Indiana Pacers News

Granger out indefinitely
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March 18
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said there is no timetable for forward Danny Granger's return to the lineup. Granger was examined and released from Methodist Hospital after a CT scan on his head and neck taken Tuesday night came back negative. "(The team's physicians will) evaluate him on a day-to-day basis," O'Brien said. "If he's capable of going, he'll go, but you never know when somebody gets hit that hard in the head area." Granger, who did not attend Wednesday's game at Cleveland, took an elbow to his cheek late in Tuesday's win over Charlotte. He had to be helped to the locker room. O'Brien said the Pacers are used to playing without Granger because of the amount of time he has ..."
Pacers' Granger released from hospital
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March 17
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger will miss tonight's game at Cleveland, but a CT scan on his head and neck taken Tuesday night were negative. Granger suffered a blow to his upper right cheek Tuesday night against Charlotte and left the game early."
Bobcats' win streak is halted against Pacers
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March 17
Charlotte Observer
 
"Gerald Wallace saw this one coming, even before he stepped into the Charlotte Bobcats' locker room following the upset of the Orlando Magic Sunday, Wallace turned to a reporter and said, "It's Indiana I worry about.'' He had cause to worry. There's a pattern to these things -- beat a great team, lose to a lousy one - and they were true to their history this season in a 99-94 loss to the Indiana Pacers that wasn't as close as the final score suggests. They did themselves in by flubbing the little things, committing 19 turnovers and missing 11 free throws. They were down 15, cut the deficit to three in the final 20 seconds, and then the last of those turnovers - a bad pass by Boris Diaw - ..."
Price still playing like his future is in doubt
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March 17
Indianapolis Star
 
"Rookie point guard A.J. Price doesn't care that the Indiana Pacers basically do not have a chance of making the playoffs. Price plans to use his return to the rotation as a time to solidify his place in the future with the franchise. He played well in Tuesday's 99-94 victory against Charlotte, scoring 11 points in 20 minutes. "Anytime I get in there, I try to produce and show what I'm capable of doing, whether it be the end of the season or whenever,'' Price said. "Even though we don't have much to play for, we still have a lot at stake for us." Price moved back into the rotation when T.J. Ford went down with a groin injury against Boston last week. The Pacers say Ford will miss at least a ..."
Pacers get a win, but lose Granger
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March 17
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers put an end to the Charlotte Bobcats' six-game winning streak Tuesday, but it came at the expense of leading-scorer Danny Granger. Granger missed the final 56 seconds of a 99-94 victory after taking an inadvertent elbow on his cheek while battling for a rebound. As play was going on at the other end of the court, Granger slowly made his way back upcourt grabbing his groin area. He signaled to athletic trainer Josh Corbeil that he needed to be taken out of the game after play had been stopped by a foul. Granger staggered toward to the bench before stumbling to the floor right before getting there. The team's medical staff quickly surrounded Granger. A few minutes later, a ..."
Late rally falls short for Pacers
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March 16
Indianapolis Star
 
"It could have been the hour less sleep due to daylight-saving time or that the Indiana Pacers were playing their first afternoon game of the season. Whatever the reason, the Pacers took the first three quarters off before finally making things competitive against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers fought back from a 16-point deficit only to come up short in a 98-94 loss to the Bucks at the Bradley Center on Sunday afternoon. The victory gave the Bucks, winners of 12 of their past 13 games, a season sweep over the Pacers for the first time since the 1981-82 season. "We waited too long to get it going," said Pacers forward Danny Granger, who scored a game-high 29 points. "We just couldn't pull ..."
Where's the love?
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March 16
Indianapolis Star
 
"Stephen Jackson knows his role in the Detroit brawl and subsequent off-court incidents shortened his time with the Indiana Pacers. The Charlotte Bobcats guard isn't making excuses for his actions. What he wishes, though, is that Pacers fans would have focused on his basketball skills. Say whatever you want about Jackson, but know this: He wins. "I think people are not looking at the fact that I'm human and I make mistakes," Jackson said after the Bobcats' practice Monday. "I made two mistakes, but I haven't been in any trouble since. "They need to realize I can play this game and I've been effective ever since I've been in this league. I help teams win and people should let the negative ..."
Freak accident puts Pacers' Dunleavy on bench
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March 15
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers found another way to have a player go down with an injury. Swingman Mike Dunleavy was a last-minute scratch from the lineup against the Milwaukee Bucks after he suffered a right eye contusion when he was hit by a ball during pregame warm-ups Sunday. "I went in for a layup and somebody shot the ball and it came off the rim right into my eye," said Dunleavy, who looked like he had been in a fight after the game. The Pacers say they're not sure of the severity of the injury. "He saw (Milwaukee's) ophthalmologist and we're hoping it's nothing serious," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "He was seeing a black spot out of his eye, so he was told he couldn't play." Ford out at ..."
Late rally falls short for Pacers
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March 15
Indianapolis Star
 
