Pooh
01-10-2004, 03:27 AM
By Johnnie Clay - Pacers Insider.
January 9, 2004 - 11:45 PM.
The Indiana Pacers began their "Texas Two-Step" this weekend on slippery ground. It wasn't oil they slipped on at first, but their own two feet. Falling behind 13-2 early on, the Pacers found their footing and went on to dominate and out hustle the Dallas Mavericks 92-80.
It was the Pacers seventh consecutive victory and improved their overall record to an NBA-best 28-10. They also snapped a four-game losing streak in Dallas, a team that many considered a front-runner to win the West this year.
After getting off to a terrible start, the Pacers did a nice job surviving the first half. Dallas scored the game's first 11 points and built a 13-2 lead as the Pacers started 1 of 13 from the field, but Ron Artest and Jamaal Tinsley got the offense going and the Pacers quickly countered with a 15-5 run to close to 18-17.
With Dirk Nowitzki scoring 10 in the quarter, Dallas led 26-23 after one. Shawn Bradley came off the bench as a disruptive force and the Pacers appeared to be teetering on the brink of trouble when both Jeff Foster and Jermaine O'Neal were forced to the bench with their third fouls by the midway point of the second period.
“We had some adversity early with O’Neal getting in foul trouble. I thought our bench helped us hang in there during the first half and we stayed within a couple points at halftime." Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle said. "In the second half, defensively we did a better job. They missed a few and we were able to get a lead and finish it off. It’s a great road win for us against a team like Dallas that has really played well at home this year.”
Artest and Al Harrington took over and the defense held the Mavs to two baskets in the final six minutes of the half as the Pacers cut the lead to 46-44 entering the third quarter. The Pacers outscored the Mavs 14-2 on fast-break points and outrebounded them 29-20 in the half.
Momentum swung squarely in favor of the Pacers in the third period, as they put together an impressive 23-6 run to open a 69-56 lead. But when coach Rick Carlisle went to the bench, the run stopped and Dallas scored the final seven points of the quarter, five from Antawn Jamison, to cut it to 69-63 entering the fourth quarter.
“Defense. We got stops and when we get stops, it gives us an opportunity to run." Al Harrington said about the Pacers' hot third quarter. "With Jamaal Tinsley out there at the helm; he is going to get us out there running and he is going to find open guys and help us get easy points.”
After the Pacers pushed their lead to 85-69 with 4:25 left, the offense went dry and the Mavs scored seven in a row, closing to 84-76 after Dirk Nowitzki's 3-pointer with 2:20 remaining, but Reggie Miller hit a long jumper from just inside the 3-point line and the Pacers were able to put it away at the free throw line thereafter.
The Pacers held the highly powerful Maverick offense to just 80 points, and only 34 points total in the second half.
“I think we played defense, that’s what we play first." Ron Artest said afterwards. "We always want to get stops and play offense later, but of course, when you have guys that can put the ball in the hole. Most guys on the team can create and put the ball in the hole, so we play defense and then put pressure on them on the offensive end.”
The Pacers missed 12 of their first 13 shots but went 51% (34-67) the rest of the way to finish at 44% overall. They dominated the boards 54-41 but committed 18 turnovers. Artest had a game-high 26 points, going 10-19 after an 0-5 start, and added 11 rebounds. He also had five turnovers. Jermaine O'Neal battled foul trouble and produced 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots. He committed four turnovers and was 6-16 from the field. Al Harrington had a solid game off the bench with 16 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. And Jamaal Tinsley had his first double-double of the season with 11 points, 12 assists and five rebounds.
The Texas two-step wraps up Saturday night in San Antonio, where the Pacers will re-unite with former teammate Ron Mercer, who was dealt to the Spurs as part of the three-team trade that sent Brad Miller to Sacramento and Scot Pollard to Indiana. San Antonio was 9-10 after a loss to the Lakers on Dec. 3 but has been the best team in the league since. The Pacers have lost eight of 10 to the Spurs, including both meetings last season. But this Pacers team is more confident and sure of themselves, and they know it. Coach Carlisle knows it, but keeps things in persepective.
“We certainly show signs in stretches, but I think we can do a little better." Carlisle said. "We turned it over a little too much tonight, but we were aggressive running, which we have to be. It’s been a good run, and it’s going to be tough tomorrow in San Antonio. It’s another challenge we are looking forward to.”
“It’s a big win. We cherish every win as a big win. It’s definitely a game we wanted to win." Al Harrington said. "We are trying to get three wins on this Texas trip, and I don’t think we have done that since I’ve been here. We are just focused on winning every game.”
Beware of the swagger NBA, its' only getting stronger.
