<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> <u><font color="#0000ff">Ron Artest</font></u>'s obscene gesture in Game 2 and <u><font color="#0000ff">Reggie Miller</font></u>'s punt in Game 3 cost the <u><font color="#0000ff">Indiana Pacers</font></u> a total of $15,000 in fines. Another poor performance in their Eastern Conference finals series with the <u><font color="#0000ff">Detroit Pistons</font></u> could cost Indiana any realistic shot at reaching the NBA Finals. The Pacers will try to maintain their cool and bounce back from consecutive losses to the Pistons when the teams play Game 4 of their best-of-seven series at The Palace of Auburn Hills. After grinding out a 78-74 home win in Game 1, the Pacers have been frustrated by Detroit's tenacious defense in each of the last two games. On Monday, Indiana lost its home-court edge when Detroit held on for a 72-67 win in a game that featured 19 blocked shots by the Pistons, including <u><font color="#0000ff">Tayshaun Prince</font></u>'s flying stuff of Miller's bid for a tying layup in the final minute. Artest was slapped with a $10,000 fine following Game 2 after TV cameras caught him making a gesture with both hands after scoring a basket. Artest was held to 13 points on 5-of-21 shooting in 40 minutes before fouling out. </div> <div align="center">Full Preview</div>
no doubt this is a must win for Indiana. nothing more to say but the Pacers need to play harder and shoot a decent FG%. otherwise, if the Pistons win, it's pretty much over. should be a good game. we'll see who blows their top first: Sheed, Artest or Miller
Pacers will automatically win this 96-88. You can write it on the front page, the back page, or the middle page. The Pacers will win this.
^You also said that the Raptors were going to get the #1 pick in the lottery..guranteed. Look what happened. The Pacers are going to be hard-pressed to win this game. The Pistons matchup up so well with them that I'm starting to have my doubts.
I think INDY will win this. They know they need to win, and they will do that. Artest will have a big game, JO will be a dominant force, and Tinsley will step up to help them. I take Indy by 6
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">^Maybe you should wash your clothes to get that stink off . JO is not afraid of anything.</div> Hahaha. For some reason, I can see JO shooting those mid range jumpers instead of banging bodies inside with the Wallaces. But that's just me. Goodluck with the game though.
JO is having a really good game despite having a sprained knee,he aint scared,a lot of his points are jumpers in the low block area.Another huge factor in this game is Austin Croshere he started instead of Foster and had a huge impact he scored and hit open threes. The Pistons were making a push in the middle of the fourth quarter but it looks like the Pacers have it locked up the score is 76-63 with around 3 minutes left even though the game is not over yet the Pistons havent stoped the Pacers form scoring once they cut down the lead.
Damn, I had a feeling that Detroit would lose like against the Nets. But not like this, some triple overtime or something. Well I turned off the game when the Pacers leaked out, because we all know these teams have troubles scoring. They play such great D that when they're open, they forget how to shoot or worry about someone coming over and blocking their shots. Don't look good for Detroit, Congrads to Indiana. Sheed should've guaranteed more then game 4 will be in Detroit.
Artest was the late hero of this game. The Pistons cut down the 20 point 4th quarter lead to 11 pts....and Artest hit some clutch shots to keep the Pistons at bay. well, the series basically starts over. first one to win 2 games wins. Both teams have proved that they can win on the other's floor. Reoccuring theme of this series: who ever gets their offense going wins.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Down 2-1 and facing the franchise's biggest game in four seasons, the Indiana Pacers didn't raise their intensity. They loosened up. With a new attitude, a new starting lineup and a new offense, the Pacers executed a wild mood swing with an 83-68 victory over Detroit at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Now tied 2-2 in the Eastern Conference finals rather than down 3-1, they have reduced the series to a best-of-three. And they have home-court advantage again. Game 5 will be played Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse. Game 6 will be played back at the Palace on Tuesday. Game 7, if necessary, is at the fieldhouse Thursday. Coach Rick Carlisle shook up the starting lineup by replacing Jeff Foster with Austin Croshere. That, and a more relaxed attitude that was evident in the pregame locker room, helped get the Pacers off to a 29-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. Croshere closed the first half with a 3-pointer that provided a 10-point lead, then opened the second half with two 3-pointers on the first three possessions. His second one, with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter, opened a 16-point lead and forced a Pistons timeout</div> <div align="center"><font color="blue">Full</font><font color="blue"> Recap</font></div>
wow.. great win by Indiana, but my stomach turned when J. O'Neal sprained his knee.. that was pretty bad... anybody have a pic of that moment? I wonder how bad it is.. will he play in Game 5?
Watching a players knee twist like that is never a good sight. Even when he came back you could tell that he was just not effective. Artest picked up the slack in a big way redeeming himself for the past two games. Seemed like he got his confidence back in his shot and also started to use his body a lot better going up against Prince. For the Pacers to win this series Jermaine has to play at 100%. BTW is it me or is Rip Hamilton a superstar? He may be one-dimensional but he is a damn good scorer.
J. O'Neal had a pretty good 2nd half considering his injury, he made 3 of 6 shots, had 5 rebs, a steal and a block, and a huge one on Rasheed's dunk attempt. Without the injury he would've had much more impact, but he still was of great value for the Pacers. I don't think that Rip is one-dimensional. The guy can shoot, drive to the hoop, and what about his defense on Reggie? He's done it all for the Pistons, and without him the loss would've been much bigger yesterday, he was scoring throughout the game, and Wallace, Wallace and Prince were nowhere to be seen...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting magicfrankie:</div><div class="quote_post">J. O'Neal had a pretty good 2nd half considering his injury, he made 3 of 6 shots, had 5 rebs, a steal and a block, and a huge one on Rasheed's dunk attempt. Without the injury he would've had much more impact, but he still was of great value for the Pacers.</div> I'm not doubting that at all. Imagine if JO was at 100%? It could have gotten worse than it was. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think that Rip is one-dimensional. The guy can shoot, drive to the hoop, and what about his defense on Reggie? He's done it all for the Pistons, and without him the loss would've been much bigger yesterday, he was scoring throughout the game, and Wallace, Wallace and Prince were nowhere to be seen...</div> What about his defence on Reggie? Uncle Reg scored 15 on 6 of 7 shooting and 3 of 4 from three point range. By one-dimensional I mean that he is just a scorer.
Great Game by Artest. He finally found his rhythm. That broom thing must have worked. If the Pacers keep playing like this they could easily win this series..but hey we were saying the same thing about Detroit 4 days ago...LOL :mrgreen:
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">What about his defence on Reggie? Uncle Reg scored 15 on 6 of 7 shooting and 3 of 4 from three point range. By one-dimensional I mean that he is just a scorer.</div> He also held Reggie to 6 points in Game 1 and 3 points in Game 3. Rip averages 22 ppg, 4.8 rbg and 3.8 apg in this series. I wouldn't call that one-dimensional.
this year, under Larry Brown, Rip has made a conscious effort to become more than "just a scorer". the results have been career highs in rebounds and assists per game. while Rip was one dimensional, he's been working hard to become a complete player.
I think the Pacers will win this game, but they are going to have play as good of D as they did on Friday. I think Detroit will give them more of a challege, but INDy will win this game on their home court.