"It could have been the hour less sleep due to daylight-saving time or that the Indiana Pacers were playing their first afternoon game of the season. Whatever the reason, the Pacers took the first three quarters off before finally making things competitive against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers fought back from a 16-point deficit only to come up short in a 98-94 loss to the Bucks at the Bradley Center on Sunday afternoon. The victory gave the Bucks, winners of 12 of their past 13 games, a season sweep over the Pacers for the first time since the 1981-82 season. "We waited too long to get it going," said Pacers forward Danny Granger, who scored a game-high 29 points. "We just couldn't pull ..."
Pacers' T.J. Ford out 7-10 days with groin injury
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March 14
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. Ford is out at least a week with a left groin injury. Ford re-injured his groin on a 24-second violation early in the first quarter of Friday's game against the Boston Celtics. He originally injured his groin in the fourth quarter of the Feb. 20 game at Houston last month."
T.J. Ford will be sidelined for 7-10 days with a groin injury
Comment
March 14
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 (scroll down)
"The Pacers are starting 7-2 center Roy Hibbert at center but likely will go to the smaller lineup at some point. They will be without point guard T.J. Ford due to a groin injury that will sideline him seven to 10 days, and Earl Watson will start at the point with A.J. Price in reserve."
Pacers' Murphy, Dunleavy hate long playoff drought
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March 14
Indianapolis Star
 
"Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy never expected this. The two Indiana Pacers teammates thought they were going to be regulars in the playoffs when they were acquired from the Golden State Warriors in January 2007. Now, more than three years later, Murphy and Dunleavy are still waiting to get their first taste of playoff basketball. It won't happen this season. The Pacers, 12 games out of the final playoff spot with 17 remaining, can move another step closer to missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season with a loss at Milwaukee this afternoon. Murphy is about to take over the not-so-flattering label of being the longest-tenured active player not to make the playoffs. He has appeared ..."
This Reggie Miller Is the Straw That Stirred the Garden
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March 14
New York Times
 columnist Richard Sandomie
"Is the ESPN documentary "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks" a hoax? Did the playoff series that it depicts between the Knicks and the Indiana Pacers actually occur or are its claims of a snarling, slicker-heartland rivalry as dubious as U.F.O.'s in Area 51? Is it accurate that Miller once scored 25 points in the fourth quarter of a game and that the Knicks once had a center before Eddy Curry named Patrick Ewing? This exhilarating period piece (which will have its premiere Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern) is ostensibly culled from footage shot during the mid-1990s. If the story of great basketball is factual, what has been going on at Madison Square Garden in most of the years ..."
No regrets for Granger
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March 13
Indianapolis Star
 
"Danny Granger said he doesn't regret signing a contract extension prior to the start of the 2008-09 season. He's headed for an early offseason for the fourth straight year after making the playoffs his rookie season. "Signing my extension was a no-brainer," he said after the Pacers got beat by the Boston Celtics on Friday. Granger was asked if he thought he needed a better supporting cast. "With our offense, (with) what we do, it's equal opportunity," he said. "For whatever reason, our offense hasn't been there. We got worse on defense." Team officials have no choice but to add better players if they expect to be decent anytime soon. ************************ Granger said he's appealing ..."
Boston cruises to win
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March 13
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers helped the aging Boston Celtics regain some pep in their step. That's easy to do when you don't play much defense. The Celtics, who some are writing off in the Eastern Conference, had their way offensively in their 122-103 victory over the Pacers at TD Garden on Friday. The Celtics shot better than 60 percent for better than three quarters and were never threatened by the Pacers after the first nine minutes of the game. "We were playing a wounded tiger and they came out and pounded us, and we never recovered from it," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "They have too many weapons for us. They played well and shot the basketball well." The Pacers' number for officially being ..."
Pierce hits 20 in 3 quarters as Celtics coast
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March 13
Indianapolis Star
 
