Thursday TNT 01/10/13 NBA discussion thread

[divol]

[TABLE="class: linesTbl, width: 934"]
<tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px;">[TR="class: linesHeader"]
[TD="colspan: 8"][h=4]NBA BASKETBALL BASKETBALL - THU 1/10[/h][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesColumns"]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, colspan: 4, align: center"]GAME[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]HANDICAP[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]MONEY LINE[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]TOTAL POINTS[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #000032, align: center"]MORE[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Thu 1/10[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]503[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Dallas Mavericks[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]+2 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Over 206.5 1.909[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt1"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]07:05 PM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]504[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Sacramento Kings[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]-2 1.952[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #E6EEFB"]Under 206.5 2.000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="class: linesDate, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Thu 1/10[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]505[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Miami Heat[/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]-3.5 2.000[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Over 196 2.000[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: linesAlt2"]
[TD="bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]07:35 PM[/TD]
[TD="class: linesRotNumBold, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]506[/TD]
[TD="class: linesTeam, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Portland Trail Blazers [/TD]
[TD="class: linesScore, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesSpread, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]+3.5 1.909[/TD]
[TD="class: linesMLine, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"][/TD]
[TD="class: linesTotals, bgcolor: #C1D2EE"]Under 196 1.909[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[divol]

Dallas and Portland look like interesting options.

 

[divol]

Knicks are 5 points dogs in Indiana???

 

[braves]

isn't melo out for that game

 

[divol]

You're right. I thought it's really wierd.

 

[tuck321]

When do the Kings leave?

 

[divol]

Next season already.

 

[divol]

Dallas ML is my bet of the day probably.

 

[nbafan88]

I like the kings. Dallas is unbettable for me right now. The kings actually have better players IMO

 

[divol]

They don't have any basketball players. Just streetballers.

 

[nbafan88]

I don't even know what that means but okay. Dallas is a shell of what the team used to be. When Shawn marion is relied upon to put up points that is a problem. The mavs bench is not as good as the kings either and the mavs are off another heart wrenching loss. Sacramento should bounce back nicely off the thrashing they took from the grizz.

 

[tuck321]

That is a difficult game. Kings are off 2 real losses and have just been told they have to leave their home.
Their record on 2 days rest is terrible[TABLE="class: days_rest"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="class: alt"]SAC[/TH]
[TD]1-4[/TD]
[TD]1-4-0[/TD]
[TD]96.2[/TD]
[TD]102.4[/TD]
[TD]198.6[/TD]
[TD]4-1[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Dallas b-b is 2-7 SU
Dallas minutes last game are significant. Very carefully used.
[TABLE="class: num"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[TD="class: dataheadc, colspan: 3"]REBOUNDS[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 6"] Dallas managed their minutes very carefully[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datahl2b"]
[TD="align: left"]PLAYER[/TD]
[TD]POS[/TD]
[TD="width: 4%"]MIN[/TD]
[TD="width: 8%"]FGM-A[/TD]
[TD="width: 8%"]3GM-A[/TD]
[TD="width: 8%"]FTM-A[/TD]
[TD="width: 8%"]+/-[/TD]
[TD="width: 6%"]OFF[/TD]
[TD="width: 6%"]DEF[/TD]
[TD="width: 6%"]TOT[/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]A[/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]PF[/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]STL[/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]TO[/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]BLK[/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]PTS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] O.J. Mayo[/TD]
[TD] G[/TD]
[TD] 37:31[/TD]
[TD] 6-15[/TD]
[TD] 1-6[/TD]
[TD] 4-4[/TD]
[TD] 6[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 3[/TD]
[TD] 4[/TD]
[TD] 3[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 17[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Darren Collison[/TD]
[TD] G[/TD]
[TD] 37:03[/TD]
[TD] 9-15[/TD]
[TD] 2-4[/TD]
[TD] 2-2[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 3[/TD]
[TD] 4[/TD]
[TD] 6[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 22[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Dirk Nowitzki[/TD]
[TD] F[/TD]
[TD] 33:02[/TD]
[TD] 5-13[/TD]
[TD] 1-3[/TD]
[TD] 4-6[/TD]
[TD] -10[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 4[/TD]
[TD] 6[/TD]
[TD] 4[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 4[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 15[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Shawn Marion[/TD]
[TD] F[/TD]
[TD] 27:26[/TD]
[TD] 5-10[/TD]
[TD] 1-2[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] 8[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 6[/TD]
[TD] 7[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 11[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Chris Kaman[/TD]
[TD] C[/TD]
[TD] 24:18[/TD]
[TD] 4-12[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] 1-2[/TD]
[TD] -5[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 4[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Vince Carter[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] 29:00[/TD]
[TD] 3-9[/TD]
[TD] 0-1[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] -1[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 5[/TD]
[TD] 5[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Elton Brand[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] 25:44[/TD]
[TD] 3-6[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] 2-2[/TD]
[TD] -1[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 4[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 3[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Jae Crowder[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] 12:28[/TD]
[TD] 1-1[/TD]
[TD] 1-1[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] -14[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 3[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Rodrigue Beaubois[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] 10:57[/TD]
[TD] 0-2[/TD]
[TD] 0-1[/TD]
[TD] 2-2[/TD]
[TD] -8[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Dahntay Jones[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] 2:26[/TD]
[TD] 0-1[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] -7[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD="align: left"] Mike James[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] 0:05[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] 0-0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[TD] 0[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Small lean to dallas currently
Regular Season

