Pooh
03-18-2004, 03:26 AM
By Johnnie Clay - Pacers Insider.
March 17, 2004 - 11:30 PM.
Good teams play well after a bitter loss, great teams not only play well, they win. Such is the case with the NBA's best team, the Indiana Pacers.
Led by Ron Artest's 21 points, the Pacers shook off an uneventful second quarter and defeated the Portland Trailblazers 80-71 at Conseco Fieldhouse this evening.
The Pacers came out on fire tonight, jumping out to a decisive 31-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. During that quarter, the Pacers shot 67%, leaving the sellout crowd to believe that this game would be over by halftime.
However basketball is a four quarter game, and in the second quarter, the Blazers were the aggressor, scoring the first seven points to trim the Pacers' lead to just six points. As Portland caught fire, the Pacers caught ice, missing 17 of their first 20 shots in that period. The Blazers continued their hot shooting, going on a 9-0 run to tie the contest at 37-37 towards the end of the half. For the half, the Pacers were 6-23 from the floor, scoring just 12 points that quarter, limping into halftime ahead by just one point, 43-42.
Thoughout the third quater, neither team wanted to take charge of the game. The Blazers finally took the lead early in the quarter on a Zach Randolph basket. After that, the lead switched back and forth the rest of the quarter, until a run by the Blazers gave them their biggest lead of the night, 63-58.
It was then that the Pacers went into action...the Pacers' bench that is. Al Harrington's break away slam dunk brought the Pacers to within three points at the end of the quarter, then Fred Jones got the crowd on its' feet as he drained a three-pointer to tie the contest up at 63-63. Coach Rick Carlisle talked about that momentium swing.
"I thought the key part was the late third quarter and early fourth when the second unit gave us energy and the lead." Carlisle said.
Fred Jones echoed his coaches' statements.
“The difference was we played with more intensity in the second half, preferably beginning at the end of the third quarter and going through the fourth quarter. Everybody helped." Jones said.
The Pacers were starting to roll, on both ends of the court. Austin Croshere droved strong to the basket, converting a three-point play, putting the Pacers back on top, 66-63.
The Pacers extended their lead to 70-66 in the final quarter as the Blazers offense became enemic, missing their first six shots, while turning the ball over three straight times, two via traveling calls. Shareef Abdur-Rahim hit a 3-pointer to put the Blazers in front, 71-70, with 5:03 remaining. That proved to the Blazers last lead, and their last points for the night, as the Pacers defense clamped down on them, holding Portland to just eight points in the quarter. Ron Artest's three-pointer with 4:44 remaining, put the Pacers up for good, 73-71. Reggie Miller's long range three with 1:43 remained put the game away, and giving the Pacers their 50th win of the season, making them the first team this season to achieve that mark.
For the night, the Pacers went (35-78) from the floor, shooting 45%. Ron Arest led the Pacers with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Jermaine O'Neal had another double-double, tying him for third in the NBA in that catagory with 10 points, and 10 rebounds. Tonight's other hero was Reggie Miller. Miller scored 18 points, including two three-pointers, the latter broke the backs of the Blazers late in the fourth quarter. Jamaal Tinsley rounded out the Pacers' quartet with 5 points and dishing out 12 assists.
Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle talked about his teams big victory.
“That was a very difficult game, as we knew it would be. It’s a tough game to win because Portland now is as good as a team as there is in the league. Since the trades, they’ve played with good energy and pride." Carlisle said. "I thought Jermaine O’Neal played a very good game. He didn’t shoot the ball well; but he hit a big shot down the stretch and did the other things very well. Reggie Miller going 7-12 was really critical. 50 wins…it’s hard to get 50. Two years ago in Detroit we had to win three in a row to get 50. Last year, we dodged a bullet at the end of the last game when a shot was missed to get 50. I’d like to see 51; I’m not into predicting the future. Right now we’re in a good position but we take nothing for granted. It (50 wins) was certainly one of our goals; but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
A lot of work is right, and it doesn't get any easier for the Pacers, especially this coming Friday night. A showdown between the two best teams takes place Friday night when the Sacramento Kings come to Conseco Fieldhouse. The Kings won the first meeting 91-88 on December 7th, as former Pacer Brad Miller had a triple-double (18 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists) against his former team. The Pacers have lost three in a row to the Kings.
