Pooh
01-25-2004, 01:31 AM
By Johnnie Clay - Pacers Insider.
January 24, 2004 - 10:30 PM
What a difference a week makes. Seven nights ago, the Pacers were enjoying a back-to-back sweep of the 2003 NBA Finalists, San Antonio and New Jersey. Saturday night, they suffered their second consecutive loss, and their worst defensive performance of the season, dropping a 107-96 game to lowly Washington in the MCI Center.
The Pacers, for the first time this season never led, in a game that was dominated by the Wizards from the beginning.
The Wizards started off hot, jumping out to a quick 6-0 lead while the the Pacers searched for their shot. By the end of the first quarter, the game was just a two-point advantage, 26-24. Washington shot nearly 70% and it was only the beginning.
The second quarter began like the first, only the Wizards continue to apply the pressure on the Pacers, by the end of the quarter, the Wizards enjoyed a seven-point lead, 57-50. The Wizards continued their hot shooting, going 63%. The 57 points was the most points allowed by the Pacers this season at the half.
The Pacers came out of the locker room fired up and went on a quick 4-0 run to cut the lead down to just two points, but that was as close as they could get all evening. Just when it seemed as if the Pacers were ready to take hold of the game, the Wizards would drive in, or nail a three-pointer to push the lead back up to four points.
The only highlight in the third quarter for Pacers' fans was an altercation between Al Harrington and the Wizards' Christian Laettner. Harrington was hit with a technical for responding to Laettner's flagrant foul late in the third quarter. Laettner knocked Harrington down with an elbow to the chin. Harrington jumped to his feet and stalked Laettner before teammates intervened. Despite the obvious elbow foul to an opponent's face, Laettner was not ejected, as called for by NBA rules.
By that time, the damage had already been done. Struggling with Washington's quickness in the backcourt and aggressiveness in the frontcourt all night long, the Paces trailed 83-71 with 8:35 remaining in the game. Reggie Miller and Al Harrington made 3-pointers. A Jermaine O'Neal basket cut the deficit to 83-79 with 7:08 left. The Pacers had an opportunity to get even closer, but Harrington missed a 3-pointer and the Wizards followed with six quick points to rebuild a 10-point advantage, as the Pacers' only threat of the game was effectively put aside.
Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle responded to tonight's loss.
"You have to give Washington credit for playing a fine offensive game." Carlisle said. "When we give up 63 percent shooting in the first half of a game, it’s a bad sign. We simply can’t afford to have those types of lapses on defense. Giving up 107 points, we will never win against anyone. I think it is something we will realize after tonight."
Carlisle also stressed the urgency to win close games, especially back-to-back ones.
"Washington played last night too, and they made a whole bunch of threes. I think it simply comes down to that our level of urgency needs to be higher." Carlisle said. "We have a good record, we have put ourselves in a good position, but this is one of those reality situations where we have to understand that every team is going to come after us hard because we have the best record in the east right now. If we are not ready to play our best game, we are going to get beat."
The Pacers' themselves were still shell-shocked over the loss.
“Tonight we let Washington go wherever they wanted. They got easy shots, transition baskets and a lot of free throws because we weren’t moving our feet." Reggie Miller said. "Anytime you put the team on the line that much you are not moving your feet. "
"We were surprised." Ron Artest said. "Usually we are able to come back, but this goes to show that we have to start putting teams away and stop letting teams hang around so long."
Losing consecutive games for the first time since last December (against the Bucks and Nets), the Pacers dropped to 33-13 overall, 16-8 on the road.
Three much-needed days off await the Pacers, who don't play again until Wednesday night against Phoenix in Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers won in Phoenix, 89-82, on Dec. 1 as Jermaine O'Neal had 32 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots. They'll be trying to sweep the Suns for the first time since the 1984-85 season.
Game Time Wednesday is at 7pm (EST)
January 24, 2004 - 10:30 PM
What a difference a week makes. Seven nights ago, the Pacers were enjoying a back-to-back sweep of the 2003 NBA Finalists, San Antonio and New Jersey. Saturday night, they suffered their second consecutive loss, and their worst defensive performance of the season, dropping a 107-96 game to lowly Washington in the MCI Center.
The Pacers, for the first time this season never led, in a game that was dominated by the Wizards from the beginning.
The Wizards started off hot, jumping out to a quick 6-0 lead while the the Pacers searched for their shot. By the end of the first quarter, the game was just a two-point advantage, 26-24. Washington shot nearly 70% and it was only the beginning.
The second quarter began like the first, only the Wizards continue to apply the pressure on the Pacers, by the end of the quarter, the Wizards enjoyed a seven-point lead, 57-50. The Wizards continued their hot shooting, going 63%. The 57 points was the most points allowed by the Pacers this season at the half.
The Pacers came out of the locker room fired up and went on a quick 4-0 run to cut the lead down to just two points, but that was as close as they could get all evening. Just when it seemed as if the Pacers were ready to take hold of the game, the Wizards would drive in, or nail a three-pointer to push the lead back up to four points.
The only highlight in the third quarter for Pacers' fans was an altercation between Al Harrington and the Wizards' Christian Laettner. Harrington was hit with a technical for responding to Laettner's flagrant foul late in the third quarter. Laettner knocked Harrington down with an elbow to the chin. Harrington jumped to his feet and stalked Laettner before teammates intervened. Despite the obvious elbow foul to an opponent's face, Laettner was not ejected, as called for by NBA rules.
By that time, the damage had already been done. Struggling with Washington's quickness in the backcourt and aggressiveness in the frontcourt all night long, the Paces trailed 83-71 with 8:35 remaining in the game. Reggie Miller and Al Harrington made 3-pointers. A Jermaine O'Neal basket cut the deficit to 83-79 with 7:08 left. The Pacers had an opportunity to get even closer, but Harrington missed a 3-pointer and the Wizards followed with six quick points to rebuild a 10-point advantage, as the Pacers' only threat of the game was effectively put aside.
Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle responded to tonight's loss.
"You have to give Washington credit for playing a fine offensive game." Carlisle said. "When we give up 63 percent shooting in the first half of a game, it’s a bad sign. We simply can’t afford to have those types of lapses on defense. Giving up 107 points, we will never win against anyone. I think it is something we will realize after tonight."
Carlisle also stressed the urgency to win close games, especially back-to-back ones.
"Washington played last night too, and they made a whole bunch of threes. I think it simply comes down to that our level of urgency needs to be higher." Carlisle said. "We have a good record, we have put ourselves in a good position, but this is one of those reality situations where we have to understand that every team is going to come after us hard because we have the best record in the east right now. If we are not ready to play our best game, we are going to get beat."
The Pacers' themselves were still shell-shocked over the loss.
“Tonight we let Washington go wherever they wanted. They got easy shots, transition baskets and a lot of free throws because we weren’t moving our feet." Reggie Miller said. "Anytime you put the team on the line that much you are not moving your feet. "
"We were surprised." Ron Artest said. "Usually we are able to come back, but this goes to show that we have to start putting teams away and stop letting teams hang around so long."
Losing consecutive games for the first time since last December (against the Bucks and Nets), the Pacers dropped to 33-13 overall, 16-8 on the road.
Three much-needed days off await the Pacers, who don't play again until Wednesday night against Phoenix in Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers won in Phoenix, 89-82, on Dec. 1 as Jermaine O'Neal had 32 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots. They'll be trying to sweep the Suns for the first time since the 1984-85 season.
Game Time Wednesday is at 7pm (EST)