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Indiana Pacers News

Pacers start slowly, are unable to catch Hawks
February 9
Indianapolis Star
 
"Frank Vogel's body language said it all. The Indiana Pacers coach's enthusiasm during his team's runs was often replaced with a slap of his hands in frustration or him muttering to himself each time the Atlanta Hawks came up with a run-stopping 3-pointer or three-point play. The Pacers chipped away at the Hawks' 21-point lead, but they didn't have enough to completely come back in their 97-87 loss Wednesday night at Philips Arena."
Pacers lose to Hawks 87-97; Indiana's Granger scores 21 points
February 9
Indianapolis Star
 
"Josh Smith scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the Hawks to a 97-87 victory over the Indiana Pacers tonight that snapped Atlanta's three-game home losing streak. The Hawks, who had fallen behind by big margins in each game on the homestand, finally got off to a good start. Atlanta built a 21-point lead in the first half and withstood a charge by Indiana over the final two quarters."
Utah Jazz dig a hole, then pay price in 104-99 loss to Indiana Pacers
February 8
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"Al Jefferson, Devin Harris and Raja Bell all said the same exact thing. The Jazz aren't a good enough team to flip an on-and-off switch midway through a game. Especially not on the road. And definitely not when Utah spends the first half looking lifeless against the surging Indiana Pacers, falls behind by 21 early during the third quarter, then digs a hole so deep even the best NBA teams would struggle to climb out unscathed. The Jazz nearly emerged Tuesday, using a fiery 35-13 run to remind coach Tyrone Corbin what makes his team special when it plays inspired Utah basketball. But by the time the Jazz's locker room door opened after a 104-99 loss to the Pacers, the same frustrated words"
Utah Jazz rally but still fall to Indiana Pacers
February 8
The Deseret News
 
"The Utah Jazz didn't win Tuesday night, falling 104-99 to the Indiana Pacers for their second road loss in as many nights. But they showed something in this one that they didn't in Monday's embarrassing 99-88 loss to the no-name Knicks. Fire. Life. Desire. At least from the midway point in the third quarter until the final horn. The Jazz found themselves trailing by 21 points at 71-50 after a Danny Granger basket with 8:04 remaining in the third quarter."
Pacers squander 21-point lead but find balance, defeat Jazz
February 8
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers momentarily fell into one of the bad habits that has consistently hurt them against the Utah Jazz. Over the years, the Pacers would routinely build double-digit leads, only to see them turn into deficits, which caused frazzled nerves and usually a loss. The Pacers blew a 21-point third-quarter lead against the Jazz on Tuesday night, but instead of crumbling, they stayed composed long enough to pull out the 104-99 victory in front of a crowd of 11,006 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse."
Another game, another game with a lot of empty seats for the Pacers
February 8
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Mike Wells
"I set off a lot of talk on Twitter when I mentioned that Pacers energetic PA guy Michael Grady was trying to get the "crowd into the game during the pregame intros." But "that's hard to do when the seats are more empty than full." Then I re-tweeted (Jazz beat writer from the Salt Lake City Tribune) Brian T. Smith's comment, "Thought Indy was a sports town? Not tonight, apparently." The excuses came flying in after that. People mentioned the Super Bowl being in town. The Soap Opera going on with the Colts. The game being played during the week. The Pacers announced a crowd of 11,006 fans at the fieldhouse on Tuesday."
Pacers at home more, but the schedule gets busy
February 7
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers saw two prominent numbers when the revised 2011-12 NBA schedule was released -- 15 and 22. They opened the season by playing 15 of their first 22 games on the road after a condensed training camp. The Pacers made it through that tough stretch exceeding a lot of expectations -- including their own -- by going 10-5 on the road. Game 23 was a loss Saturday at home to Orlando, but the Pacers are still an impressive 16-7 heading into a home game tonight against Utah."
Hill's injury considered minor
February 5
Indianapolis Star
 
