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| PACERS | vs. | MAGIC |
 J. Tinsley |
Point Guard |
 J. Nelson |
 M. Dunleavy |
Small Forward |
 K. Bogans |
 D. Granger |
Shooting Guard |
 H. Turkoglu |
 J. O'Neal |
Power Forward |
 R. Lewis |
 J. Foster |
Center |  D. Howard |
 M. Daniels |
Sixth Man |
 C. Arroyo |
 J. O'Brien |
Coach |  S. Van Gundy |
O'Neal, Pacers face stiff challenge in Orlando
By Conrad Brunner | Dec. 7, 2007
Tonight 7 p.m., road TV: FSN-Indiana Radio: WIBC 1070-AM |
Since returning from a five-game absence due to swelling in his left knee, during which the team went 4-1, O’Neal has look much more like his usual self: three straight double-doubles and averages of 20.7 points, 12.0 rebounds and .521 shooting. He helped spark a victory in Los Angeles over the Clippers Sunday with 20 points and 15 rebounds and followed up with 14-of-20 shooting and 30 points to help keep the Pacers close in a loss to Phoenix Tuesday.
“We have no chance of being the type of team that we want to be without him being the key,” said Coach Jim O’Brien. “He is an enormous key defensively for us because he always sacrifices his body and takes pride in not letting the ball in the basket. He’s a great example for our other big men in that area. And he is our best low-post presence and our best passing big man. So there’s a lot of positives that he brings and when he’s not there, we lose all of those things and we are less of a team. To the rest of our team’s credit, we have found ways to win basketball games without him, which is a sign of growth.”
If the last two games are any indication, there will be plenty of opportunity for O’Neal to score in O’Brien’s up-tempo offense, although the methods will change.
“As far as my role in the offense, it changes from last year,” O’Neal said. “It’s not going to be a heavy dosage of me. You’re not going to see a heavy dosage of me getting the ball in the post, you’re going to see me running into plays or for jump shots or catching the ball at the high post and being more of a passer, a facilitator rather than going into that low-post every time. That’s fine with me because it takes wear-and-tear off my body. You’re going to see some of me in the low post but a lot more passing and getting guys into better positions. When given the opportunity and when we need a score down low, I’m going to be down there.”
O’Neal and the Pacers (9-10) face a stiff road challenge tonight against Dwight Howard and the Magic, at 16-4 off to the best 20-game start in franchise history. Howard is averaging 23.2 points, 15.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots and shooting 61 percent from the field and has benefited greatly from the addition of former Seattle forward Rashard Lewis, who averages 19.1 points and is shooting 39 percent from the 3-point line.
“Dwight is a dominating player and he is the recipient of a team well put-together in that getting Lewis to go with (Hedo) Turkoglu and having (Keith) Bogans, (Keyon) Dooling and (Carlos) Arroyo really step up along with (Jameer) Nelson, it really spaces the court and creates a problem from the standpoint of being able to trap Dwight Howard,” said O’Brien. “And Dwight Howard one-on-one is a pretty devastating player.”
The Pacers may be without key reserve forward Shawne Williams, who left immediately after practice Thursday to head to Memphis for his grandmother's wake and funeral. He hopes to join the team in Orlando but whether he can do so in time for the game is uncertain.
KEY TO THE GAME
This game could boil down to which team has to give the least help in defending the other’s primary post threat. Both offenses are built around the abilities of Howard and O’Neal, respectively, to draw double-teams and therefore create open shots on the perimeter. Both Howard and O’Neal are strong defenders that may not need much help, which would put pressure on the secondary scorers to make something happen.
TRENDS
Marquis Daniels has averaged 14.4 points on .492 shooting in five games in which he’s played at least 20 minutes. … Mike Dunleavy has averaged 20.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists and shot .514 overall and .476 from the 3-point line in the last five. … Jeff Foster has averaged 11.5 rebounds in the last four and reached double figures in seven of the last nine. … Danny Granger has averaged 13.8 points on .313 shooting overall, including 6-of-25 (.240) from the 3-point line, in the last five. … David Harrison has averaged 7.3 points on .564 shooting in the last 10. … Jermaine O’Neal has averaged 20.7 points and 12.0 rebounds while shooting .521 in three games since returning from his knee injury. … O’Neal has three straight double-doubles after recording one in his first 10 appearances. … Jamaal Tinsley has averaged 18.8 points, 9.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.75 steals in the last eight. … Tinsley has five double-doubles and was three rebounds away from two triple-doubles in that span. … Shawne Williams has averaged 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in four starts. … The offense has averaged 106.5 points in the last 11.
SERIES
The teams split four games last season, with each winning on its home floor. The Pacers lead 38-29 overall and are 24-10 in Indianapolis.
INJURIES
Pacers - F Shawne Williams (attending grandmother's funeral) and C David Harrison (sore lower back) are game-time decisions, G Travis Diener (sore left shoulder) is doubtful; F Ike Diogu (torn left calf muscle) is out.
Magic - C Tony Battie (torn rotator cuff, left shoulder) is out.
