And so the frustrating trend continues.  The Indiana Pacers went into Golden State hoping to snap a two-game losing streak -- but again, choked down the stretch as Monta Ellis (who dropped 36) and Stephon Curry put the game away with big baskets.  Final score 110-108. 

Interestingly, on the last play, with 0.6 seconds left, O'Brien tried what Andrew Bogut did to the Pacers (remember that alley tip at the buzzer?) -- but Tyler Hansbrough couldn't get a handle on the ball.  Game.  Set.  Match.  Pacers drop to 16-23 and the confidence continues to drop.

Where do I start with this one?  This was one of those games where no matter how much the Pacers were leading by, I just knew -- I just knew the Warriors were going to come back and win the game.  The Pacers did get some bad calls in the fourth quarter but they threw the ball away so many times on crucial possessions or took impossibly bad shots.  This is a team that plays well in spurts, but rarely when it counts.

Granger had 32 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists on a decent shooting night (11-19) but failed to get the job done when it mattered.  Seven turnovers, including a big one when the Pacers were going for the win.  There was a time when Granger was considered one of the most underrated players in the game, but is he now overrated?

Guys like Monta Ellis stepped up when it counted and hit the big game winner over a very good defender in Brandon Rush.  That is one big time player.  He was unstoppable and made plays when he had to.  Look at the Pacers' last few opponents.  Clippers -- Blake Griffin, Baron Davis, Eric Gordon -- big time players.  Bulls -- Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer -- big time players.  The Pacers count on Granger to be that guy but he isn't.  But who else can they count on?

Excuse me while I go tear my hair out.

Sure the LA Clippers have been hot lately, and the Pacers have been cold.  But this was a game that, if the Pacers really had anything going for them (like they led us to believe at the start of the season), they would have won.

The Clippers just came off a huge victory against the LA Lakers the day before in a game that finished late, and they had to back up today in a 3:30 EST game.  They were on a high against the defending champs in a sold-out crowd, and were due for a letdown against a team like the Pacers, who have been struggling and coming in under the radar.

In all honesty, the Pacers should have come out, taken an early lead, and won this game.  But instead?  Blake Griffin scores a career high 47 points in 37 minutes with single coverage all night as the Clips took the game 114-107.

Where do I start?  The Pacers are now 16-22, and any hope that they will regain the intensity and focus and confidence they had at the start of the season is fading fast.

Let's start with the coach.

Jim O'Brien continues to baffle with his decision making.  All he does is call out his players when they play bad, make them lose confidence, yap at the officials and get untimely technical fouls.

Danny Granger may have had 32 points tonight to lead the way, but he has been one of the most disappointing players this season.  Sure he can score, but he has been erratic, can shoot himself out of a game, can't finish at the rim, and most of all -- he's NOT defending!  Granger is supposed to be a leader but he's not leading by example.  His defense has not been up to scratch lately and he's not showing the effort he's supposed to.  He's constantly getting blown by, giving up wide open shots and getting outmuscled for rebounds.  He may have been a big time player once but not anymore.  In a big possession in the fourth today I watched Granger toss up a weak pass that got picked off and then not even get back on defense as the Clippers went on a break and closed out the game an easy hoop.  Unacceptable.

Roy Hibbert -- man...only played 12 minutes this game saddled with foul trouble.  I'm getting worried about him.  He's regressing so fast it's like he's Benjamin Button.  I've never seen a player start off a season so well, so confident, and regress to the stage he is now.  Will he ever get back on his feet?  Will he ever be able to make a shot again?  At this stage, with the way the team is playing, I'm not sure.

Darren Collison -- finally, a player that has actually been getting better on this team.  Collison had a confident 30 points, 8 assists and 3 steals tonight, and he's been looking more like the player the Pacers thought they got in the big trade -- at least on the offensive end.  Collison still can't defend very well but at least he is leading the team and making plays.  But the real reason for his rise as of late?  More minutes.  Collison played 39 minutes tonight, and my goodness I hope he plays this many every night.  I can't watch another botched wide open layup by TJ Ford.

Paul George -- give the kid more minutes dammit!  Only played 11 minutes.  JOB, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.  Same goes for Tyler Hansbrough.  Only played 16 minutes, which is bizarre considering he actually had the most success against Blake Griffin because of his size and agility.  But instead, JOB went with Granger and James Posey for much of the game (that really happened) and allowed Griffin to go nuts.

Mike Dunleavy -- smart player, good size, tries hard, but really, can't defend and when his shot is off (like if occasionally is), a liability for the team.  He was 1 of 10 tonight.

Jeff Foster -- look, he's not great, but he gets the job done.  And who else are the Pacers going to use?  Solomon Jones?  What about the guy that has gone from starting PF to the guy that disappeared off the face of the planet, Josh McRoberts?  Can JOB explain that one?