"Injured Indiana Pacers guard George Hill has some work ahead of him before he returns to the lineup, but he took a step in that direction Saturday when he wore a shoe on his left foot instead of a walking boot. Hill has missed the past three games after suffering a small chip fracture in his left ankle against New Jersey on Jan. 31. "It's not as bad as they thought it was," Hill said. "It's only a partial chip instead of it being fully chipped. They say my return is looking pretty good." Neither Hill nor the Pacers would put a timetable on his return, but the former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star said his goal is to return before the All-Star break, which starts Feb. 23."
Pacers surprise; how far can they go?
February 5
Indianapolis Star
 
"Entering Saturday night, the Indiana Pacers were 16-6, within 11/2 games of the best record in the Eastern Conference . . . but no one seems to be noticing. Indianapolis Star Pacers beat reporter Mike Wells and assistant sports editor Nat Newell take a look at the overlooked and underrated team and just how much further it can go: The Pacers are 27th in attendance with an average of 13,871. The other six teams at the bottom of the attendance figures -- New Jersey, Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, New Orleans and Sacramento -- are a combined 44-90 with only Houston over .500. What's it going to take for the fans to embrace this team? Wells: I'm surprised fans aren't showing up at the"
Magic hold off fatigued Pacers
February 5
Indianapolis Star
 
"It was only a matter of time before the nonstop, road-heavy schedule was going to catch up to the Indiana Pacers. That time came during a rare home game in front of a rare sellout crowd. The Pacers appeared tired for most of their 85-81 loss to the Orlando Magic in front of an announced crowd of 18,165 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday night. "Our legs were tired," Pacers forward Danny Granger said. "It was our fourth game in five nights. We just didn't have it physically. It's tough because you want to fight through it, and we almost pulled off the win.""
This team's got spunk
February 4
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird used to say during the team's rebuilding process that he didn't want a roster full of milk drinkers. He wanted players who weren't afraid to mix it up and play hard. Bird is getting his wish. The Minnesota Timberwolves -- in particular power forward Kevin Love -- became the latest team taking exception to the Pacers' style. "They're so tough," Love said after Wednesday's 109-99 Pacers victory at Minnesota. "They take those pills and they've got all that toughness. I don't know where that comes from. They all think they're tough guys. I just don't know where that comes from. That just blows my mind. They're all tough. And it makes me laugh." The Chicago"
George gives MVP effort in win
February 4
Indianapolis Star
 
"One sequence: a game-changing block on one end and a 3-pointer on the other end. That's all it took for Paul George to show why he's the most complete player the Indiana Pacers have had in years. That was just a glimpse of how George played throughout Friday night's 98-87 victory against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. George handled the ball like a point guard, shot it like an All-Star and carried the Pacers like an MVP. He scored a career-high 30 points, had nine rebounds, dished out five assists, tied his career high in steals with five and had no turnovers. His seven 3-pointers were one shy of the franchise record set by Pacers great Reggie Miller. "He's oozing"
Pacers' Price, Stephenson to see more playing time
February 3
Indianapolis Star
 
"A.J. Price ended the past two seasons as the Indiana Pacers backup point guard but has spent the majority of this season watching from the bench. Lance Stephenson is a talented second-year player and a favorite of team president Larry Bird. The 21-year-old is still considered raw, however, when it comes to learning the NBA game. Now both players are seeing their roles increased because of the injury to teammate George Hill."
Granger stoked to score big in Pacers' win over Timberwolves
February 2
Indianapolis Star
 
"It wasn't that long ago -- three weeks to be exact -- that Indiana Pacers small forward Danny Granger had the undistinguished honor of sitting at the bottom of the league in field goal percentage. Granger is doing his best to make that a distant memory while helping the Pacers win games. He didn't let Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love slow him down Wednesday night. Granger, inspired by a skirmish with Love, continued his recent surge with a season-high 36 points to help the Pacers beat the Timberwolves 109-99 at the Target Center."
Hill's injury opens door for Price
February 2
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel is going back in time. Vogel said George Hill's injury will cause him to go back to the rotation he used last season when he had two players at point guard, two at shooting guard and two at small forward. A.J. Price, who has had to bide his time on the bench, will back up Darren Collison at point guard. Lance Stephenson will follow Paul George at shooting guard and Dahntay Jones backs up Danny Granger at small forward."
Granger goes off while the Pacers add another enemy to the list
February 2
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Mike Wells
"Danny Granger could have easily tried to play the role of Superman without thinking about his teammates. He could have used Kevin Love's hard (could have been a flagrant) foul as an excuse to disrupt the offense by jacking up shots. This isn't a few years ago, Granger says. Back track to last season and Granger would have definitely started trying to get back at Love and the Timberwolves by shooting the ball over and over again."
Pacers notebook: Focus is on winning, not Super Bowl 2012
February 1
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers are casual about spinoff attention they could receive during Super Bowl week. They would rather be super later. "We just want to be a great team," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said before Tuesday night's game against the New Jersey Nets. "That's all our focus is on. If we get noticed, that's fine. "But really, we're just trying to get ourselves a good playoff position and make some noise come playoff time.""
Loss of George Hill takes gleam off Pacers' 14-6 start
February 1
Indianapolis Star
 
