| ||
 |
vs. |  |
 Diener |
Point Guard |
 Blake |
 Granger |
Shooting Guard |
 Jack |
 Dunleavy |
Small Forward |
 Webster |
 Murphy |
Power Forward |
 Aldridge |
 Foster |
Center |  Przybilla |
 O'Brien |
Coach |  McMillan |
Pacers hope to build positive momentum
By Conrad Brunner | Feb. 8, 2008
Saturday, 7 p.m. Conseco Fieldhouse TV: FSN-Indiana Radio: WFNI 1070-AM |
"I don't know if you can build a whole lot off of one win," said Coach Jim O'Brien. "The irony of the situation was I thought we played better overall (in losses to) Orlando, Houston and Detroit than we did against the Knicks. It's good to get a win. I'd rather play badly and get wins than play good and get losses but it's good to get off a losing streak and get on the positive side going into a home game against Portland."
Neither Travis Diener (sore right foot) nor Jamaal Tinsley (sore left knee) was available in the fourth quarter against New York, so the point guard situation is a bit precarious. Diener is expected to play against Portland, though Tinsley was scheduled for an MRI and isn't likely to play. Whoever mans the point, the Pacers must find a way to beat a team with a winning record, something they've done just once (a 125-117 victory over Golden State on Jan. 16) since Christmas.
"We haven't shown a maturity in the past this season to build on wins so it doesn't mean anything right now for us," said Mike Dunleavy. "We've got to take each game one-by-one and not be concerned about putting streaks together. We're just not there as a team yet. The only task at hand is the Blazers on Saturday night."
Portland (28-21) is perhaps the NBA's biggest surprise, going 23-9 – including a 13-game winning streak – after a 5-12 start. They've overcome the season-long absence of No. 1 pick Greg Oden with a strong young nucleus featuring Brandon Roy outside and LaMarcus Aldridge inside.
"I think it's a great credit to Coach McMillan and his staff," said O'Brien. "Brandon Roy and Aldridge, (Travis) Outlaw, they have really taken their games to a different level. They're one of the top defensive teams in the league, one of the top 3-point shooting teams and they have a nice inside attack. I think they should get a lot of credit. They seem to have a wonderful chemistry and there's not a game I've watched where they haven't played like they're playing for the playoffs."
Roy missed last night's game in Detroit and will miss tonight's game to attend a memorial service after a death in the famil.
KEY TO THE GAME
The Blazers bring a lot of production off their bench, including a 41-18 advantage on the Pacers when last the teams met. Indiana's second unit has been inconsistent of late but Kareem Rush and Marquis Daniels combined for 37 points in New York Wednesday.
TRENDS
After making two 3-pointers in his previous two games, Marquis Daniels made two in the fourth quarter Wednesday in New York. … Mike Dunleavy has shot 22-of-61 (.361) overall and 5-of-23 (.217) from the 3-point line in the last four. … Troy Murphy has averaged 15.2 points and 6.8 rebounds while hitting 10-of-17 (.588) from the 3-point line in the last five. … The Pacers are 4-1 when Kareem Rush scores at least 20 points. … Despite starting a big lineup, the Pacers have been outrebounded 94-61 in the last two games. … The Pacers committed a season-low six turnovers in New York while converting a season-high 35 points from the Knicks' 18 turnovers. … The Pacers have outscored their last five opponents 53-24 on fast-break points.
SERIES
The Pacers won their eighth in a row from the Blazers, 95-89 on Nov. 28 in Portland. It's the Blazers' longest losing streak against an Eastern Conference opponent. The Pacers trail the overall series 40-28 but lead 18-15 at home.
INJURIES
Pacers - G Travis Diener (sore R foot), G Jamaal Tinsley (sore L knee) are day-to-day; F-C Jermaine O'Neal (bone bruise, L knee) is out.
Blazers - G Brandon Roy (death in the family) out; F James Jones (L knee), G-F Darius Miles (R knee) and C Greg Oden (R knee) are out.