Game Time Saturday is at 8:30 pm (EST)
January 9, 2004 - 11:45 PM.
The Indiana Pacers began their "Texas Two-Step" this weekend on slippery ground. It wasn't oil they slipped on at first, but their own two feet. Falling behind 13-2 early on, the Pacers found their footing and went on to dominate and out hustle the Dallas Mavericks 92-80.
It was the Pacers seventh consecutive victory and improved their overall record to an NBA-best 28-10. They also snapped a four-game losing streak in Dallas, a team that many considered a front-runner to win the West this year.
After getting off to a terrible start, the Pacers did a nice job surviving the first half. Dallas scored the game's first 11 points and built a 13-2 lead as the Pacers started 1 of 13 from the field, but Ron Artest and Jamaal Tinsley got the offense going and the Pacers quickly countered with a 15-5 run to close to 18-17.
With Dirk Nowitzki scoring 10 in the quarter, Dallas led 26-23 after one. Shawn Bradley came off the bench as a disruptive force and the Pacers appeared to be teetering on the brink of trouble when both Jeff Foster and Jermaine O'Neal were forced to the bench with their third fouls by the midway point of the second period.
“We had some adversity early with O’Neal getting in foul trouble. I thought our bench helped us hang in there during the first half and we stayed within a couple points at halftime." Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle said. "In the second half, defensively we did a better job. They missed a few and we were able to get a lead and finish it off. It’s a great road win for us against a team like Dallas that has really played well at home this year.”
Artest and Al Harrington took over and the defense held the Mavs to two baskets in the final six minutes of the half as the Pacers cut the lead to 46-44 entering the third quarter. The Pacers outscored the Mavs 14-2 on fast-break points and outrebounded them 29-20 in the half.
Momentum swung squarely in favor of the Pacers in the third period, as they put together an impressive 23-6 run to open a 69-56 lead. But when coach Rick Carlisle went to the bench, the run stopped and Dallas scored the final seven points of the quarter, five from Antawn Jamison, to cut it to 69-63 entering the fourth quarter.
“Defense. We got stops and when we get stops, it gives us an opportunity to run." Al Harrington said about the Pacers' hot third quarter. "With Jamaal Tinsley out there at the helm; he is going to get us out there running and he is going to find open guys and help us get easy points.”
After the Pacers pushed their lead to 85-69 with 4:25 left, the offense went dry and the Mavs scored seven in a row, closing to 84-76 after Dirk Nowitzki's 3-pointer with 2:20 remaining, but Reggie Miller hit a long jumper from just inside the 3-point line and the Pacers were able to put it away at the free throw line thereafter.
The Pacers held the highly powerful Maverick offense to just 80 points, and only 34 points total in the second half.
“I think we played defense, that’s what we play first." Ron Artest said afterwards. "We always want to get stops and play offense later, but of course, when you have guys that can put the ball in the hole. Most guys on the team can create and put the ball in the hole, so we play defense and then put pressure on them on the offensive end.”
The Pacers missed 12 of their first 13 shots but went 51% (34-67) the rest of the way to finish at 44% overall. They dominated the boards 54-41 but committed 18 turnovers. Artest had a game-high 26 points, going 10-19 after an 0-5 start, and added 11 rebounds. He also had five turnovers. Jermaine O'Neal battled foul trouble and produced 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots. He committed four turnovers and was 6-16 from the field. Al Harrington had a solid game off the bench with 16 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. And Jamaal Tinsley had his first double-double of the season with 11 points, 12 assists and five rebounds.
The Texas two-step wraps up Saturday night in San Antonio, where the Pacers will re-unite with former teammate Ron Mercer, who was dealt to the Spurs as part of the three-team trade that sent Brad Miller to Sacramento and Scot Pollard to Indiana. San Antonio was 9-10 after a loss to the Lakers on Dec. 3 but has been the best team in the league since. The Pacers have lost eight of 10 to the Spurs, including both meetings last season. But this Pacers team is more confident and sure of themselves, and they know it. Coach Carlisle knows it, but keeps things in persepective.
“We certainly show signs in stretches, but I think we can do a little better." Carlisle said. "We turned it over a little too much tonight, but we were aggressive running, which we have to be. It’s been a good run, and it’s going to be tough tomorrow in San Antonio. It’s another challenge we are looking forward to.”
“It’s a big win. We cherish every win as a big win. It’s definitely a game we wanted to win." Al Harrington said. "We are trying to get three wins on this Texas trip, and I don’t think we have done that since I’ve been here. We are just focused on winning every game.”
Beware of the swagger NBA, its' only getting stronger.
Game Time Saturday is at 8:30 pm (EST)