[TABLE="class: data"]
<tbody>[TR="class: datahead"]
[TD]Date[/TD]
[TD]Vs[/TD]
[TD="width: 18%"]Score[/TD]
[TD="width: 27%"]Type[/TD]
[TD="width: 13%"]MIA Line[/TD]
[TD="width: 10%"]O/U[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD] 01/08/13[/TD]
[TD] @ Indiana[/TD]
[TD] L 77-87[/TD]
[TD] Regular Season[/TD]
[TD] L -2[/TD]
[TD] U 187[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD] 01/06/13[/TD]
[TD] Washington[/TD]
[TD] W 99-71[/TD]
[TD] Regular Season[/TD]
[TD] W -13.5[/TD]
[TD] U 192[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD] 01/04/13[/TD]
[TD] Chicago[/TD]
[TD] L 89-96[/TD]
[TD] Regular Season[/TD]
[TD] L -7.5[/TD]
[TD] U 189.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD] 01/02/13[/TD]
[TD] Dallas[/TD]
[TD] W 119-109 (OT)[/TD]
[TD] Regular Season[/TD]
[TD] L -10.5[/TD]
[TD] O 205[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD] 12/31/12[/TD]
[TD] @ Orlando[/TD]
[TD] W 112-110 (OT)[/TD]
[TD] Regular Season[/TD]
[TD] L -10[/TD]
[TD] O 194[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD] 12/29/12[/TD]
[TD] @ Milwaukee[/TD]
[TD] L 85-104[/TD]
[TD] Regular Season[/TD]
[TD] L -4.5[/TD]
[TD] U 199.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: datarow"]
[TD] 12/28/12[/TD]
[TD] @ Detroit[/TD]
[TD] L 99-109[/TD]
[TD] Regular Season[/TD]
[TD] L -6[/TD]
[TD] O 189.5[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Small bet on Portland.
Miami recent game logs
Winning by 2 at Orlando is not impressive after 2 losses
Very simply they have not covered a spread on the road in their last 4 games
They are still the team that beat Denver in worst 5 in 7 on the road and they can certainly beat Portland based on total talent of the 2 teams but it seems to me
Portland at home recent record

<tbody> [TD="class: TSN1c"]Date

<tbody>
[TD="class: TSN1, align: left"][/TD]