Last, but not least, Brandon Rush.  I like Rush's improvement this season, but it's not enough.  He still lacks the aggression night in night out that would make him one of the better two-guards int he league.  He can shoot, he can defend and he can drive -- but he can still play 39 minutes (like he did tonight) and take only 8 shots.  Rush should be a top 3 option on the team whenever he steps onto the court.

Well, I've calmed down a little.  A sour start to the Pacers' 4-game road trip.  They are now 16-22 and next head to Golden State to take on the Warriors before taking on Portland and Denver back to back over the weekend.

What can fix this team?  There's no one single answer.  All the players and the coaching staff need to take a long look in the mirror and start getting serious.  Playing defense will help.  Hitting shots will help.  Playing hard will help.  Hopefully they will wake up.





 

I was hoping that the Pacers could get their first 3-game winning streak of the season against the Joakim Noah-less Chicago Bulls, especially since the Bulls had been struggling on the road.

But nope.  The Bulls are still a lot better.  Pacers couldn't hit anything.  Lose.  99-86.

Pacers are now 16-21 as they head on the road to face a red hot LA Clippers team.

Amazingly, even though the Pacers are on track to finish only slightly better than they did last season (32-50), they might actually make the playoffs.  But is that a good thing here?  The first three seeds are likely going to be either Miami, Boston, Chicago or Orlando -- teams I doubt the Pacers can take more than one game from in a seven game series -- if they're lucky.

Just throwing it out there.

Wonderful victory.  Just minutes ago, the final buzzer sounded on the Indiana Pacers' 102-89 victory over the Nowitzki and Butler-less Dallas Mavericks.

A very good effort, much better than their win over the 76ers just the day before.  Even without those Butler and Nowitzki, the Mavs are still a dangerous team, and the Pacers have been walking on thin ice lately with some of their performances, and it was unclear which team would show up on the night.

Fortunately, the guys buckled down and led most of the second half en route to a well-earned win, moving the team up to 16-20 and getting them their first winning streak since they beat LA and Sacramento back to back in late November.

With players backing up from the night before, Jim O'Brien gave minutes to rookie Paul George, and it paid off.  George scored a career high 16 points in 19 minutes, including four 3 pointers.  Granger and Collison each had 17 while Brandon Rush led all scorers with 20.  O'Brien played 11 players tonight, and each and every one of them had a role, with only Solomon Jones scoreless for the game.

I hope I don't jinx them, but the Pacers look like they might be getting on track here after a tough December.  I doubt they'll get back to their giant slaying ways earlier in the season, but if they can keep this level up they'll be in a good spot.

Next up, another home game on Friday night, this time against the Joakim Noah-less Chicago Bulls.  Derrick Rose will be a handful, but this is one the Pacers can win as long as they continue to hit their shots.  Earlier in the season they went to Chicago and let the Bulls get out to a massive lead early.  They can't let that happen again if they want to win.

Go Pacers!

Phew.  That was a close one. 

The Indiana Pacers finally found their long lost shooting stroke and defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 111-103, snapping a 9 game road losing streak and 3 game losing streak overall to improve to 15-20 for the season.  As a team they shot 51.1%, including 50% from downtown.  They led by as much as 16 in the third quarter but choked away the lead as the 76ers came storming back and actually taking the lead into the fourth.  Fortunately, the Pacers nailed a few big shots and free throws in the last minute or two to escape with a tough win.

Danny Granger led all scorers with 27 points on 10-17 shooting, but most impressive for me was Darren Collison, who racked up 21 points, 13 assists and 3 steals.  This was the Collison I wanted to see -- aggressive, freeing himself for open shots in the lane, running the pick and roll, and finding open teammates.  He had been handcuffed somewhat in O'Brien's system, but hopefully this is a sign of more things to come.  Of course, the fact that he played 37 minutes might have had something to do with it.  TJ Ford has been solid, but Collison really should be playing 35 minutes a night.

Hansbrough was good again in another start, putting up 12 points and 9 rebounds, but Paul George only got 4 minutes.  I want to see more of him.

Hibbert struggled for 8 points and 8 rebounds in 24 minutes, but he hit a big shot down the stretch that put a little breathing room between the Pacers and the 76ers. 

This was a game the Pacers had to win.  They were losing confidence fast and sliding out of playoff contention.  As of now, they remain in 7th place (though way behind 6th place New York), but a couple of losses here and there and they could fall to 10th place.

Things don't get easier from here.  Two HUGE home games against Dallas and Chicago, the first coming immediately.  The Pacers need to at least get one of those.  Dallas is potentially vulnerable because Nowitzki might be out with a knee injury and Caron Butler is out for the season, but they are still a very dangerous and well coached team (by former Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, I might add).  Pacers will have to step up their game at both ends to have a chance.  And then the Bulls, a team that embarrassed the Pacers in Chicago a few weeks ago -- they'll be without Noah but who can contain Derrick Rose?

Come on Pacers!  The team has not even won more than two games in a row ALL SEASON.  Time for a winning streak!