NBA Franchise of the Year: Passion. Pride. Pacers.

[mfbmike]

Granger Makes It Rain On The Underachieving Mavericks, Pacers Finally Get 37th Win

Starting Lineups:
T.J. Ford PG Jason Kidd
Wally Szczerbiak SG Jason Terry
Danny Granger SF Josh Howard
Chris Wilcox PF Dirk Nowitzki
Chris Kaman C Erick Dampier

(36-33) 111 vs 102 (30-38)


Danny Granger rebounded from a tough game against Portland and knocked down 8 3-pointers on the Mavericks.

Top Performers:
Player Of The Game:

Danny Granger

Quote Of The Game:
"Danny put on a clinic out there tonight. He was locked on, in the zone. The pressure to get this 37th win and improve on last year's record was building on us and we finally managed to do it." - Marquis Daniels

Next Game:

[Yawkey Way]

nice win granger with 40 makes me smell the grilled cheese.

[mfbmike]

Injuries:


Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is suffering from a strained abdomen and will be forced to miss 15 days. The Heat are currently one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference right now and while Wade's injury may cause the Heat to land a lower seed in this year's playoffs, he should be able to return before the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.

Other News:

- Anthony steps p as Nuggets down Wizards 116-109
- Big Z scores 10,000th point, Cavs lose to Blazers
- Ginobli leads Spurs in win over Celtics
- Corey Maggette set to return against 76ers
- Thunders Carlesimo on coaching hot seat?

[mfbmike]

You know it's funny you mention that. He used to have it on before the injury. When he came back from it, it wasn't there. Not sure why. I realized it a while back. I always tell myself I have to put the sleeve back on before I start up a game but it always slips my mind. haha.

[mfbmike]

Pacers Finally Manage To Surpass Last Season's Win Total



With 12 regular seasons left to be played in the 2008/2009 season, the Indiana Pacers managed to nab their 37th win over the Dallas Mavericks lastnight.

The win gaurantees the Pacers will finish with a better record than they did a season ago(36-46).

Danny Granger scored 40 points and lit the Mavs up from beyond the arch(8-12) to lead the Pacers to victory.

Chris Kaman added 20 points and 9 rebounds to go along with 4 blocks to also help the Pacers snap a 2 game skid.

"It feels good to be back in a rhythm as a team," said Granger. "Defending home court feels good..Rivalry or not, it was an important game to get."

Despite the Pacers surpassing last season's win total, not many of the Pacers seemed to notice. Most of the Pistons players didn't know they had surpassed last season's win total until told by a reporter.

"We don't really think about the wins and losses," Pacers guard Wally Szczerbiak said. "Our focus is so much on the big picture. We're more focused on getting to the playoffs. We know we're good enough to win games. But the mindset around here is the playoffs. That's your focus."

And it's not just the veterans, either.

Pacers rookie Brandon Rush is among Indiana's youngsters who have embraced the idea that success, at least for the Pacers, will be determined by how they play in the playoffs.

"It's great," Rush said. "As a first year player, you want to come in and contribute to wins; winning is everything. The fact that we're continuing to get wins, it's a good move heading into the most important time of the season."

[LC AAU]

Nice win, and read.

[mfbmike]

Nice win, and read.

Pretty cool man, good job. I should be watching this the rest of the way, gl.

Thanks guys. Bobcats update coming up. :pissed:

[mfbmike]

Pacers Unable To Tame Bobcats In Charlotte

Starting Lineups:
T.J. Ford PG Raymond Felton
Wally Szczerbiak SG Raja Bell
Danny Granger SF Gerald Wallace
Chris Wilcox PF Boris Diaw
Chris Kaman C Emeka Okafor

(37-33) 106 @ 115 (26-43)


Danny Granger chases down Raymond Felton on the break and pins his layup attempt on the backboard for 1 of his 4 blocks on the night.

