Utah Jazz (27-29) @ Indiana Pacers (40-15) When: Sunday 22 February, 3:30PM (ET) Where: Conseco Fieldhouse TV: FSMW, FSN (Local) NBALP (National) Standings Jazz: 9th Western Conference (.482) Pacers: 1st Eastern Conference (.727) Jazz road record: 8-19 Pacers home record :21-6 Probable Starting Lineups Jazz / Pacers PG: Carlos Arroyo / Jamaal Tinsley SG: Aleksandar Pavlovic / Reggie Miller SF: Andrei Kirilenko / Al Harrington PF: Michael Ruffin / Jermaine O'Neal C: Jarron Collins / Jeff Foster Coach: Jerry Sloan / Rick Carlisle Key Bench Players Jazz: Greg Ostertag (benched), Raul Lopez, Raja Bell Pacers: Fred Jones, Anthony Johnson, Jonathon Bender Injuries Jazz: Curtis Borchardt, Matt Harpring Pacers: Ron Artest, Jamison Brewer, Primoz Brezec Keys to the game Jazz 1. Spread scoring. When Utah spreads the scoring, and not rely on AK47 to carry the load, they have a lot more chance at winning. It worked with the Knicks, and they need to try it against the Pacers. 2. Adjust. Gordon Giricek and Googs should be getting minutes in this game, and they probably don't fully understand the Jazz system yet. Utah needs to adjust to the new guys, otherwise they will have big problems on offense. Pacers 1. Miller time. Reggie will be starting, and Pavlovic is guarding him. Pavlovic's defense has been questionable to say the least all season. Reggie should use his experience to draw fouls, hit 3's. 2. Andrei Kirilenko. Wouldn't be that much of a problem if Ron Artest was here, but he's injured. Someone has to stop him or he'll have a monster game. Key Matchup: PG: Carlos Arroyo vs. Jamaal Tinsley Prediction: Despite the win against NY, I don't think the Jazz can beat the East leading Pacers on the road, Pacers by 8.
Final score: Pacers 94, Jazz 80 Andrei was great with a all-around game. 22pts 6rebs 5ast 3stl 3blk. Raja played a good game with 21pts. Jermaine was a blocking machine with 7blocks.He also had 21pts 10reb 4ast. It was a great game.
I don't mind losing when your outplayed, I hate losing when you are shooting yourself in the foot like Utah did today. Indiana shot 50 free throws, and made 40. That stat just there made it almost impossible for Utah to win, and I'm surprised they stuck with them for the majority of the game. Other than that, the stats were similar except Utah had a 36.5 shooting %, Indy had a 45.6%. So, Utah can still play, they just need to play well themselves, control the boards, and not let a team win it from the line or let themselves lose it on the line for that matter. Raja got 40 minutes in this game, he should start over Sasha if he plays that much off the bench. Important game next against Seattle at home, which will be rare in the near future.
