Pooh
03-31-2004, 04:46 AM
By Johnnie Clay – Pacers Insider.
March 30, 2004 – 11:45 PM.
Everything seemed to be in place. A Pacers’ win and home court through the Eastern Conference would be theirs. The only thing standing in their way was the Milwaukee Bucks, the only team in the East whom the Pacers hadn’t defeated this year. It looked good on paper, then the Pacers had to go out and execute…they didn’t.
Unable to make any stops and having no answer for Joe Smith, the Bucks dominated the Pacers once again, defeating them 95-86 at the Bradley Center this evening.
Smith played 42 minutes, more than anyone on both teams, scoring 25 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
Pacers center Jeff Foster summed up the night in trying to stop Smith. "Joe Smith just killed us. I'm one of the people responsible, along with others.” Foster said. “He had a great game and we didn't have an answer for him."
None of the Pacers had an answer for Smith or the rest of the Bucks, as five other players made it into double figures.
In the beginning it looked like the game would be a close one, with the Bucks clinging to a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 25-22. But the dye had already been cast. The Bucks were quite simply getting to the ball and making the most of their opportunities.
“Really, as a whole, it was a demolition from start to finish. We got outscored every quarter except one, which was tied.” Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards. “We could just never get anything solid going at either end. They played with more force and more conviction all night.”
The Pacers fell behind again early in the second quarter, then Rick Carlisle sent in his second until who responded nicely, putting the Pacers back up on top 38-32, but that would be the last time the Pacers would lead tonight, as the Bucks stormed back on top with a 18-4 run, reclaiming the led for good as they went into halftime up 54-46.
In the third quarter, the Pacers looked to regain the momentum, cutting the deficit down to just two-points, (58-56) but the Bucks countered with a 14-6 run to push the lead up ten, 72-62. The Pacers were outscored in every category, points in the paint (42-40), fast break points (10-7) and starters scoring (61-48) . Kenny Anderson saw some action tonight as starter Jamaal Tinsley did not play due to the flu. Anderson shared the point duties with Anthony Johnson. Anderson scored 14 points tonight, and was primarily responsible for keeping the Pacers in a game that looked like a total blow out.
The fourth quarter once again saw the Pacers make a run at the lead, only to be thwarted by the Bucks. When the Pacers would get a stop, a hustling Bucks player would reach for the rebound, only to be fouled by a Pacer. It was just that kind of night.
The Pacers shot just 43% on 34 of 80 shooting. Jermaine O’Neal led the Pacers with 20 points, but only 7 rebounds, as the Bucks defenders were in his face all evening. Ron Artest had 12 points, but was in foul trouble most of the night.
Jeff Foster nearly had a double-double again, scoring 8 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Jamaal Tinsley’s replacement, Anthony Johnson scored just 2 points on 1 for 6 shooting. Johnson’s teammate, Reggie Miller faired no better, scoring just 6 points and handing out 4 assists.
Al Harrington scored 13 points and had 3 rebounds, but like most of the Pacers was in foul trouble. The numbers were staggering, 22-13 in favor of the Bucks. A stat that in the end, finished off the Pacers.
Afterwards, Rick Carlisle assessed the damage.
“Joe Smith played great, we had no answer for him. We had a lot of guys guard him and he physically manhandled us all night. The good news is we get another shot at them tomorrow, the bad news is we get another shot at them tomorrow."
"Their big guys played great against us. Three straight games now, they physically outworked us. I'm sure that shows up in the stats somewhere. It's disappointing to lose three in a row to anybody. We are going to have to figure out a way to beat these guys."
It’s quite a contrast if you think about it. The Pacers are 3-0 against the Eastern Conference’s second best team in the Detroit Pistons and yet have been unable to defeat the Bucks this season. Backup point guard Kenny Anderson talked about tonight’s loss and how the Pacers must quickly find out how to beat this team.
“Right now, it's one of those things where certain teams get up for you or play a certain way. They are successful against us right now. We have to go out and play hard (tomorrow). We shut them out a little in the second half, but that wasn't enough. They feel like they can beat us and they execute well against us. We don't want to get in that mindset, we have another shot at them tomorrow."
In one of those rare occurrences, the Pacers and Bucks meet again tomorrow, only this time it will be at Conseco Fieldhouse. On that Halloween night last year, the Pacers were trounced 93-79. The Pacers look to once again clinch home court in the East as well as the Central Division with a win tomorrow.
