| ||
 |
vs. |  |
 Tinsley |
Point Guard |
 Williams |
 Rush |
Shooting Guard |
 Redd |
 Granger |
Small Forward |
 Ivey |
 Dunleavy |
Power Forward |
 Yi |
 Murphy |
Center |  Bogut |
 Daniels |
Sixth Man |
 Gordon |
 O'Brien |
Coach |  Krystkowiak |
Foster ready for whatever awaits
By Conrad Brunner | Jan. 24, 2008
Tonight, 8 p.m. Bradley Center TV: FSN-Indiana Radio: WFNI 1070-AM |
And yet Jeff Foster has constantly remained ready.
Injuries thrust the team's elder statesman into the starting lineup Wednesday night in Chicago and he responded with 12 points and 11 rebounds, his second double-double in four games and fourth of the season, in a 108-95 loss to the Bulls. What role awaits Foster tonight in Milwaukee likely depends upon the health of Troy Murphy's bruised left knee. Murphy, who moved into the starting lineup when Jermaine O'Neal was shelved with a bone bruise in his left knee, missed the Chicago game and is listed as day-to-day.
Whatever Foster is asked to do, however, Coach Jim O'Brien can count on the veteran.
"It says volumes about him as a man and as a professional basketball player and as a role model for anybody that wants to know how they should handle themselves when the coach is not calling their number: always ready, always upbeat, always positive-speaking," said O'Brien. "He knows he's going to play. He also knows we went a number of games where we played Golden State twice, Phoenix, Sacramento and that I switched things up, I went with a smaller lineup. Murph and Jeff are going to play volumes of minutes but there are some games when you play real small teams and there's no one for them to guard."
Foster started 17 of the first 24 games but Wednesday's start was just his second since. He has come on strong in O'Neal's absence, averaging 8.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the last four games. Though he lacks Murphy's shooting, Foster is a relentless rebounder and energy player who has the athleticism to fit well in the new small lineup.
The Pacers also have been getting a surge in productivity from Danny Granger, who scored a career-high 33 points in Chicago. Granger has averaged 25.2 points in the last five games and 22.5 in the last 10.
The Bucks have dropped six of seven games, allowing 116.3 points in those losses.
"They're struggling like we are," said Granger, "but they have an explosive scorer in Michael Redd and good role-players so we'll have to be ready to play."
KEY TO THE GAME
With the small lineup, the biggest indicator is 3-point shooting. In seven games since the switch, the Pacers have shot .459 from the 3-point line in three victories and .304 from the arc in four defeats.
TRENDS
In the last 15 games, the Pacers have committed an average of 19.0 turnovers leading to 20.7 points for the opposition. They've gone 4-11 in that span. The defense has yielded at least 100 points in nine straight games and opponents have averaged 111.2. Marquis Daniels has totaled 28 minutes, two points and 1-of-8 shooting in the last two games. Travis Diener has averaged 9.1 points and 3.0 assists off the bench in the last seven. Mike Dunleavy has totaled 25 points on 7-of-28 shooting in the last two losses. In five appearances since going 8-of-26 in a loss to Phoenix, Jamaal Tinsley has attempted a total of 23 shots. Tinsley has gone 1-of-28 from the 3-point line in his last 10.
SERIES
This is the first of four meetings this season. The Pacers swept the 2006-07 series. The Bucks lead 80-64 overall and are 49-22 in Milwaukee.
INJURIES
Pacers - G Travis Diener (sore R foot) and C Troy Murphy (sore L knee) are day-to-day; C Jermaine O'Neal (bone bruise, L knee) is out.
Bucks - G Mo Williams (sprained finger, L hand) is day-to-day; G-F Desmond Mason (sprained neck) is out.
