Preview: Pacers vs. Kings

by Tom Ziller on Nov 30, 2010 12:18 PM PST in Commentary

STARTING LINEUP & INJURIES

The Kings will start Tyreke Evans, Luther Head, Donte Greene, Jason Thompson and Samuel Dalembert. Evans missed Tuesday's practice due to illness, but is expected to play. Francisco Garcia has missed two games with illness, but is expected to be back. DeMarcus Cousins was kicked out of practice Tuesday, and I would not be surprised if he received a DNP-CD. (Get limber, Darnell Jackson.)

The Pacers roll with Darren Collison and Brandon Rush in the backcourt, Danny Granger at small forward, and Josh McRoberts and Roy Hibbert up front. Mike Dunleavy, T.J. Ford and James Posey are the key contributors off the bench, with Tyler Hansbrough and Solomon Jones up front.

SCOUTING REPORT

Please check out HighTops' excellent scouting report. My less-excellent scouting report follows.

The Pacers shockingly have the league's third-best defense to date. Indiana finished 14th last season, and 19th a year prior. Hibbert and Granger have been the defensive stars, with Posey filling in admirably and Collison better than his predecessors. The team's defensive rebounding hasn't fallen off with Troy Murphy going to New Jersey, thanks to extra minutes for Big Roy and able work from McBob.

The offense isn't quite there. The loss of Murphy hasn't really hurt. The Pacers still take an unreal number of threes -- more than 50 percent more than their opponents -- and are hitting at a better clip than a year ago. The only area of the offensive game Indiana is worse at this season is drawing fouls, where Granger's free throw frequency has slipped. He and Hibbert are the only real threats to score a bunch at the line. Against most teams, anyway.

The Kings' three-point defense has improved immeasurably in the last week-plus, and Sacramento will need every bit of it tonight. The Pacers will gun and gun and gun some more.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME

Hibbert vs. Dalembert. For reasons not exclusively tied to basketball, Dalembert figures to get plenty of time to try to figure out Hibbert. Good luck. Hibbert had 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in Sunday's win over Pau Gasol and the Lakers. He's not terribly quick or athletic, but I can still see him giving the Kings fits with his superior passing skills and decent range. Should be an interesting match-up on that end.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Do I even need to say it?

GIVEAWAY GAME

It's posted on Facebook! Post your guess there. If you missed Day 1, worry not, because almost everyone was wrong.

DETAILS

7 PM PT start on Comcast SportsNet and KHTK 1140 AM. To my knowledge, Dish and Comcast have still not resolved the issue, which sucks. Cheap tickets are available. Game threads at 7 and 8:30. Let's go Kings.

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Comments

I did not double check

but the Rise Guys said this morning that with the insertion of JT only 1 (Evans) of the offensively challenged King’s top 6 scorers will be in the starting LU. I guess the good news is the bench is made up of 2-6.

There are some guys smarter than me, some guys better looking, I take comfort in the fact that there is no guy that is both.

by ElRonToro on Nov 30, 2010 12:36 PM PST reply actions

The real question is

Which will happen first: Westphal getting fired, or Westphal having to medically retire due to an ill-conceived pregame chest bump?

"If you're going to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the audience." -Geoff Petrie

by AnotherStupidSN on Nov 30, 2010 12:37 PM PST reply actions 5 recs

That is quite a large chest

"Cousins is the Blaster to Evans’ Master, the Hammer to Evans’ Sickle"- HP

by tomroadrunner on Nov 30, 2010 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

Is Cousins Going to be either Suspended or a DNP today?

Haven’t heard anything yet has anyone else?

by Kenneth256 on Nov 30, 2010 1:10 PM PST reply actions

I don't think that's a step PW should be taking right now

But, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t reduce his PT or even bench him for the game. Not that I would want that to happen.

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy

by HighTops on Nov 30, 2010 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

DNP-CD

I agree with Ziller, it seems likely. However, it also seems like a prime example of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Never forget, I'm an idiot.

Follow me on Twitter

by Exhibit G on Nov 30, 2010 1:33 PM PST up reply actions

You've got it all wrong.

It’s “cut of your nose to spider face”. Because no one likes spider faces.

