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No Granger, Murphy, or Dunleavy? No problem.
 Posted
11/12/2008 10:30:00 PM
So the Pacers get yet another win…their first of the season on the road…and are now a game above .500 for the first time since December of ’07.
They played in front of 14 people at the IZOD Center in New Jersey, and pretty much outworked the Nets all night long. With the exception of the win over the Celtics, this was easily the most impressive victory of the young season for the Blue and Gold.
Why?
For one, the Pacers were missing not one…not two…but three starters. Mike Dunleavy continues to nurse his knee, Troy Murphy was battling an illness, and Danny Granger came down with a right-thigh-cramp in warm-ups. That’s three key contributors that were a no-go…forcing some of the young guys to step up.
And that’s exactly what they did.
Six players scored in double-figures for Indiana, led by TJ Ford who once again had a near triple-double with 18 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. While it was a balanced effort, the Pacers once again got a great effort from an unlikely source. Stephen Graham seems to play well every time he is granted the opportunity. For whatever reason his minutes have been more erratic than his play….but you have to give the kid credit for always being ready when called upon.
Graham finished with 12 points, hit both of his three-point attempts, went perfect from the charity-stripe…and provided the kind of energy the team needed on a night when they were missing some of their big guns.
Again this was a pretty impressive night for Indiana. The East is much better than it has been in previous seasons….and being a playoff contender requires a team to win games over mediocre opponents. Thus far through the early portion of the regular season, they’re doing just that.
Next up…Elton Brand and the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night at Conseco.
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MG
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Lawrence Frank is yet another Bobby Knight underachieving Coach. The guy didn't even play high school basketball, his greatest success came when Byron Scott was fired and he inherited his squad. It's really hard to evaluate the Pacers against a team like New Jersey, but they are over five hundred.
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Posted By
TC
On
11/13/2008 2:58:32 PM
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