Game Time Friday is at 7:30 pm (EST).
March 17, 2004 - 11:30 PM.
Good teams play well after a bitter loss, great teams not only play well, they win. Such is the case with the NBA's best team, the Indiana Pacers.
Led by Ron Artest's 21 points, the Pacers shook off an uneventful second quarter and defeated the Portland Trailblazers 80-71 at Conseco Fieldhouse this evening.
The Pacers came out on fire tonight, jumping out to a decisive 31-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. During that quarter, the Pacers shot 67%, leaving the sellout crowd to believe that this game would be over by halftime.
However basketball is a four quarter game, and in the second quarter, the Blazers were the aggressor, scoring the first seven points to trim the Pacers' lead to just six points. As Portland caught fire, the Pacers caught ice, missing 17 of their first 20 shots in that period. The Blazers continued their hot shooting, going on a 9-0 run to tie the contest at 37-37 towards the end of the half. For the half, the Pacers were 6-23 from the floor, scoring just 12 points that quarter, limping into halftime ahead by just one point, 43-42.
Thoughout the third quater, neither team wanted to take charge of the game. The Blazers finally took the lead early in the quarter on a Zach Randolph basket. After that, the lead switched back and forth the rest of the quarter, until a run by the Blazers gave them their biggest lead of the night, 63-58.
It was then that the Pacers went into action...the Pacers' bench that is. Al Harrington's break away slam dunk brought the Pacers to within three points at the end of the quarter, then Fred Jones got the crowd on its' feet as he drained a three-pointer to tie the contest up at 63-63. Coach Rick Carlisle talked about that momentium swing.
"I thought the key part was the late third quarter and early fourth when the second unit gave us energy and the lead." Carlisle said.
Fred Jones echoed his coaches' statements.
“The difference was we played with more intensity in the second half, preferably beginning at the end of the third quarter and going through the fourth quarter. Everybody helped." Jones said.
The Pacers were starting to roll, on both ends of the court. Austin Croshere droved strong to the basket, converting a three-point play, putting the Pacers back on top, 66-63.
The Pacers extended their lead to 70-66 in the final quarter as the Blazers offense became enemic, missing their first six shots, while turning the ball over three straight times, two via traveling calls. Shareef Abdur-Rahim hit a 3-pointer to put the Blazers in front, 71-70, with 5:03 remaining. That proved to the Blazers last lead, and their last points for the night, as the Pacers defense clamped down on them, holding Portland to just eight points in the quarter. Ron Artest's three-pointer with 4:44 remaining, put the Pacers up for good, 73-71. Reggie Miller's long range three with 1:43 remained put the game away, and giving the Pacers their 50th win of the season, making them the first team this season to achieve that mark.
For the night, the Pacers went (35-78) from the floor, shooting 45%. Ron Arest led the Pacers with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Jermaine O'Neal had another double-double, tying him for third in the NBA in that catagory with 10 points, and 10 rebounds. Tonight's other hero was Reggie Miller. Miller scored 18 points, including two three-pointers, the latter broke the backs of the Blazers late in the fourth quarter. Jamaal Tinsley rounded out the Pacers' quartet with 5 points and dishing out 12 assists.
Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle talked about his teams big victory.
“That was a very difficult game, as we knew it would be. It’s a tough game to win because Portland now is as good as a team as there is in the league. Since the trades, they’ve played with good energy and pride." Carlisle said. "I thought Jermaine O’Neal played a very good game. He didn’t shoot the ball well; but he hit a big shot down the stretch and did the other things very well. Reggie Miller going 7-12 was really critical. 50 wins…it’s hard to get 50. Two years ago in Detroit we had to win three in a row to get 50. Last year, we dodged a bullet at the end of the last game when a shot was missed to get 50. I’d like to see 51; I’m not into predicting the future. Right now we’re in a good position but we take nothing for granted. It (50 wins) was certainly one of our goals; but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
A lot of work is right, and it doesn't get any easier for the Pacers, especially this coming Friday night. A showdown between the two best teams takes place Friday night when the Sacramento Kings come to Conseco Fieldhouse. The Kings won the first meeting 91-88 on December 7th, as former Pacer Brad Miller had a triple-double (18 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists) against his former team. The Pacers have lost three in a row to the Kings.
Game Time Friday is at 7:30 pm (EST).