<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal was a missed jump shot at the buzzer from his first 40-point game of the season against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday afternoon. As good as O'Neal was -- 39 points on 15-of-24 shooting -- the Pacers likely would have won with a little more contribution from others. O'Neal and Mike Dunleavy combined to go 24-of-39 from the field while the rest of the team went 8-of-37 (22 percent). No other players scored more than nine points. "That's the problem we have," small forward Danny Granger said Monday as the Pacers prepared for tonight's home game against Cleveland. "One night two will have it and the other two won't. We just have to pull it together. We have shown in the past that we can be successful with it." O'Neal is healthy enough to carry the load if need be. He displayed some explosiveness against Chicago that's been lacking since he injured his knee several months ago. But the Pacers are better when they share the scoring burden. The Pacers (31-38) have had at least four players score in double figures in their past seven wins, dating to early February. "Our best chance to strike a balance is where we get four or five guys in double figures," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We got in a situation (Sunday) where (O'Neal) was the hot guy and we had to ride him, and it's tough for him because it's a huge burden. The other team knows that and they're draped all over him. "We have to get some other guys involved. We've talked about balance a lot. There's no better example than the Chicago game." The Pacers lost consistent scoring when they traded Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson in January. They felt like they could handle the loss because Dunleavy and Troy Murphy fit into Carlisle's structured offense that focuses on O'Neal. The Pacers say point guard Jamaal Tinsley is their second best option. Tinsley, however, has scored just 13 points and is shooting 21 percent (5-of-24) in the past three games. Granger continued his inconsistent play by following a 22-point performance Friday against Miami with 2-of-10 from the field against the Bulls. Murphy, who has been moved to the bench, also has struggled.</div> Source
Indeed, the trade just messed up the Pacers. There gonna have to make big trades this off-season to be a championship contender.