"George Hill said he must take the bad with the good. The Indiana Pacers had some of both Tuesday night. Hill was sidelined indefinitely by a small chip fracture in his left ankle during the Pacers' 106-99 victory over the New Jersey Nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. That injury, and letting an 18-point lead shrink to three, were negative notes for the Pacers in a game that otherwise featured a breakout by Paul George."
After full year on job, Vogel has re-energized Pacers
January 31
Indianapolis Star
 
"Positive. Intense. Funny. Ask any Indiana Pacers player who has been on the roster for the past two seasons and those are some of the adjectives used to describe coach Frank Vogel. It was a year ago this week that the Pacers organization changed. Former coach Jim O'Brien, criticized for his know-it-all attitude and failure to relate to younger players, had worn out his welcome. Enter Vogel, first as interim head coach, then as O'Brien's permanent replacement."
Orlando Magic suffer another blowout, this time at home against the Pacers
January 30
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Something ails the Orlando Magic. Is it fatigue created by a brutal schedule? Or is something deeper at work? Whatever the case, the team looks awful right now. The Magic lost for the fourth time in five games Sunday, falling 106-85 on their home floor to the Indiana Pacers. Even Orlando's normally placid fans rained boos down on the Magic during the final period, and the crowd had plenty of reasons to feel frustrated. The defense looked uninterested at times. The offense struggled to protect the ball. And, worst of all, the Pacers flat-out outhustled the Magic. "We're in a real tough stretch," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We're playing very poorly. Guys know it, and we've got to fight"
George Hill and Indiana Pacers blow past the Orlando Magic 106-85
January 30
Indianapolis Star
 
"George Hill's first season playing for his hometown Indiana Pacers hasn't been an easy transition. The former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star has spent the better part of the early season trying to get a feel for his role. Hill hasn't wanted to be too aggressive, but he has also wanted to be able to play his game. He hopes he has finally found a happy medium."
Pacers end road trip with 106-85 victory at Orlando
January 30
Indianapolis Star
 
"George Hill will be the first to tell admit that his first season playing for his hometown Indiana Pacers has been a trying one. The former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star has spent the better part of the early season feeling his way out with his new team. He hasn't wanted to be too aggressive, but he's also wanted to be able to play his game. Hill hopes he's found a happy medium."
Nets' Stevenson out in Indy
January 30
New York Post
 
