"So the Eastern Conference has a Nuggets team too.

With their budding point guard from the 2009 draft, their lack of a superstar and their litany of scorers in the teens, the Indiana Pacers have cooked up ways to win — and win big games.

Coach Frank Vogel's squad (be honest, did you even know Frank Vogel was their coach?) has defeated Boston twice, as well as wins against the Hawks, at the Lakers and this past week at Chicago, where the Pacers made a statement, giving the Bulls their first home loss.

Asked if he sees comparisons between his Nuggets and the Pacers, Denver coach George Karl said: "Success-wise, I do. I don't think they play as fast as we play.

"I think they're a pretty young, committed team, trying to develop a personality in the league, but I think more their personality is defensive-minded and possession-minded. And their team concept is very strong, very together."

So who's even on the Pacers? Their leading scorer is Danny Granger, the former all-star whose scoring percentage has dropped but winning percentage has skyrocketed. Granger is leading the Pacers with 16.8 points per game; he is one of seven Pacers who average 9.3 or more points.

No, Darren Collison is not as good as Ty Lawson, who was taken 18th in 2009 — three spots ahead of Collison. But the Pacers' point is in good hands with the ball in Collison's hands. He averages 10.9 points and 5.3 assists — and there he was in the Bulls game, having some thinking triple-double (he finished with 11 points, six rebounds and eight assists)."