
“That we can be a pretty good basketball team because we're missing a very, very important piece of our basketball team and it's given guys like David Harrison a chance to really step forward,” said Coach Jim O’Brien. “We know how important (O’Neal) is to our defense, how good of a low-post scorer, how good of a passer he is. It's a matter of him getting the leg healthy and conditioning himself to play at a (high) level. I think it's a very positive sign for all of us.”
Truth be told, even though O’Neal has appeared in 10 games (in which the Pacers are 3-7), he hasn’t been close to 100 percent in any. Swelling in the lower leg, a slight tear of the calf muscle and soreness in the left knee robbed him of his explosiveness, which was reflected in his productivity (13.2 points, 7.1 rebounds). The Pacers have moved cautiously in bringing O’Neal back to the active roster until he’s physically able to play his usual prominent role.
In the meantime, Jamaal Tinsley and Danny Granger have assumed leadership roles. Tinsley has averaged 19.3 points, 9.7 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.83 steals in games O’Neal has missed, including double-doubles in the last three.
”Jamaal has given us really solid leadership,” O’Brien said. “We have a point guard who’s leading, attacking, distributing and reading the situation. That’s so important to any basketball team.”
Granger has scored at least 20 points in five of the six games O’Neal has missed, averaging 20 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting .471 from the field and .429 from the 3-point line. Mike Dunleavy also has emerged as a primary contributor, averaging 25 points on 19-of-31 shooting (.613) in the first two games of the trip.
Seattle (2-14) is winless in seven games at KeyArena, the worst home start in franchise history. The Sonics have also dropped six in a row overall by an average of 12.5 points.
“They’re very athletic,” said O’Brien. “(Kevin) Durant’s a great rookie who puts a lot of points on the board. We’ll see some zone and we’ll see a team that’s very much in need of a win.”
KEY TO THE GAME
Energy. Given Seattle is winless at home, the Sonics are bound to come after this game hard. The Pacers are playing their third road game in four nights. Though they won the first two, both were difficult games that required extended minutes from the regulars. The longer Indiana allows the Sonics to stay close, the margin for error increases. Tempo will also be important because Seattle is prone to giving up points in bunches.
TRENDS
Jeff Foster has averaged 11.6 rebounds in the last nine games. … Danny Granger has scored at least 20 points in four of the last five games, averaging 20.0 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting .486 overall in that span. … Troy Murphy has averaged 7.0 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting .348 in the last three. … Tinsley has averaged 18.0 points, 10.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds in the last three. … Tinsley has committed 25 turnovers in the last four games after totaling 32 in the first 12.
SERIES
The Pacers were swept last season – in two games decided by a total of three points -- and have lost five of six to the Sonics, including the last three in Seattle. Seattle leads the overall series 39-27 and is 24-9 at home.
INJURIES
Pacers - F-C Jermaine O'Neal (left knee swelling) is day-to-day; F Ike Diogu (torn left calf muscle) is out.
Sonics - F-C Kurt Thomas (right hamstring) and F Chris Wilcox (left ankle) are probable; C Johan Petro (lower back strain) and C Robert Swift (sore right knee) are day-to-day; C-F Nick Collison (possible nasal fracture) and G Luke Ridnour (torn left quadriceps) are doubtful.