"The Nets will be down a man when they face the Pacers in Indianapolis tomorrow. After re-injuring his right knee in a fall early in the third quarter of last night's 94-73 loss to the Raptors at Prudential Center, DeShawn Stevenson told The Post he won't be making the trip. "Somebody tripped me up, and I fell on my knee," said Stevenson, who went scoreless in just over 12 minutes. When Stevenson left the game, the Nets said he was likely to return with a bruised right knee, and he played for less than two minutes in the fourth quarter before returning to the bench again."
Pacers' bench lacks spark
January 29
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers' second unit dubbed itself the "Goon Squad" last season for its ability to bring energy off the bench. This year, the second unit has been more of a "Missing Squad." It has shown a knack for missing shots, missing energy and missing point production. "They're probably a little bit disorganized and they need to come together more and calm down and just continue to try and keep the tempo high and make the other team work," coach Frank Vogel said. The Pacers, who conclude a three-game trip today at Orlando, believe they are one of the deepest teams in the league. They bring George Hill and Tyler Hansbrough off the bench. Both have starting experience."
Pacers a Hoosier version of the Nuggets
January 29
Denver Post
 columnist Benjamin Hochman
"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,"
Pacers, not Celtics, look like fatigued team
January 28
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers would be hard-pressed to come up with a good excuse for why they didn't beat the Boston Celtics on Friday night. They weren't without three starters, as the Celtics were. They hadn't worked hard to come back from 27 points down against Orlando the previous night, before arriving back in Boston in the wee hours like the Celtics had. You would have thought that was the case the way the Pacers played in their 94-87 loss to the Celtics at TD Garden. The Pacers made their victory over Chicago earlier this week an afterthought by playing in lethargic fashion most of the night against the Celtics. "Give credit to (Boston coach) Doc Rivers to continue to show that he is one of"
Bird's long-range plan for Pacers comes together this season
January 27
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird's patience has been severely tested over the past three years. As hard as it was for him to watch his struggling team on the court, Bird did not want to make any drastic moves that would set the rebuilding franchise back any further as it climbed back to respectability. There were 141 losses, as well as a coach (Jim O'Brien) who wore out his welcome with the players during the first three years Bird had control of basketball operations. At times, it looked as if Bird might go down as another Hall of Fame player who had failed to make the transition to running a successful team."
Derrick Rose vows revenge after Pacers' victory celebration
January 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Defeating inferior teams despite a rash of injuries is something the Bulls have proved they can do while racking up the league's best record. Beating one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference without two of their best players is a different matter, and the Indiana Pacers snapped the Bulls' eight-game home winning streak with a 95-90 victory Wednesday night. The Bulls were without Luol Deng and Taj Gibson but still had a chance against the Pacers, who pushed the Bulls during their first-round playoff series last season and rank among the league leaders in rebounding and opponents' field-goal percentage. And it was the Pacers who made the plays down the stretch to hold off the Bulls."
Pacers rally to hand Bulls 1st home loss
January 26
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel didn't need to send text messages to remind his players what happened to them against the Chicago Bulls last season. The players recalled their inability to score against the Bulls in the fourth quarter of their first-round playoff matchup. The Pacers showed that's no longer an issue when they overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and came up with key baskets down the stretch to hand the Bulls their first home loss of the season, 95-90 on Wednesday at United Center."
Pacers' Hill, Hibbert must wait on contract extensions
January 26
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers guard George Hill and center Roy Hibbert will have to wait until the summer to get their next contracts and find out where they'll be playing next season. The deadline for contract extensions passed Wednesday night with neither player agreeing to a new deal. They will be restricted free agents, meaning the Pacers can match any offer made to them, this summer. "We'll just wait until this summer and see what we can do," Pacers President Larry Bird said."
Pacers flex muscle, beat Bulls
January 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Defeating inferior teams despite a rash of injuries is something the Bulls have proved they can do while racking up the league's best record. Beating one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference without two of their best players is a different matter, and the Indiana Pacers snapped the Bulls' eight-game home winning streak with a 95-90 victory Wednesday night. The Bulls were without Luol Deng and Taj Gibson but still had a chance against the Pacers, who pushed the Bulls during their first-round playoff series last season and rank among the league leaders in rebounding and opponents' field-goal percentage. And it was the Pacers who made the plays down the stretch to hold off the Bulls."
Unlike Bulls, Pacers say there's a rivalry
January 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Bulls downplay any notion that they're developing a rivalry with the Indiana Pacers despite their hard-fought, physical five-game series in the first round of the playoffs last season. The Pacers feel differently. "I don't particularly have a great friendship with them just because of the players that they have and who they are, the history," Pacers center Roy Hibbert said. "But you could say it's a rivalry. I want to beat them a lot. As many times as we play them, I want to beat the hell out of them.""
Bulls rally falters in 95-90 loss to Pacers
January 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Luol Deng continues to tell teammates he plans to return from the torn ligament in his left wrist for Sunday's game against the Heat in Miami. If that happens, Deng will join an angry, motivated team. The determined and relentless Pacers handed the Bulls their first home loss in nine games this season — and first since March 28 last season — playing a stellar second half in their 95-90 victory. "I will never forget how they celebrated just from winning this game," Derrick Rose said. "I can't wait to play them again.""
Magic rebound from Monday's loss to beat Pacers
January 25
Orlando Sentinel
 