[TD="class: TSN1c"]Opponent[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1c, width: 8%, align: center"]Score[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1c, width: 8%, align: center"]SU[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1c, width: 8%, align: center"]Line[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1c, width: 8%, align: center"]ATS[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1c, width: 10%, align: center"]O/U[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN5, width: 12%, align: left"]01/07/2013[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 25%"]vs. Orlando[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]125-119[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]-6.5[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]L[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 10%, align: center"]O 192[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN1, width: 12%, align: left"]12/29/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 25%"]vs. Philadelphia[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]89-85[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]-3[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 10%, align: center"]U 190[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN5, width: 12%, align: left"]12/26/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 25%"]vs. Sacramento[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]109-91[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]-7.5[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 10%, align: center"]O 199[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN1, width: 12%, align: left"]12/22/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 25%"]vs. Phoenix[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]96-93[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]-3.5[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]L[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 10%, align: center"]U 196[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN5, width: 12%, align: left"]12/20/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 25%"]vs. Denver[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]101-93[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]+6[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 10%, align: center"]U 201.5[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN1, width: 12%, align: left"]12/16/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 25%"]vs. New Orleans[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]95-94[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]-4.5[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]L[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 10%, align: center"]O 186[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN5, width: 12%, align: left"]12/13/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 25%"]vs. San Antonio[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]98-90[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]+7[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 10%, align: center"]U 201.5[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN1, width: 12%, align: left"]12/10/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 25%"]vs. Toronto[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]92-74[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]-3[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 10%, align: center"]U 193.5[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN5, width: 12%, align: left"]12/08/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 25%"]vs. Sacramento[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]80-99[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]L[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]-6[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]L[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 10%, align: center"]U 196[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN1, width: 12%, align: left"]11/23/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 25%"]vs. Minnesota[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]103-95[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]-2[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 10%, align: center"]O 197.5[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN5, width: 12%, align: left"]11/18/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 25%"]vs. Chicago[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]102-94[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]+1[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN5, width: 10%, align: center"]O 191.5[/TD]

[TD="class: TSN1, width: 12%, align: left"]11/16/2012[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 25%"]vs. Houston[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]119-117[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]W[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]-2[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 8%, align: center"]P[/TD]
[TD="class: TSN1, width: 10%, align: center"]O 198[/TD]

</tbody>

[/TD]

</tbody>

that you just make the obvious play.
Got 4 at 5d and after reviewing the game went back to bet more and it was back to 3.5

 

[tuck321]

Leaving on a trip tomorrow. Posting may be minimal.

 

[divol]

I agree with everything you said Tuck, but Portland is such an obvious choice, that I'm leaning Heat here.
No real reason, but gut feeling...

 

[divol]

I don't even know what that means but okay. Dallas is a shell of what the team used to be. When Shawn marion is relied upon to put up points that is a problem. The mavs bench is not as good as the kings either and the mavs are off another heart wrenching loss. Sacramento should bounce back nicely off the thrashing they took from the grizz.

That means that they don't have the fundemental things about basketball in a team.
Almost everyone of them thinks he should team's leading scorer and thinks he is a star. They don't give the extra pass and the feeling is that this team isn't healthy chemistry wise.
Salmons, Thornton, Evans and Garcia are all 2 - 3 position players that all think should be starting.
On top of that you have Thomas who isn't a true PG, Fredette who is a pure shooter that needs his chance, Causins that of course thinks he can do whatever he wants, Robinson, another young prospect.
They got two players that willing to work for the team - Chuck Heyes and Johnson - that is it...

 

[B.A.R.]

[h=2]With George leading, Pacers look like contender again[/h]

Published January 9, 2013 | By Conrad Brunner

For most of the first two months of the season, the Pacers couldn’t win for winning. After that rocky start they had a nice, prolonged bounce-back but still managed to stay off the radar.
The problem was, even though they were winning, they weren’t beating anybody. The Lakers? Everybody beats them now. The Mavs? Please.
Times are changing.
This victory over Miami Tuesday was exactly what everyone had been looking for from this team: validation that it really did take itself seriously as a contender, even without Danny Granger and half of Roy Hibbert (more on that in a minute).
ALL OF A SUDDEN, GEORGE IS THE MAN