"Paul Pierce scored 20 points and Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 11 assists in just three quarters Friday night as the Boston Celtics snapped a two-game losing streak with a 122-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Reserves Nate Robinson and Glen Davis scored 15 points for Boston, which played its third game in four nights. Roy Hibbert scored 23, and Troy Murphy had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who have won just once in their last six games, twice in their last 10 and three times in their last 15. Starting point guard T.J. Ford left with 7:33 remaining in the first quarter due to a sore left groin and did not return. Indiana has allowed at least 100 points in 10 of its last 14 ..."
Pacers' Rush delivers another late push
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March 12
Indianapolis Star
 
"In a short span against Philadelphia earlier this week, Brandon Rush made three nice moves to the basket. Each time, however, he missed a layup, part of a 1-for-7 shooting performance in the quarter. Months ago, that would have rattled Rush and left coach Jim O'Brien with his hand on his forehead in disgust. It also would have led fans to wonder how the rest of the game would go, because Rush's play has been predicated by his offense. That's also a thing of the past, according to Rush. Rush bounced back by going 3-of-5 from the field and scoring nine of his season-high 24 points in the fourth quarter against the 76ers. "What I liked is that when he missed the layup, he came right back and ..."
Hibbert gets chance to show passing skills
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March 11
Indianapolis Star
 
"Roy Hibbert caught the ball in the post with Samuel Dalembert guarding him. Hibbert toyed with the ball while he looked over both shoulders to see whether defensive help was on the way. Hibbert saw Brandon Rush cutting to the basket, so he dropped off a pass -- one of a career-high seven assists -- for two easy points in Tuesday's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a flashback to his days at Georgetown University, which ran an offense based on passing and screening. Looking for such opportunities "comes natural because my whole college career was spent looking for cutters," Hibbert said. But he hasn't had many opportunities to show those skills on a regular basis in his first two ..."
Pacers try teamwork in Granger's absence
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March 10
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers knew they couldn't have one player try to make up for the absence of Danny Granger. So instead, they used a team effort to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-96 to end a four-game losing streak Tuesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. "Danny is our leading scorer and our go-to guy, and definitely we look at him to do some scoring," swingman Dahntay Jones said. "But it wasn't on one person's shoulders. It was a team effort, and the ball didn't stop (moving), and we didn't look for one guy to make plays for us. We made plays for everybody. That's a team effort." Granger missed the game while serving a league-mandated one-game suspension for an altercation in Phoenix on Saturday. ..."
Pacers show Sixers the Princeton offense
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March 10
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"We've heard of games that have that "playoff-type" atmosphere, especially near the end of the season. Last night's game at Conseco Fieldhouse had more of a "lottery pick" atmosphere, as neither the 76ers nor the Indiana Pacers resembled a team with a playoff dream. Both are well behind the playoff pace in the Eastern Conference and are basically playing to see where they will pick in the June draft. Indiana was slightly less bad than the Sixers, getting 25 points from reserve guard Dahntay Jones and 24 from swingman Brandon Rush in grinding out a 107-96 win. It was just the third victory in 14 games for the Pacers, who were coming off a four-game West Coast trip. For most of the night, the ..."
Granger suspended 1 game
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March 10
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers knew there would be fallout from Saturday's altercation with the Phoenix Suns. They didn't know forward Danny Granger would be suspended one game for his part in the third-quarter incident. Granger's teammates Earl Watson and Roy Hibbert were fined $30,000 and $25,000, respectively, for their parts. Phoenix's Channing Frye also was suspended for a game and guard Jason Richardson was fined $25,000. Granger served his suspension Tuesday night, a 107-96 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers at Conseco Fieldhouse. "I think we're all very surprised," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "(Team president) Larry Bird and I were baffled, but there's not a lot a franchise can do. The ..."
NBA still reviewing Channing Frye's involvement in Suns-Pacers altercation
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March 9
Arizona Republic
 