"For one month now, everyone around the NBA has tried to figure out this crazy, compressed 66-game schedule. For instance, how could a team play so terribly after two days of rest, while an opponent finishing its second game in two nights looks energetic? But there was no reason to overthink things Tuesday night. The Orlando Magic were so angry with their loss to the Boston Celtics the night before that they just took out their frustrations on the Indiana Pacers. The Magic overcame Dwight Howard's first-half foul trouble and the fatigue from their second game in as many nights to rout the Pacers 102-83 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse."
Pacers crumble after strong first quarter in loss to Magic
January 25
Indianapolis Star
 
"Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard spent most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers let the Magic hang around, however, and they paid the price. Orlando overcame an early 10-point deficit to win 102-83 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse."
Pacers' Roy Hibbert gets a mask
January 25
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert will be a masked man for the foreseeable future. Hibbert is wearing a protective mask over his broken nose, which he suffered Sunday night when Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant accidentally elbowed him. Hibbert tried to wear a mask Sunday but he couldn't find one that fit. He settled for playing with cotton stuffed in his nose. "I went to see the people here in Indy that made a mask for Jeff (Foster) a couple of years ago," Hibbert said. "They made one for me and it fits pretty well.""
It's only one game
January 25
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Mike Wells
"Sometimes I just have to shake my head at the reaction of some fans. It just days ago that fans raved about the Pacers after they went into Hollywood and beat the Lakers behind an incredible performance from Roy Hibbert. Then two nights later some fans are cringing and thinking the bottom has fallen out on the Pacers after Orlando easily beat them over at the Fieldhouse. "Pacers were pathetic tonight, lackluster w/ no defense, if we r to be an elite team, we can't have off nights like tonight," one person said on Twitter. "I am beginning to doubt Paul George. Not aggressive enough on the offensive end," another person wrote. It's only one game."
Pacers ready for defining stretch
January 24
Indianapolis Star
 
"Frank Vogel didn't pull out the customary cliché that most players and coaches use in this situation. He avoided saying the Indiana Pacers are taking their current tough schedule one game at a time. The Indiana Pacers coach knows what lies ahead. The Pacers (11-4) are in the midst of their toughest stretch of games this season. Their next four games are against Eastern Conference teams that will likely make the playoffs."
Pacers assistant Brian Shaw says he's moved on from L.A.
January 23
L.A. Daily News
 
"Brian Shaw rode the bus to Staples Center and walked down to the corridor to the visiting locker room for the first time in his career as an NBA player or coach. Then he stood at center court, with the Lakers' championship banners hanging behind him. It was a strange feeling. After all, Shaw spent 12 seasons as a player and a coach with the Lakers, winning three titles as a versatile guard and two as an assistant. He returned Sunday as an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers. "Obviously, those memories are never going to go anywhere," he said before his new team faced his old one for the only time this season. "I'm just trying to focus on what I'm trying to do with this team. …"
Pacers' Hibbert gets nose broken in victory over Lakers
January 23
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers Roy Hibbert knew what the medical staff at the Staples Center wanted him to do. Hibbert didn't want to follow their advice, though. The only thing Hibbert could think about was getting back on the court to help his teammates overcome their double-digit deficit to the Los Angeles Lakers. Hibbert, with cotton stuffed in his broken nose, returned to the game and was the best player on the court during the final 22 minutes he played. Hibbert used his scoring and passing skills to help the Pacers beat the Lakers 98-96 on Sunday."
Back in L.A., Shaw's 'moved on'
January 22
Indianapolis Star
 
"For the first time in 12 years tonight, Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw will walk by the Los Angeles Lakers locker room without making a left turn to head inside and prepare for a game. He'll walk right past it to the Pacers locker room, where his goal is to beat the team that gave him the cold shoulder when it came to replacing legendary coach Phil Jackson last summer. "This is a different situation because I have more history there, but I've really, really moved on," Shaw said. "In my mind now, it's a game we need to win and I want to win. If you're not with me, you're against me. They're against me now.""
Rush happy to have change of scenery
January 21
Indianapolis Star
 
