| ||
 |
vs. |  |
 Tinsley |
Point Guard |
 Hinrich |
 Rush |
Shooting Guard |
 Sefolosha |
 Granger |
Small Forward |
 Deng |
 Dunleavy |
Power Forward |
 Smith |
 Murphy |
Center |  Wallace |
 Daniels |
Sixth Man |
 Gordon |
 O'Brien |
Coach |  Boylan |
Pacers playing well in O'Neal's absence
By Conrad Brunner | Jan. 22, 2008
Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. United Center TV: FSN-Indiana Radio: WFNI 1070-AM |
Not only have the Pacers gone 6-3 in the nine games O'Neal has missed this season, including a 110-104 victory in Philadelphia Monday afternoon (compared to 13-20 with him in the lineup), they've produced encouraging statistics both individually and collectively. O'Neal will miss his third game in a row Wednesday when the Pacers face Chicago in the United Center.
Individually, wings Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy have stepped up their production. Granger has averaged 20.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, .471 shooting overall and .533 shooting from the 3-point line in O'Neal's absence; his season averages are 17.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, .446 shooting and .385 shooting from the 3-point line.
Dunleavy has averaged 19.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, .519 shooting and .452 from the 3-point line in O'Neal's absence, compared to season averages of 17.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, .491 shooting and .415 from the 3-point line.
The Pacers have played much higher-scoring games without O'Neal, averaging 109.3 points, .451 shooting and .450 from the 3-point line in the nine games he has missed. With him in the lineup, they've averaged 103.9 points, .443 shooting and .340 from the 3-point line. Defensively, they've yielded more points without him (106.9 compared to 104.6 with him) but held opponents to a lower field-goal percentage (.417 without, .451 with).
Though O'Neal is by far the team's leading shot-blocker (2.24, eighth in the NBA), the Pacers don't suffer much as a team in that category, averaging almost as many blocks without him (4.78) as with (5.39). Another curiosity is that, minus the team's No. 2 rebounder (7.3), the Pacers actually outrebound opponents 49.0 to 47.2, compared to a deficit of 43.8 to 44.2 with him in the lineup.
Just how long O'Neal will be out remains to be seen. The team announced on Jan. 19 he would be out a minimum of two weeks. O'Neal subsequently told The Indianapolis Star he was prepared to sit out the season but in Tuesday's editions of the newspaper, he said that was merely a "worst-case scenario" but added he did not want to "put a timetable" on his return.
KEY TO THE GAME
With Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni on the bench, the Bulls not only have energy and firepower in reserve, they have the ability to match down to the Pacers' small lineup. Jamaal Tinsley must continue to press the tempo consistently throughout the course of the game and keep pressure on Chicago's defense. The Bulls are 0-17 when opponents score at least 100 points, something the Pacers have done 28 times, including the last six games, when they've averaged 112.2.
TRENDS
Travis Diener has averaged 9.0 points and 3.3 assists in the last six games. In his first appearance in six games, Ike Diogu produced six points and four rebounds in nine minutes at Philadelphia Monday. Jeff Foster has averaged 23.0 minutes, 7.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the last three. Kareem Rush has averaged 22.0 points on .587 shooting overall and .571 from the 3-point line in the last three. Jamaal Tinsley has 36 assists and just nine turnovers in his last three. Tinsley has averaged 4.8 field goal attempts in his last four. Tinsley has gone 1-of-27 from the 3-point line (.037). Shawne Williams has averaged 9.8 points and .564 shooting in the last six.
SERIES
Kareem Rush scored 22 and four other Pacers scored at least 17 as Indiana won the first meeting 117-102 on Dec. 12 in Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers shot .557 from the field and hit 11-of-24 from the 3-point line. The Pacers have dropped their last three visits to Chicago and are 20-49 there all-time. The Bulls lead the overall series 74-68.
INJURIES
Pacers - G Travis Diener (sore R ankle) and C Troy Murphy (sore L knee) is day-to-day: C Jermaine O'Neal (bone bruise, L knee) is out.
Bulls - F Luol Deng (sore L Achilles tendon) and G Chris Duhon (L knee sprain) are day-to-day.