Top Performers:
Player Of The Game:

Emeka Okafor

Quote Of The Game:
"They had our numbers tonight. They were reading us, forcing us into bad passes all night. Gerald really kept us from getting into a rhythm offensively and our offense sputtered down the stretch, allowing them to pull out in front." - Chris Kaman

Next Game:

[mfbmike]

Pacers Weekly Stats Update:

Starters:


Reserves:


(Red name denotes currently injured)



Players Of The Week:

Western Conference


Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets

Eastern Conference


Danny Granger - Indiana Pacers

Weekly Conference Standings Update:



1. (47-23)

2. (48-25)

3. (46-24)

4. (44-26)

5. (39-32)

6. (37-34)

7. (37-34)

8. (36-34)

9. (35-36)

10. (33-36)

11. (33-38)

12. (31-39)

13. (31-39)

14. (25-45)

15. (22-49)



1. (44-26)

2. (43-27)

3. (42-29)

4. (42-30)

5. (39-31)

6. (36-33)

7. (37-34)

8. (36-34)

9. (34-38)

10. (32-39)

11. (31-41)

12. (27-43)

13. (26-44)

14. (24-46)

15. (21-49)

[mfbmike]

Injuries:


Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets has suffered a lower back strain and will be forced to miss 17 days. The good news it that Scola will be back in time for the playoffs. The bad news is that the Rockets could see themselves fall to a lower seed as they are in a tight knit race for the top spot in the West with the Lakers, Spurs, and Suns.

Other News:

- Lakers clinch playoff berth with win
- Joe Johnson says he'll be 100% against Spurs
- Mike Dunleavy: Ready to play
- Rockets clinch a spot in playoffs
- Baron scores 27 as Clippers outpace Celtics
- Jamison does not want to sit to rest broken nose
- Heat fall in OT to Grizzlies 93-90
- Jazz prevail in 105-100 OT win over Rockets

[mfbmike]

Yeah. My bench guys got starts when Granger went down (twice). Not to mention, Marquis was out for a while and Kaman had the flu a while back as well.

To be honest, I've gone 3-0 against the Hawks so far this season and I'm praying to meet them in the 1st round. All depends on whether the Celtics manage to pass them and if I can maintain my seed.

Cavs, Celtics, Pistons would all more than likely equal a 1st round exit.

Heat, I might be able to edge out. Not sure at this point.

Either way, I'll have a write up about that when this month is up, which is in about 3-4 more games. :D

[mfbmike]

Granger Named NBA's Eastern Conference Player Of The Week



Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers was named today as the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

Granger posted two 40+ point games over the past week, against Toronto and Dallas, but where Granger shined was on the defensive side of the ball.

He tallied up 2 steals in every game this past week and managed to steal 3 in the Pacers win against the Heat. He blocked at least 3 shots in every game as well, but managed to swat back 4 against Toronto and Charlotte.

Granger has now won the award 3 times this season.

The fact is, Granger doesn't dominate the ball. He gets his points without taking a high amount of shots each game. He scores while continuing to have a very high shooting percentage, and he maintains a high shooting percentage even while consistently seeing double teams.

What is going unnoticed and unpublicized is the fact that Granger, this season, has taken his man defense, help defense to a far higher level than he's ever displayed in his pro career up to this point.

[Maestro]

Sick chise Mike.

[Yawkey Way]

nice job with granger, those games against the bobcats come back to haunt you though, hopefully theres no hangover in your next game.

[mfbmike]

Pacers Extinguish Wade-Less Heat Easily At The Conseco

Starting Lineups:
T.J. Ford PG Mario Chalmers
Wally Szczerbiak SG Daequan Cook
Danny Granger SF Shawn Marion
Chris Wilcox PF Michael Beasley
Chris Kaman C Jamaal Magliore

(37-34) 112 vs 96 (44-26)


Chris Quinn drives to the rim against his former team. The Pacers bench outscored the Heat's bench 34-22 in the Pacers win.

Top Performers:
Player Of The Game:

Chris Wilcox

Quote Of The Game:
"We knew with them missing Dwyane out there, that this was one we could take. We came out focused and did what he had to do on both sides of the ball. Our bench guys included. Marquis gave us a huge boost off the bench with his 21 points.(1 shy of the Heat's total 22 bench points.)" - T.J. Ford

Next Game: