| ||
 |
vs. |  |
 Diener |
Point Guard |
 Williams |
 Granger |
Shooting Guard |
 Carter |
 Dunleavy |
Small Forward |
 Jefferson |
 Murphy |
Power Forward |
 Krstic |
 Foster |
Center |  Boone |
 O'Brien |
Coach |  Frank |
Bigger looking better for Pacers
By Conrad Brunner | Feb. 23, 2008
Tonight, 7:30 p.m. Izod Center TV: FSN-Indiana Radio: WFNI 1070-AM |
After a nine-game trial run with a lineup featuring a point guard, three wings and a center, Coach Jim O'Brien has returned to a more traditional look for the past seven games with Jeff Foster and Troy Murphy paired in the frontcourt. The Pacers have gone 3-4 with that lineup, including a 113-103 victory over the Nets Friday in which the starters combined for 90 points – their most since a 119-92 victory over New York on Dec. 17.
"Every game, we go to a small lineup," O'Brien said. "The intent when we started this was that we were always going to have games where at different points in the game we have a big lineup and at other times we have a smaller lineup. That's been the case for those games. We're always ready to play both units and they have. Whether they start or not almost is irrelevant. It's who finishes the game, who fulfills the needs we have at any given moment."
O'Brien, in fact, started and stuck with a small lineup for much of the second half Friday night, when the Pacers seized control of the game. Though the coach generally categorizes all games of equal importance, he made no bones about the importance of this home-and-home back-to-back with New Jersey (24-31). Though they're currently 11th in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers (22-33) are just two games behind the seventh-place Nets and 1½ back of eighth-place Philadelphia (24-32).
"In particular when you’re playing against teams that are in that race, if you will, I think when you play those teams I think they’re even more important than games against someone else because you’re going to have a winner and a loser, so you’re going to pick up a whole game," O'Brien said. "You could win a game and they could win a game somewhere else and it’s a flat line. So it’s a chance to have one or the other team take a long stride ahead."
Mike Dunleavy scored 34 and Travis Diener had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists to spark Friday's victory.
"They’re going to come out hungry," said Diener. "They’re still ahead of us in the standings. That’s one of the teams we need to climb over if we want to make the playoffs. So (tonight) is very important.
KEY TO THE GAME
Though the Nets' statistics (103 points, .487 shooting) don't necessarily reflect it, the Pacers played solid defense, particularly in the second half. Overall, they took six charges, forced 23 turnovers and won the rebounding battle 43-39. They'll need to maintain that defensive energy on the second night of a back-to-back.
TRENDS
In 11 starts, Travis Diener has an assist:turnover ratio of 5:25:1. … Mike Dunleavy's 34 points against the Nets Friday was his fourth 30-point game of the season. Prior to this year, he hadn't scored 30 points since Nov. 1, 2003. … Jeff Foster has 29 rebounds in the last two games. … Troy Murphy has totaled 31 points, 13 rebounds and 13-of-21 shooting in the last two. … Kareem Rush was 3-of-7 from the 3-point line but 0-of-7 inside the arc Friday. In his last five games, Rush has shot .360 beyond the arc but .306 inside. … The Pacers are 13-5 when they score at least 110.
SERIES
The Pacers' 113-103 victory Friday night snapped a four-game losing streak to the Nets and increased Indiana's series lead to 76-61. New Jersey leads 40-30 at home.
INJURIES
Pacers - C David Harrison (sprained R ankle) is questionable; G Jamaal Tinsley (sore L knee) and F-C Jermaine O'Neal (bone bruise, L knee) are out.
Nets - G Devin Harris (sprained ankle) is out.