"After Monday's workout, Suns coach Alvin Gentry said he isn't optimistic about his chances of having Channing Frye available Friday when the Los Angeles Lakers visit US Airways Center. He'll have to wait at least until Tuesday to find out if his hunch is correct as an NBA spokesman indicated the league still is reviewing an incident during Saturday's Suns-Indiana Pacers game. "It's really tough because he's the one guy who creates problems for them," Gentry said of adjustments that will be necessary if Frye is suspended. "Even with Pau Gasol and those guys, (Frye) can stretch the defense. They have to guard him out on the perimeter." "Obviously we could use him." Frye, meanwhile, insisted ..."
Pacers talking trash for their college teams
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March 9
Indianapolis Star
 
"The trash talking started inside the Indiana Pacers' locker room shortly after college basketball began with Midnight Madness practices in October. The back-and-forth has continued all season and won't stop until somebody cuts down the nets at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 5. Brandon Rush thinks his Kansas Jayhawks will be hoisting the NCAA trophy for the second time in three seasons. Mike Dunleavy likes his Duke Blue Devils. And Danny Granger is pulling for his New Mexico Lobos. Tyler Hansbrough led North Carolina to the championship last season, but his Tar Heels have little hope of returning to defend their crown this year. "The talking has been nonstop," said point guard A.J. Price, a ..."
O'Brien must go -- for the good of the bad Pacers
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March 8
Indianapolis Star
 
"Maybe Jim O'Brien is trying to get himself fired. Maybe he's gone in the tank, just as his team has done for the past few months, and is willing to take the cash for next season and move on back to Florida. I've written it before, with a mild bit of hesitation. I'm writing it now, with no hesitation, with major emphasis, with boldfaced capital letters. O'BRIEN HAS GOT TO GO We can all agree, this season was stillborn before it got past the first two weeks. Even in that home opener, they played with no energy, no passion, no clue. And it hasn't gotten any better all season. Maybe that says more about this current group of players than it does about O'Brien, but you can't fire the players. ..."
Losing now can help Pacers later
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March 8
Indianapolis Star
 
"The bad news for the Indiana Pacers is that they went 0-4 on their West Coast trip. The good news is that the losses are increasing their odds of landing a top-five draft pick for the first time in more than 20 years. The Pacers' most competitive game on the trip was Saturday, when they looked like a team for one of the few times this season in their 103-95 loss to the Phoenix Suns. "It's not like we've had disappointing losses," swingman Dahntay Jones said. "We played some powerhouse teams. They're all in the playoffs and they all overpowered us." The Pacers, who went 1-14 against Western Conference teams on the road, outscored the opposition in four of the 16 quarters played. Two of ..."
Suns expecting word on fallout from Pacers scuffle
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March 7
Arizona Republic
 
"The Suns expect to be contacted by NBA officials today with either more interviews or a punishment decision for Saturday's third-quarter fracas with the Indiana Pacers. The scrape resulted in Suns center Channing Frye's ejection and technicals for Suns guard Jason Richardson and Indiana's Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert. Frye could be suspended for Friday's game because he took a left-handed swipe at Granger and a threw lighter left jab at Hibbert. Neither connected. "It could happen," Frye said. "That would be disappointing because it's against the Lakers. It just wouldn't be a good reflection not only on me but on the Suns and this organization. That's not the type of people we are or ..."
Suns show some fight in victory against Pacers
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March 7
Arizona Republic
 
"There was a basketball triple-header at US Airways Center on Saturday. The finale's underdog, the road-weary, skidding Indiana Pacers, figured to offer about as much fight as the first game's underdog, the Washington Generals against the Harlem Globetrotters. But the Pacers had a lot of fight in them, giving the Suns a real fight and a figurative one before losing a decision on points. The Suns headed into their five-day break with a 113-105 victory, winning after losing Channing Frye to an ejection in a third-quarter battle. In the third quarter's final minute, Indiana guard Earl Watson shoved away Frye's hands from him twice before turning away as Steve Nash made a jump shot for a 89-83 ..."
Ex-Carmel star shows value on trip
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March 7
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers forward Josh McRoberts began the four-game trip not expecting a lot of playing time. By the time the trip ended here Saturday, though, McRoberts was one of the few bright spots for the Pacers. McRoberts was a steady contributor all week, and his play during the trip may have helped him earn him more playing time. "I think on this road trip, Josh McRoberts has played well offensively," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said about the Carmel native. "If he can continue to help us offensively and improve his defense, he'll get more and more looks.""
Pacers get fired up, still go 0-4 on trip
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March 7
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers didn't end their four-game trip without putting up a fight. They fought with their hands, their mouths, and, oh yeah, they battled to try to win the game, too. Emotions were running high in the Phoenix Suns' 103-95 victory over the Pacers at US Airways Center on Saturday. The Pacers went 0-4 on their trip. Danny Granger led the Pacers with 24 points and center Roy Hibbert had 22 points and six rebounds before fouling out."
Phoenix's fight fallout
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March 7
Arizona Republic
 
