01-14-2005, 03:38 PM
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#12 (permalink)
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Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Hickville, Indiana
Age: 17
Posts: 15,013
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Quote:
Pacers vs. Suns
Friday
7:00 p.m., Conseco Fieldhouse
TV: FSN
RADIO: WIBC-1070 AM
NOTEWORTHY
The painful memory of a 124-89 drubbing last Sunday night in Phoenix, their most lopsided defeat in more than 10 years, is fresh in the minds of the Pacers, but just how that can affect the rematch remains to be seen. Though the Suns and their relentless, constant-motion offense won't catch the Pacers by surprise this time around, that won't necessarily make it any easier to contain.
"There are some things we have to draw from that game that we know we have to do better on the one hand," said Coach Rick Carlisle. "On the other hand, you have to respect the heck out of their team. At 31-5, there haven't been many better starts in the history of this league, so we know they're good. But we've got to raise our game three levels higher and try to make them miss and hope that maybe they're a little bit off but it's not easy.
"They're the most unique team in the league right now in terms of their style. Really, it's like they're playing on ice skates and everybody else is on asphalt. It's been that way a lot of nights. To sort of bridge that gap, you've got to do a lot of things right at both ends of the court to give yourself a chance to compete."
The Pacers likely won't have the services of rookie center David Harrison, who suffered a concussion in Memphis Tuesday night, and it remains to be seen if either Jonathan Bender or Scot Pollard will return from the injured list, although both are close.
Phoenix is coming off a rare loss, 115-108 in Utah Wednesday night, and that doesn't bode well for the Pacers. After each of their previous three losses, the Suns put together lengthy winning streaks of nine, 11 and seven games. The Suns lead the league in scoring (110.0) and 3-point percentage (.382) and are second in field-goal percentage (.480).
TRENDS
Pacers - Jermaine O'Neal hs averaged 33.5 points on .514 shooting in the last six games. ... O'Neal has made 33-of-38 free throws (.868) in the last four. ... Jamaal Tinsley has averaged 19.5 points on .456 shooting in the last four. ... Reggie Miller has averaged 20.4 points on .520 shooting in seven home games, as opposed to 11.1 points and .371 shooting on the road. ... Austin Croshere has averaged 5.6 points on .292 shooting in the last five. ... Fred Jones has averaged 5.3 points on .371 shooting in the last seven. ... Starting small forwards have combined to score 23 points in the last 12 games.
Suns - Amare Stoudemire ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring (26.0), second in field-goal percentage (.582) and 13th in blocked shots (1.64). ... Shawn Marion is fifth in rebounding (10.8) and 17th in blocks (1.61). ... Marrion has averaged 23.2 points on .582 shooting in the last six. ... Quentin Richardson leads the league in 3-pointers made (108) and attempted (300), but has shot .327 overall in the last six games. ... Steve Nash leads the league in assists (11.0) and is fifth in double-doubles (21). ... Joe Johnson is fifth in 3-point percentage (.459) and has averaged 19.8 points in the last four.
SERIES
After handing the Pacers a 124-89 drubbing in Phoenix on Sunday, the Suns are trying for their first sweep of the season series since 1984-85. The Pacers have won the last five meetings in Indianapolis and are 19-11 all-time at home.
KEY MATCHUP
Bench - The one potential weakness that could catch up with the Suns over the course of the season is a relatively thin bench. No reserve averages more than Steven Hunter's 5.5 points per game, and only three (Hunter, Casey Jacobsen and Leando Barbosa) average double-digit minutes. In snapping Phoenix's seven-game win streak Wednesday night, Utah held a 67-6 advantage in bench points. The Pacers need their depth to become a major factor.
INJURIES
Pacers - C David Harrison (concussion) is day-to-day; C Scot Pollard (back) and F Jonathan Bender (knee) are on the injured list; F Ron Artest and G-F Stephen Jackson are on the suspended list.
Suns - None.
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