02-11-2006, 04:49 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Lover Not A Fighter...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Silk City, Jersey...
Age: 28
Posts: 5,807
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Pacers Notebook...
Quote:
February 11, 2006
By Mike Wells
mike.wells@indystar.com
Johnson makes case to keep starting role
Point guard substituting for injured Tinsley, has 23 points, 6 assists
Anthony Johnson is doing his best to keep the Indiana Pacers' starting point guard spot when Jamaal Tinsley returns from an injury to his right elbow.
Johnson, who has had several roles this season, finished with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and six assists in the Pacers' 107-95 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
"Like I said earlier in the year, we have three pretty good point guards," Johnson said. "It's important for me to make the coaches' job as difficult as possible when it comes to playing time. I think I've answered the bell time and time again. I've been challenged to do it again and I'm trying to take advantage of it. We're on a four-game winning streak, and I feel like I've had something to do with that. When we get a full squad, I just want to make sure I'm in the rotation as far as playing time goes."
Johnson, who has started 25 games this season, is averaging 10.2 points, 6.7 assists and just two
turnovers in the past four games.
"He's getting the job done; it's as simple as that," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "My hat's off to him. He's been in and out of the lineup. He keeps showing up every day and coming to work like a pro. He's kept himself ready for this opportunity and he's obviously taking advantage of it."
Ripping It Off
Scot Pollard grabbed the front of his jersey with both hands and tore it apart as he walked to the bench with five minutes left in Friday's game.
What looked to be a display of displeasure over being removed from the game, however, was frustration over giving up an offensive rebound.
"It was not because I got taken out," Pollard said. "I understood that decision. I was not mad at Rick."
Pollard entered the game with 5:36 remaining but was quickly pulled for Fred Jones after Golden
State went with a smaller lineup. During that brief appearance, the Warriors closed within one point on Mickael Pietrus' 3-pointer off an offensive rebound by Andris Biedrins.
After cooling off on the bench, Pollard returned to the locker room for a fresh jersey.
Trade Deadline Looms
Pacers president Larry Bird likes what he has seen of his team of late. Whether that convinces him not to make a move before the Feb. 23 trade deadline remains to be seen.
"I like the way we're playing," Bird said before Friday's win. "Not just because we're winning games, but because of the way we're moving the ball. It seems like we're coming together. We'll win a lot of games doing that."
Which isn't to say he wouldn't make a trade.
"If there's a move out there we think can help us, we'll try to do something," he said. "If not, we'll stay with our guys."
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Go PaCeRs!!!!
Last edited by PaCeRhOLiC : 02-11-2006 at 04:55 PM.
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