"It was like old times on the court at Oracle Arena before Friday's game between the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. Brandon Rush spent some quality time talking and joking around with Danny Granger, Paul George and Darren Collison. As good as it was to see his former teammates, Rush is happy he's wearing a different shade of blue and gold on his uniform these days. Rush knew he needed a clean start where people would hopefully forget about his three-plus years of inconsistent play and a little off-the-court trouble while with the Pacers. The Pacers traded Rush to the Warriors for forward Lou Amundson on Dec. 19. "When I looked at it, I thought it was time for a fresh start after"
Pacers hold off Golden State, 94-91
January 21
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger couldn't help but to have a flashback to a year ago when Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis dribbled the ball out front and was isolated one-on-one with George Hill guarding him. Fourth quarter. Tie score. Final seconds of the game. Ellis going for the win. Unlike a year ago, though, the Pacers didn't walk off the court with their heads down feeling dejected. Hill stole the ball from Ellis and went coast-to-coast for the layup and foul to help the Pacers hold off the Warriors 94-91 at Oracle Arena on Friday. "Sometimes the basketball Gods are with you and sometimes they're not," Hill said. "Luckily tonight they were on our side. Just a play that"
Pacers face a familiar face born to coach at Golden State
January 20
Indianapolis Star
 
"Mark Jackson spent parts of six seasons with the Indiana Pacers as an extension of the coach on the court. He provided an extra set of eyes to help first-time coach Larry Bird. Jackson made suggestions to the coaching staff and did not hesitate to make adjustments according to how opponents were playing them. It was only a matter time before Jackson would become a coach following his 17-year NBA career as an elite guard."
Bad shooting, good win
January 19
Sacramento Bee
 
"Exactly how the Kings pulled out this victory was puzzling to their coach and even some of their players. Teams that shoot 30.1 percent (28 of 93), including 25.8 (8 of 31) on three-point attempts, aren't expected to win games, especially when they are down 14 points entering the fourth quarter. Somehow, the Kings figured a way to win Wednesday night, even if it wasn't the prettiest game. The Kings ended their three-game losing streak with a fourth-quarter comeback fueled by their bench that ended with a 92-88 win over the Indiana Pacers at Power Balance Pavilion."
Shooting woes plague Pacers in loss to Kings
January 19
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Sacramento Kings didn't go into a full court press to overcome a 16-point deficit to the Indiana Pacers. The Kings didn't have to. They simply went to a zone defense and let the Pacers shoot their way out of the game. The Pacers lost their shot, their momentum and then the game because they didn't have an answer for Sacramento's zone defense in their 92-88 loss to the Kings at Power Balance Pavilion on Wednesday."
Hibbert eager to stay
January 19
Indianapolis Star
 
"With the deadline for teams to negotiate contract extensions approaching in less than a week, Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert said he thinks he won't get a new deal by next Wednesday. "My personal gut feeling is that we'll do something in the summer, because the max guys are the ones that get extensions right away," Hibbert said. "I'm just going to follow my agent's lead." Hibbert, who is having his best season, will become a restricted free agent, which means the Pacers can match any offer made to him this summer if the deadline passes."
No excuses, the Pacers simply collapsed
January 19
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Mike Wells
"Who would have thought a simple zone defense would be enough to beat the Pacers? The zone – and Sacramento's desire to go with a small lineup – didn't just beat the Pacers it brought to light some things. Pacers coach Frank Vogel went away from what helped his team get a 16-point lead in the third quarter. The Kings went small, so Vogel felt like he had to counter them by going to small, too. If I'm not mistaken the Pacers were the team that was winning the game, right?"
Pacers' western trip starts in Sacramento
January 18
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers are off to a promising start, but now comes a three-game western trip. In the past, that would be cause for concern. The Pacers are 2-14 in the past two seasons when visiting Portland, Denver, Utah, Golden State, Phoenix, Sacramento and both Los Angeles teams. Perhaps that's about to change. The Pacers (9-3) are riding a three-game win streak tonight into Sacramento (4-10), which has lost three straight games."