Pooh
12-18-2003, 06:07 AM
After strong start to season, Indiana has lost two of past three games to losing teams.
By Mark Montieth
[email protected]
December 18, 2003
Less than three weeks ago, they were 14-2 and looking forward to the challenge of a five-game West Coast trip.
Now they're 19-7 and have lost two of their past three to losing teams.
The Indiana Pacers aren't panicking, but they're not exactly overjoyed, either.
"We're playing down to our opponents' level right now," Ron Artest said after Wednesday's 94-90 loss to Orlando at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"We'll step it up. I have good confidence in the team."
The Pacers are going to have to learn to play their best against lesser teams, now that it's obvious they're one of the hunted teams of the Eastern Conference. Motivation shouldn't be a problem in their next outing, however, when Detroit comes to the fieldhouse on Friday.
They aren't likely to keep shooting as poorly as they did against the Magic, but they'll have to find improvement in other areas as well.
"We have to get back to doing the little things," Reggie Miller said. "We haven't played our best basketball in the last four or five games.
"We have to move the ball better, rebound better. The little things."
Artest, for one, would like to see more strenuous practices, with more scrimmaging and contact to put the Pacers in a tougher frame of mind.
"As a team, we're probably getting a little lazy," he said. "We're probably the only team that never practices contact. Once we start practicing a little harder, we'll be ready for the game.
"We haven't won a championship yet."
Tinsley has flu
Jamaal Tinsley stayed home from Wednesday's shootaround and game with the flu.
Tinsley, who is on the injured list with a sore lower back, was close to being activated, according to coach Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle refuted the assumption that Tinsley is being kept on the injured list to protect him for a possible trade.
"I still think at some point we're going to need him," he said.
By Mark Montieth
[email protected]
December 18, 2003
Less than three weeks ago, they were 14-2 and looking forward to the challenge of a five-game West Coast trip.
Now they're 19-7 and have lost two of their past three to losing teams.
The Indiana Pacers aren't panicking, but they're not exactly overjoyed, either.
"We're playing down to our opponents' level right now," Ron Artest said after Wednesday's 94-90 loss to Orlando at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"We'll step it up. I have good confidence in the team."
The Pacers are going to have to learn to play their best against lesser teams, now that it's obvious they're one of the hunted teams of the Eastern Conference. Motivation shouldn't be a problem in their next outing, however, when Detroit comes to the fieldhouse on Friday.
They aren't likely to keep shooting as poorly as they did against the Magic, but they'll have to find improvement in other areas as well.
"We have to get back to doing the little things," Reggie Miller said. "We haven't played our best basketball in the last four or five games.
"We have to move the ball better, rebound better. The little things."
Artest, for one, would like to see more strenuous practices, with more scrimmaging and contact to put the Pacers in a tougher frame of mind.
"As a team, we're probably getting a little lazy," he said. "We're probably the only team that never practices contact. Once we start practicing a little harder, we'll be ready for the game.
"We haven't won a championship yet."
Tinsley has flu
Jamaal Tinsley stayed home from Wednesday's shootaround and game with the flu.
Tinsley, who is on the injured list with a sore lower back, was close to being activated, according to coach Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle refuted the assumption that Tinsley is being kept on the injured list to protect him for a possible trade.
"I still think at some point we're going to need him," he said.