Although their record may not make other teams in the league take much notice, the Indiana Pacers proved once again that they should not be taken lightly with their recent win over the league-leading Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Add that to their win over the Boston Celtics earlier this season, and the Pacers have now beaten the best two teams in the league. What the Pacers lacked in big name players, they made up for with heart and determination.
The Lakers did not go down without a fight. Kobe Bryant seemed unstoppable most of the game, finishing with 28 points while going 10-21 from the field, and Pau Gasol added 20 points and 9 rebounds. This game, however, was less about star players and more about fundamental basketball. The Pacers out rebounded the Lakers by 9, dished out 9 more assists, and shot over 95 percent from the free throw line. Troy Murphy was a monster on the boards, pulling down 17 rebounds including his game-winning tip at the buzzer.
Flying Under the Radar
Although they have consistently ranked in the top 10 of John Hollinger's NBA Power Rankings on ESPN, the Indiana Pacers have received little national attention, mostly due to their lack of big name players. Despite their lack of press they have continued to play solid fundamental basketball, statistically ranking in the top 10 in the league in points, rebounds, and assists per game. This team-driven style of basketball has paid off against teams that bank on two or three star players every game.
Danny Granger has stepped up this season and taken a leading role by averaging a team high 24 points per game. Troy Murphy has been grabbing 10 or more rebounds a game, and Marquise Daniels has been adding 15 points to a team that seems to play well together all around. Their main concern is on defense, where they have given up too many points and had difficulty stopping ball movement. If they can show a little more discipline on the defensive end of the court, expect to see a lot more big wins from this young ball club.
When you combine a young, scrappy player like Danny Granger with quality role players like Troy Murphy, Marquis Daniels and TJ Ford, and you have a legitimate Eastern Conference threat in Indiana for the first time in years. The post-Jermaine O'Neal era looks promising for Jim O'Brien and the Pacers. This win against L.A. proves that they can play well against good teams, but the true test will be whether or not they can keep that intensity going against the average teams.