"Upon further review, there were a few bad punches thrown in the third-quarter fracas during Phoenix's 113-105 victory against Indiana. There was nothing that would not make Manny Pacquiao laugh but it will be enough for the league office to review. So it all started apparently moments earlier when two Pacers fumbled away a rebound and Channing Frye picked it up for a dunk follow. "When he turned around, he elbowed me," Watson told the Indianapolis Star. "The next play, he was setting a pick and he was using his hands and I told him to, 'Put your hands down.' He kept shoving me with his hands and I smacked his hands." Two minutes after Frye's dunk, switching off a screen, Watson wound up on ..."
Karl praises bench after easy victory
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March 6
Denver Post
 
"The word of the night was not "worry." The emotions of the night rarely strayed from satisfied and content. There wasn't much suspense in the Nuggets' game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, and that wasn't a problem for the Nuggets or anyone watching at the Pepsi Center. Denver cruised to a 122-114 victory over the Pacers, getting a comfortable win against an inferior opponent, which has been all too rare this season. It was the kind of night where starters could sit back and relax in the fourth quarter and reserves could get some much-needed court time. It was just what the doctor ordered for a Nuggets team that is banged up and could use extra downtime. "I think the film will ..."
Young Pacers must earn time
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March 4
Indianapolis Star
 
"The playing time is not guaranteed. Coach Jim O'Brien has said he's not going to hand out playing time because the Indiana Pacers are on their way to May's NBA draft lottery. The Pacers' young players -- Josh McRoberts, Solomon Jones, A.J. Price, Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert -- know they must continue to impress O'Brien, the final decision maker on playing time, if they expect to get extended minutes in the team's final 21 games. "I know playing time isn't a given; it's all about me continuing to work on improving my game," McRoberts said. McRoberts wants to work on his defense and midrange offensive game. Hibbert wants to be able to avoid foul trouble and stay on the court for extended ..."
Granger can't make Pacers winners
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March 4
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers have a hard enough time beating teams when they're clicking on both ends of the court. They have no chance of doing it when it's a one-man scoring show. That was the case against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. Forward Danny Granger scored a game-high 30 points, but he didn't have any help from his teammates in their 102-79 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. "You don't see many times when one guy on your team has double figures and nobody else cracks double figures," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "Danny had a good game and we turned the ball over too many times." Granger went 12-of-22 from the field to make up for being shutdown by Los Angeles Lakers ..."
Lakers hit the switch against Pacers, 122-99
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March 3
Los Angeles Times
 
"For better or worse, the Lakers continued their habit of joining games in progress but winning them as well. It's not a technique recommended against, say, Cleveland, though it worked against Indiana two days after it happened against Denver, the Lakers this time pulling away from a meager one-point third-quarter lead to dismantle the Pacers, 122-99, Tuesday at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant started slowly — extremely slowly — but finished with 24 points on five-for-14 shooting, which actually felt acceptable after he missed five of his first six shots. Ron Artest again supplied a game's worth of notable defense, holding Danny Granger to nine points on two-for-nine shooting and collecting ..."
Dunleavy feels out of sorts on court
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March 3
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers swingman Mike Dunleavy acknowledges his rhythm is off. He said his struggles aren't because of his right knee, on which he had surgery about this time last year. Coming off the bench isn't a problem, either. Dunleavy's play this season has raised warning flags about whether those issues are affecting him. He's not the same player he was during a breakout season two years ago. "It's really not the minutes or coming off the bench versus starting," he said. "When it really comes down to it, it's the involvement. I find myself not being able to get involved. That's pretty much the reason for people thinking I can't play the way I'm capable of." Dunleavy is averaging 10.7 points ..."
Pacers doomed in 3rd quarter
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March 3
Indianapolis Star
 