Let’s begin with Paul George, aka Danny Who?
His performance against the Heat was one of the most remarkable all-around performances I have witnessed in 25 years covering the Pacers. Offensively, he scored 29 points against one of the best defenders in the league and frankly made it look easy. He also did it when it mattered most, scoring 17 in the 33-9 run in the second half that turned the game.
Defensively, he made LeBron James’ life miserable, forcing seven turnovers. James had to work extremely hard to reach 22 points, needing 20 shots.
And there’s this: with James as his primary defensive responsibility, George did not pick up a foul until 44 minutes elapsed – and then it was on help defense inside against Chris Bosh.
“He’s doing everything,” said James. “He’s rebounding, scoring … He was a good player last year but we weren’t able to see it because he wasn’t a featured player.”
AND THEN THERE’S THE DEFENSE

When you’re shutting down the Cavs and the Hornets, it’s a little hard to get excited about the defensive stats.
When you do it to the best offensive team in the league, with two of the most prolific scorers, it becomes apparent this defense is not only real, but really good.
Miami entered averaging 103.0 points and shooting .490 from the field, both tops in the league, and scored 77 on .412 shooting.
Consider these defensive stats:
>> First in field goal percentage (.414);
>> Second in points allowed (89.5);
>> Third in rebound percentage (.521).
Pretty nice, right?
Read on.
Not only do the Pacers lead the NBA against in points in the paint (35.1), they also are No. 1 against the 3-point shot (.315).
That, my friends, is pretty amazing.
QUALITY WINS BRING CREDIBILITY

In their first 18 games, the Pacers did not have a single victory against teams currently holding playoff position, going 0-6 in those matchups.
Since Dec. 4, however, they have six such wins (Chicago, Portland, Philadelphia, Memphis, Milwaukee and Miami), including two in a row.
Tuesday night was by far the most significant.
Don’t think for a minute this was one of those times when you catch an opponent napping. Miami was highly motivated, particularly after reading quotes from Pacers players and coaches about how important they considered this game. After shootaround Tuesday morning, LeBron James said, “They’ve been talking a lot … we’ll be ready.”
Not so much.
BENCH DOESN’T STINK ANYMORE

The Pacers don’t need the second unit to be great. They need it not to stink.
More and more, they’re getting what they need.
D.J. Augustin has emerged from his first-month funk and now looks like a high-quality backup point guard. Tyler Hansbrough has regained confidence in his jumper, adding an important element to his otherwise aggressive game. You know the Mayhem guy in the Allstate commercials? That’s Hansbrough.
Gerald Green is finding his way and Ian Mahinmi has been solid throughout.
Early in the season, the bench minutes were a Vortex of Doom. Lately, they’ve been pretty fun to watch.
HALF OF HIBBERT MAY BE ENOUGH

Let’s all get in a circle, join hands and make this pledge: “I will not get excited the next time Roy Hibbert scores at least 15 points, declare it a breakthrough game and assume The Big Fella is back.”
When Hibbert had his 20-point night against the Bucks, there was frankly too much hullabaloo. It wasn’t a breakthrough, it was a nice night. He was right back to his old self offensively against Miami, shooting 3 of 12. Five of his misses were putbacks. Two of his three buckets were jumpers. He’s still struggling and very likely will continue to do so, offensively, for quite a while.
The thing is, that’s fine. He is making massive contributions on defense and that’s really the heart of this team. It’s also really the heart of his game. If nature intended Hibbert to be a 20-point scorer, it wouldn’t make him look like a crashing helicopter every time he makes a post move.
Let Roy be Roy — block shots, rebound, secure the paint, be the anchor of the best defense in the league. If he wants to play volleyball on the offensive glass every once in awhile, so much the better.

 

[raems]

I think Monday was the kick in the ass the Knicks have needed for a while, think they win tonight.

 

[smh212]

Portland has it going on right now, and are a very good team at home. Hear are struggling right now, and will look to get going in the right direction, but I think the value lies with Portland.

Leaning Sacto as well....wheels falling off Dallas, and now their old asses have to play a B2B. I can see backing the Kings here.

 

[nbafan88]

Yes Sacramento is young and naive unlike the veteran laden mavs. Agreed

 

[laopadak]

Will be playing the under in Indy for 3 units. Last match up in NY was slow tempo, defensive and stayed under the number. See no reason why Indy won't set up slow defensive pace tonite.

GL on your plays!