Archive for the ‘Indiana Pacers’ Category

Two days, two different opponents, similar crappy results. Teams that can shoot the long ball are discovering that they can have a field day against the Raptors’ lackluster perimeter defence. Jay Triano claimed after the game that he specifically told his guys to “Take away their threes” but the Pacers still went 13-for-26 from long range, led by Brandon Rush’s six treys off the bench.

I didn’t bother putting together a video of the Pacers making open three-balls because I already did that for Sunday’s loss to the Knicks and I’ll probably have plenty of footage to choose from when they play the Knicks again on Wednesday. The Raptors are currently 27th in the NBA in three-point percentage and 28th in three-pointers made, while they’re 26th in opponent three-point percentage and 20th in opponent three-pointers made. Twenty-one games into the season, the Raptors have allowed 111 more points off three-pointers than they’ve scored, an average of 5.3 points per game.

Along with their outside shooting, what really impresses me about Indiana is their ball movement. They got those open looks last night not just because of Toronto’s lousy D, but because they move the ball intelligently and crisply. And nobody stands out more in that department than Roy Hibbert, who tied a season-high with six assists last night — all but one of them resulting in a layup or dunk. His court vision and passing touch is truly remarkable for such a giant of a man, so my only video clip for this post is a compilation of last night’s assists. Hey, rather than dwell on how the Raptors befouled their linens, I’m choosing to appreciate a player who plays the right way.

Yep, we coulda had that guy. Oh well, at least T.J. Ford didn’t go off last night. I’m not sure I could have handled watching the Raptors get dominated by Hibbert, Danny Granger AND Ford.

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They tipped off in Indiana, and the Raptors were instantaneously 8-13. Seriously, this one falls under the “over before it began” category.

Toronto has been pretty consistent in responding to a poor effort with a solid performance this season. That wasn’t the case tonight at Canseco Fieldhouse.

I’ll admit that I found myself on the road in a vehicle for the first quarter, but here’s what the game sounded like on the radio. “Raptors pull-up jumper no good, Pacers back the other way, three-ball falls. Raptors turnover, Pacers come back, count the bucket and the foul.”

By the time I got to a televsion for the second quarter, the Raps were down 13 and mentally checked out. The second q was even worse, as Indiana torched Toronto for 37 points and held a 24-point lead at the half.

The third quarter defence was decent, and provided Toronto a glimmer of hope that they could perhaps make it interesting, but their pathetic offence and constant jump-shooting negated that opportunity.

Two things stood out tonight. One, the Raptors looked like a YMCA team when defending the three-point line for the second straight game. And two, the entire roster, top to bottom, thought they could get by with ill-advised jump-shooting.

At one point in the third, Jerryd Bayless, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis (the same three guys who fuelled the Raptors run Jay Triano ruined on Sunday) defended and attacked their way to a 10-1 run, and the Raps cut a 28-point lead to just 15.

Out of a timeout, the Raps responded with a Leandro Barbosa jumper followed by a Sonny Weems jumper. In a matter of moments it was back to a 23-point deficit.

There’s nothing more to say about this disgraceful effort. You would have to hope the last two ball games are just part of the natural process when dealing with a young team. But the truth is, a couple more games like this, and most will consider the recent success a blip on the radar of a horrible team.

I’m definitely not expecting a win in New York on Wednesday, but we need to see a genuine effort from this team to believe they still “want it.” Tonight, no one could honestly mistake that performance for an “effort” of any sorts.

Raptors Player of the Game: Jose Calderon – 30 Min, 21 Pts, 8-12 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 3-4 FT, 1 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl

Pacers Player of the Game: Danny Granger – 31 Min, 21 Pts, 9-16 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT, 9 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk

Goat of the Game: Sonny Weems – 19 Min, 8 Pts, 3-10 FG, 2-2 FT, 5 Reb, 1 Ast, 2 Stl, 2 TO

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Hey, the Indiana Pacers are sorta not half-bad this season! Even after a two-game losing skid, they’re sitting at .500, which will definitely be good enough for a playoff spot in the East. What’s their secret? They’re doing it with defence, and you can give a lot of the credit for that to Roy Hibbert.

The Pacers are eighth in the NBA in Defensive Rating with 103.1 points allowed per 100 possessions, their opponent field goal percentage is third-best at .431 and they’ve held opponents to a .587 shooting mark at the rim, which is second-best in the league. Clearly, his off-season work with Bill Walton and training with MMA fighters has paid off. Since the Raptors are tied for last in the league in three-point shooting, they might have a tough time scoring at Conseco Fieldhouse tonight — inside or outside.

Injury report

Toronto: Peja Stojakovic is questionable once again because of his swollen knee.

Indiana: Clean slate for the Pacers.

Five questions

1. Is Roy Hibbert now the best passing center this side of Brad Miller?

2. Are you happy that T.J. Ford is getting playing time again? (I know one guy who definitely is.)

3. Have you noticed how quietly terrible 10th overall pick Paul George has been? In eight games, he’s averaged 16.5 minutes, 4.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists with .341 field goal percentage.

4. Will the Raptors get burned by the long ball again? Indiana is fourth in the league in three point attempts.

5. Will Andrea Bargnani have a great scoring night with less-than-daunting Josh McRoberts guarding him?

Start time: 7:00 PM ET
Channel: Sportsnet One
Probable starting lineups
Toronto: Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan, Sonny Weems, Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani
Indiana: Darren Collison, Brandon Rush, Danny Granger, Josh McRoberts, Roy Hibbert

Tonight’s pregame song is “Beat Boy” by South African musical sensation Die Antwoord, because the Pacers are kind of an unusual team and Die Antwoord is, well… if you don’t already know, now you know.