"The defensive intensity picked up. The 3-point shot was falling on the other end of the court. The toying around stopped. And it only took about four minutes for all that to happen. The Los Angeles Lakers teased the Indiana Pacers by letting them stay close for the first 30 minutes before they blew them out 122-99 at the Staples Center on Tuesday. The loss dropped the Pacers to 0-11 all time at the Staples Center. "They dominated inside and they got one of the two greatest players in the world on the perimeter, and the rest of the cast isn't that bad," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "That's why they're the world champions." The Pacers hung with the Lakers in the first half by getting 15 ..."
Pacers' Granger struggles through a tough season, family issue
Comment
March 2
Indianapolis Star
 
"Danny Granger sat slouched in his chair, zoning out in the locker room with his game shorts on before a recent game. One of his shoes was untied. The other rested a couple of feet away. The Indiana Pacers forward paid no attention to the jokes a couple of teammates were telling on the other side of the room. Granger should have been focusing on what it would take to beat the Chicago Bulls that night. He has been unable to concentrate on such matters, however, as the Pacers embark on a four-game trip, starting tonight in Los Angeles against the Lakers. What has already been the most "trying season" in his five-year career took another turn early last week when he left the team for a couple ..."
Pacers suspend forward Solomon Jones
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March 1
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indiana Pacers will have one less big man to use against the Los Angeles Lakers' frontcourt tandem of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum on Tuesday. The Pacers have suspended forward Solomon Jones for a game for "conduct detrimental to the team.""
Pacers waive Diener
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March 1
Indianapolis Star
 
"Guard Travis Diener was waived by the Pacers today. Diener, 6-1, played in four games this season. He had an injury to the big toe on his left foot that required surgery. In his previous two seasons with the team, he averaged 5.4 points and 3.0 assists in 121 games. Diener was originally signed as a free agent in 2007 after playing two years in Orlando."
Reggie Miller still cares about the Pacers
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March 1
Indianapolis Star
 
"Reggie Miller has not made many trips back to Conseco Fieldhouse since he retired from the Indiana Pacers five years ago. Miller, who spent 18 years with the Pacers, still keeps at least one eye on the team. He has seen the franchise struggle with attendance the past few years as they go through their rebuilding process. The Pacers average 14,058 fans a game, which is 26th in the league. Miller hopes the documentary "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks,'' which focuses on his time playing the Knicks in the playoffs, will provide a "good shot in the arm" to the fans. "Fans can appreciate Pacer basketball again," Miller said as he walked the red carpet for his premier last ..."
Bulls run out of gas
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February 28
Daily Southtown
 
"An hour before tip-off Saturday night, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro called the meeting with the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse "an energy game." Turns out, it was a lack-of-energy game. Against a well-rested Indiana team, the Bulls couldn't muster the energy necessary for a victory on the road and had one of their worst performances in weeks in a 100-90 loss. "There are some teams you don't want to play on (the second night) of a back-to-back, and they're one of them," forward Luol Deng said of the Pacers. "They push it up the floor and they're constantly running. "I just felt like they had more energy the whole night." Besides playing for the second consecutive night and having ..."
Pacers head out West with spring in their step
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February 28
Indianapolis Star
 
"Cut. Screen. Ball movement. Quality shots. It took nearly 60 games for coach Jim O'Brien to get his point across, but his offensive message finally sank in for the Indiana Pacers in their 100-90 victory over of the Chicago Bulls at Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday night. The Pacers ended a three-game losing streak by having their most effective offensive movement game of the season. "Sometimes we settle too much for the outside," swingman Danny Granger said. "When we can have the even balance of attack and shooting 3's, usually we can come out with the win." The Pacers (20-39) wouldn't be in their current predicament if they played all season like they did Saturday. They had 23 assists on 35 ..."
O'Brien not counting on Hansbrough this season
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February 28
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said he doesn't think rookie Tyler Hansbrough will return to the lineup this season. O'Brien, speaking on his weekly radio show on WFNI-1070 AM, said there's probably not enough time remaining in the season for Hansbrough to get back. "I'm not sure we're going to have Tyler back this year," O'Brien said. "His difficulties might last throughout this year. If he got better in three weeks, he would have to recondition and I don't know if it would be in his best interest to make a showing." Hansbrough has missed 23 of the past 27 games because of an inner ear infection. He suffered constant dizziness in the four games he played. Hansbrough has not been allowed ..."
Pacers fans, ex-teammates honor Miller
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February 27
Indianapolis Star
 
