Reply With Quote
Should be a good game, I think Indy can rebound from that devastating loss the other night here in San Antonio
Two of the hottest big men in the game will collide in Dallas. The Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal, who has averaged 39.3 points in the last three games, faces the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki, who has averaged 32.3 points in a four-game winning streak. It's the second in a gauntlet of power forward matchups for O'Neal: the trip began in San Antonio with Tim Duncan and continues against Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire Sunday and Memphis' Pau Gasol Tuesday. The Pacers are 4-2 since O'Neal returned from suspension and 10-4 overall with their franchise forward on the floor.
Dallas has been on a remarkable offensive roll, averaging 114.0 points in the last four games and 109.9 in the last seven. Overall, the Mavs rank second in scoring (101.4), but the team is most encouraged by signs of improvement on defense; the Mavs rank 12th in points allowed and eighth in field-goal percentage allowed. Newcomers Jason Terry and Erick Dampier both are getting more comfortable with their new surroundings and their productivity has been on an upswing, as well.
TRENDS
Pacers - O'Neal has shot .518 from the floor and .795 from the free-throw line in the last three games. ... In six since returning from suspension, he has averaged 29.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. ... Reggie Miller leads the NBA in free-throw percentage (.939) but has otherwise been in a slump, aeraging 8.3 points on .303 shooting in the last four. He's shooting .364 on the road this season, .282 from the arc. ... Jamaal Tinsley has averaged 15.3 points, 6.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.25 steals in the last four. ... Fred Jones has faded from the offensive of late, averaging 6.5 points in the last four games while attempting just 18 shots in 121 minutes. ... Jeff Foster has average 11.4 points and 12.8 rebounds while shooting .551 in the last 11. ... David Harrison has gone 7-of-7 from the field in the last three. ... Eddie Gill hasn't made a field goal since Dec. 3, going 0-of-11 overall in his last 11 appearances.
Mavericks - Nowitzki ranks third in the NBA in scoring (26.7) and 11th in rebounds (9.9). ... Josh Howard has averaged 20.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in the last two. ... Terry is coming off a season-high 28 points on 9-of-10 shooting (5-of-5 from the arc) in a victory over Lakers Wednesday. ... Dampier has averaged 14.3 points on .758 shooting in the four-game win streak. ... Darrell Armstrong is shooting .242 in his last six.
SERIES
This is the first meeting this season. The Pacers swept the Mavericks last year and have won three of four from Dallas. Overall, the Pacers are 8-15 in Dallas.
KEY MATCHUP
Power Forward - Actually, the key may be more in the help the superstars receive from their teammates. Miller, Tinsley and the reserves must be consistently productive to lessen the pressure on O'Neal. Nowitzki has lived at the line this season (his 254 free-throw attempts rank second in the league) so defending him aggressively while avoiding foul trouble is critical.
INJURIES
Pacers - C Scot Pollard (back) and F Jonathan Bender (knee) are on the injured list; F Ron Artest and G-F Stephen Jackson are on the suspended list.
Mavericks - G Marquis Daniels (ankle) is out; F Tariq Abdul-Wahad (knee), C D.J. Mbenga (hamstring) and C Pavel Podkolzin (knee) are on the injured list.
Should be a good game, I think Indy can rebound from that devastating loss the other night here in San Antonio
Hope they rebound now vs. Suns.
Go get em Pacers. Time for a big win.
MadDoc
Dallas had 76 points in the first half, hopefully the Pacers can rebound against the suns. Those are the kinds of victories that can turn the season around.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
