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| PACERS | vs. | SUNS |
 J. Tinsley |
Point Guard |
 S. Nash |
 D. Granger |
Shooting Guard |
 R. Bell |
 M. Dunleavy |
Small Forward |
 G. Hill |
 J. Foster |
Power Forward |
 S. Marion |
 J. O'Neal |
Center |  A. Stoudemire |
 M. Daniels |
Sixth Man |
 L. Barbosa |
 J. O'Brien |
Coach |  M. D’Antoni |
Defense braces for Suns’ challenge
By Conrad Brunner | Dec. 4, 2007
Tonight 7 p.m., home TV: FSN-Indiana Radio: WIBC 1070-AM |
Phoenix leads the NBA in scoring at 109.1. The Pacers are second in the Eastern Conference and ninth overall at 102.2. Though their recent statistics – allowing 93.0 points on .422 shooting in the last three games – reflect an improving defense, Coach Jim O’Brien knows the Pacers have much work to do.
“Some of them are good numbers but we were talking as a staff and there’s a world of difference between where we are right now and where we need to be in order to have the season we think we can have,” O’Brien said. “We can’t have that type of season playing defense the way we’re playing defense, frankly. We’re not playing with enough passion. There’s a world of difference between interest and commitment. We’re not totally committed at the defensive end. We are interested in the concept that defense wins but we’re not committed to that concept yet.”
With Steve Nash supported by explosive scorers like Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Grant Hill, the Suns are the most diverse and challenging offensive team in the league. They’ve also owned the Pacers recently, winning four in a row by an average of 16 points with Nash averaging 23.5 points and 10.0 assists.
“I just shake my head because I spent the morning watching them (on film),” said O’Brien after Monday’s practice. “Their speed and the fact they have Steve Nash, who could win another MVP this year the way he’s playing, the way he shoots it, the way he finds people, the way he orchestrates their offense. Their speed is astounding when you watch it. Nash, (Raja) Bell, (Leandro) Barbosa, Marion, Stoudemire, Hill … there are so many ways they can beat you. And you have to be very, very precise on what it is you’re going to give them and what it is you have to take away at all costs in order to put yourself in position to win.”
Not that the Pacers want to bog things down. Like the Suns, tempo is oxygen to their offense, but they’re fully aware they can’t allow the game to be run at Phoenix’s manic pace.
“You’ve got to score and we have to run because that’s our best ability, to run and move and create for one another,” O’Brien said. “That’s when we are by far at our best. Defensively, we have to defend against an unorthodox offensive team at a level that is going to be very challenging to us.”
KEY TO THE GAME
Nash is certainly an MVP candidate once again, the best point guard in the league, but he’ll have to devote much more energy than he’s used to against Jamaal Tinsley, who has been playing at an All-Star level for a couple of weeks. If Tinsley can effectively use his size and low-post ability to positive effect, Nash may not have quite as much energy to be a dominant offensive force.
TRENDS
Mike Dunleavy has averaged 20.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 30-of-57 (.526) overall and 8-of-17 (.471) from the 3-point line in the last four games. … Danny Granger has shot 26-of-71 (.366) from the field and 7-of-24 (.292) from the 3-point line in the last five. … David Harrison has gone 10-of-31 (.323) from the free-throw line in the last 14 games after making nine of his first 10. … Troy Murphy has shot 14-of-44 (.319) and averaged 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in the last five. … Jermaine O’Neal has totaled 56 minutes, 32 points and 25 rebounds in the last two games. … Jamaal Tinsley has averaged 18.7 points, 9.6 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 2.86 steals in the last seven.
SERIES
The Suns have swept the season series each of the past two seasons, with the four consecutive victories coming by an average margin of 16 points. The last seven meetings all have been decided by double-digit margins, including two Indiana victories. Phoenix leads 36-30 overall but the Pacers are 20-13 at home.
INJURIES
Pacers - C David Harrison (sore right knee) and G Jamaal Tinsley (sore right knee) are day-to-day; G-F Marquis Daniels (sore left knee) is probable; F Ike Diogu (torn left calf muscle) is out.
Suns - None reported.