"The "Reggie, Reggie" chants started as soon as Reggie Miller, walking arm-and-arm with his older sister, Cheryl, entered the Conseco Fieldhouse entrance along Pennsylvania Avenue. Fans, standing behind a roped-off area, wore Miller's retired No. 31 as he waved and smiled from ear to ear walking the red carpet Friday night. "We love you, Uncle Reggie," one fan yelled. Miller, the Pacers' all-time leader in 13 categories, returned to the fieldhouse for the premier of the documentary "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks." "There's so much history that went on between the New York Knicks and the Pacers," Miller said. "The (John Starks) head butt, that's what really started the ..."
Rally falls short when Pacers can't rebound missed FT
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February 26
Indianapolis Star
 
"Coach Jim O'Brien's switch to a "small lineup" helped the Indiana Pacers avoid another disastrous start, but it didn't stop them from suffering another loss. A horrific shooting third quarter did in the Pacers during their 112-110 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. "It's the second game in a row we came out in the third quarter and teams were able to take their lead to double digits," point guard T.J. Ford said. "We have to figure that out and try to come out in the third quarter and be aggressive." The Pacers were down four when Ford was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 1.5 seconds left in the game. Ford, who scored 17 points, made the first two then ..."
It wasn't pretty, but Bucks' win streak reaches five
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February 26
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"It appeared to be a cruise to the finish line with 5½ minutes left and the Milwaukee Bucks leading Indiana by 14 points. But some wild and wacky turns nearly derailed the Bucks on the way to their fifth consecutive victory, although they held on to claim a 112-110 decision over the Pacers on Thursday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. Twice the Bucks committed fouls on Indiana players attempting three-pointers in the final 10 seconds, giving the Pacers chances to close the gap. Pacers guard T.J. Ford was fouled by Luke Ridnour with 1.5 seconds left and the Bucks ahead, 112-108, and Ford made the first two shots before intentionally missing the third. Bucks forward Carlos Delfino was able to tap ..."
Granger returns just as Dunleavy leaves
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February 25
Indianapolis Star
 
"Danny Granger returned to the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Bulls, but the Indiana Pacers were without Mike Dunleavy. The Pacers' leading scorer, Granger missed Monday's 91-82 loss in Dallas for personal reasons. He matched a season high with 36 points in Saturday's 125-115 victory in Houston. Granger said before Wednesday's game it wouldn't be difficult to focus once the game started. "Basketball is kind of a release for me," said Granger, averaging 22.9 ppg in his fifth year in the NBA. "I've done it all my life. I just want to get back in the flow of things as quickly as possible." Pacers coach Jim O'Brien didn't expect any issues getting Granger into his normal rhythm. ..."
Pacers stick to formula: big deficit, comeback, loss
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February 25
Indianapolis Star
 
"The comeback was quick and impressive. It just came way too early. The Pacers erased a 23-point deficit in 11 minutes, 11 seconds but had only the one run in them Wednesday night at the United Center, falling 120-110 to a Bulls team battling for the playoffs. In the end, it was the same story: The Pacers fall behind. The Pacers mount a comeback. The Pacers lose. The Pacers trailed 35-12 with 1:11 to play in the first quarter. They tied the score at 52 on Brandon Rush's 3-pointer with 2:00 left in the second period, a 40-17 run that spanned 11:11. They never led. Chicago All-Star point guard Derrick Rose neared a triple-double as the Bulls pushed their lead to double figures and weren't ..."
Granger returns just as Dunleavy leaves
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February 25
Indianapolis Star
 
"Danny Granger returned to the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Bulls, but the Indiana Pacers were without Mike Dunleavy. The Pacers' leading scorer, Granger missed Monday's 91-82 loss in Dallas for personal reasons. He matched a season high with 36 points in Saturday's 125-115 victory in Houston. Granger said before Wednesday's game it wouldn't be difficult to focus once the game started. "Basketball is kind of a release for me," said Granger, averaging 22.9 ppg in his fifth year in the NBA. "I've done it all my life. I just want to get back in the flow of things as quickly as possible.""