Game Time Wednesday is at 7pm (EST).
March 30, 2004 – 11:45 PM.
Everything seemed to be in place. A Pacers’ win and home court through the Eastern Conference would be theirs. The only thing standing in their way was the Milwaukee Bucks, the only team in the East whom the Pacers hadn’t defeated this year. It looked good on paper, then the Pacers had to go out and execute…they didn’t.
Unable to make any stops and having no answer for Joe Smith, the Bucks dominated the Pacers once again, defeating them 95-86 at the Bradley Center this evening.
Smith played 42 minutes, more than anyone on both teams, scoring 25 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
Pacers center Jeff Foster summed up the night in trying to stop Smith. "Joe Smith just killed us. I'm one of the people responsible, along with others.” Foster said. “He had a great game and we didn't have an answer for him."
None of the Pacers had an answer for Smith or the rest of the Bucks, as five other players made it into double figures.
In the beginning it looked like the game would be a close one, with the Bucks clinging to a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 25-22. But the dye had already been cast. The Bucks were quite simply getting to the ball and making the most of their opportunities.
“Really, as a whole, it was a demolition from start to finish. We got outscored every quarter except one, which was tied.” Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards. “We could just never get anything solid going at either end. They played with more force and more conviction all night.”
The Pacers fell behind again early in the second quarter, then Rick Carlisle sent in his second until who responded nicely, putting the Pacers back up on top 38-32, but that would be the last time the Pacers would lead tonight, as the Bucks stormed back on top with a 18-4 run, reclaiming the led for good as they went into halftime up 54-46.
In the third quarter, the Pacers looked to regain the momentum, cutting the deficit down to just two-points, (58-56) but the Bucks countered with a 14-6 run to push the lead up ten, 72-62. The Pacers were outscored in every category, points in the paint (42-40), fast break points (10-7) and starters scoring (61-48) . Kenny Anderson saw some action tonight as starter Jamaal Tinsley did not play due to the flu. Anderson shared the point duties with Anthony Johnson. Anderson scored 14 points tonight, and was primarily responsible for keeping the Pacers in a game that looked like a total blow out.
The fourth quarter once again saw the Pacers make a run at the lead, only to be thwarted by the Bucks. When the Pacers would get a stop, a hustling Bucks player would reach for the rebound, only to be fouled by a Pacer. It was just that kind of night.
The Pacers shot just 43% on 34 of 80 shooting. Jermaine O’Neal led the Pacers with 20 points, but only 7 rebounds, as the Bucks defenders were in his face all evening. Ron Artest had 12 points, but was in foul trouble most of the night.
Jeff Foster nearly had a double-double again, scoring 8 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Jamaal Tinsley’s replacement, Anthony Johnson scored just 2 points on 1 for 6 shooting. Johnson’s teammate, Reggie Miller faired no better, scoring just 6 points and handing out 4 assists.
Al Harrington scored 13 points and had 3 rebounds, but like most of the Pacers was in foul trouble. The numbers were staggering, 22-13 in favor of the Bucks. A stat that in the end, finished off the Pacers.
Afterwards, Rick Carlisle assessed the damage.
“Joe Smith played great, we had no answer for him. We had a lot of guys guard him and he physically manhandled us all night. The good news is we get another shot at them tomorrow, the bad news is we get another shot at them tomorrow."
"Their big guys played great against us. Three straight games now, they physically outworked us. I'm sure that shows up in the stats somewhere. It's disappointing to lose three in a row to anybody. We are going to have to figure out a way to beat these guys."
It’s quite a contrast if you think about it. The Pacers are 3-0 against the Eastern Conference’s second best team in the Detroit Pistons and yet have been unable to defeat the Bucks this season. Backup point guard Kenny Anderson talked about tonight’s loss and how the Pacers must quickly find out how to beat this team.
“Right now, it's one of those things where certain teams get up for you or play a certain way. They are successful against us right now. We have to go out and play hard (tomorrow). We shut them out a little in the second half, but that wasn't enough. They feel like they can beat us and they execute well against us. We don't want to get in that mindset, we have another shot at them tomorrow."
In one of those rare occurrences, the Pacers and Bucks meet again tomorrow, only this time it will be at Conseco Fieldhouse. On that Halloween night last year, the Pacers were trounced 93-79. The Pacers look to once again clinch home court in the East as well as the Central Division with a win tomorrow.
Game Time Wednesday is at 7pm (EST).