"Cousins is the Blaster to Evans’ Master, the Hammer to Evans’ Sickle"- HP

by tomroadrunner on Nov 30, 2010 6:02 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I'd be shocked if he plays over 20 min

if at all

by LPKingsFan on Nov 30, 2010 2:13 PM PST up reply actions

I think it depends on Cousins attitude about yesterday

No remorse = DNP

There are some guys smarter than me, some guys better looking, I take comfort in the fact that there is no guy that is both.

by ElRonToro on Nov 30, 2010 2:15 PM PST up reply actions

It all hinges on the pre-game chest bump

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~ Rogers Hornsby

by otis29 on Nov 30, 2010 2:19 PM PST up reply actions

i seen that Roy Hibbert was training with Bill Walton this offseason

and lost a lot of weight, that’s whats helped his improvement

by DK209 on Nov 30, 2010 1:12 PM PST reply actions

And in other really big news

the Victoria’s Secret fashion show is also on tonight.

Hmmmm, which event gets even a dedicated Kings fan more excited to watch?

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Nov 30, 2010 1:19 PM PST reply actions

Photobucket

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~ Rogers Hornsby

by otis29 on Nov 30, 2010 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

Adriana Lima Thrown Out Of Rehearsal For Arguing With Victoria's Secret Coach

Ruth Buzzi named to starting lineup

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 30, 2010 1:22 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

I’ll give her a chest bump

Phil Jackson, after treatment for a kidney stone "When the anesthesiologist leaned over me, he said "We named your kidney stone Kobe because it's not passing."

by Ellimist on Nov 30, 2010 1:37 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

How about her?

Kayte

NEVER FORGET

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~ Rogers Hornsby

by otis29 on Nov 30, 2010 1:39 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs

"Don't you gentlemen think it's time to move on?"

“There’s a new treat in town…”

"If you're going to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the audience." -Geoff Petrie

by AnotherStupidSN on Nov 30, 2010 1:44 PM PST up reply actions 7 recs

OH DEAR GAWD

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~ Rogers Hornsby

by otis29 on Nov 30, 2010 1:44 PM PST up reply actions

I could be limp for weeks

Rat Bastard!

There are some guys smarter than me, some guys better looking, I take comfort in the fact that there is no guy that is both.

by ElRonToro on Nov 30, 2010 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

It moved...

"Thank you, Coach (Theus). I'm about to kill y'all this half." --DeMarcus Cousins

by Juan Primo on Nov 30, 2010 2:20 PM PST up reply actions

Retracted? (Hopefully)

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~ Rogers Hornsby

by otis29 on Nov 30, 2010 2:21 PM PST up reply actions

It actually just fell off. :(

"Thank you, Coach (Theus). I'm about to kill y'all this half." --DeMarcus Cousins

by Juan Primo on Nov 30, 2010 2:30 PM PST up reply actions

Fortunately, it can also regenerate like a lizard's tail.

"Thank you, Coach (Theus). I'm about to kill y'all this half." --DeMarcus Cousins

by Juan Primo on Nov 30, 2010 2:31 PM PST up reply actions

That is terrifying.

But I can’t say I’m not jealous. There’s no telling how many activities I’ve avoided out of the fear of penis-loss.

"Cousins is the Blaster to Evans’ Master, the Hammer to Evans’ Sickle"- HP

by tomroadrunner on Nov 30, 2010 6:07 PM PST up reply actions

Flagged

This is stuff of nightmares…

Never forget, I'm an idiot.

Follow me on Twitter

by Exhibit G on Nov 30, 2010 2:58 PM PST up reply actions

That's hot.

Brennan Huff: I have a belly full of white dog crap in me, and now you lay this shit on me?

by DiegoKing on Nov 30, 2010 4:59 PM PST up reply actions

Rec'd

Thanks Otis for the walk down memory lane.

Purveyor of Bull Plop

by SayWhat? on Nov 30, 2010 1:45 PM PST up reply actions

mammary lane

There are some guys smarter than me, some guys better looking, I take comfort in the fact that there is no guy that is both.

by ElRonToro on Nov 30, 2010 2:17 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

...or something along those lines.

"If you're going to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the audience." -Geoff Petrie

by AnotherStupidSN on Nov 30, 2010 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

rec'd

for somehow making my comment topical to StR

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Nov 30, 2010 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

Does his face hurt?

It’s killing me, too.

Thank you! I’ll be here all night. Try the thick, creamy shakes!

StR Token Female

by LeaguePassAddict on Nov 30, 2010 1:31 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

I wonder what will be the 'positives' tonight after the Kings loose?

Or the excuses?….One positive will probably be that PW is still coaching and the excuse will be that the players suck.

"I’d insult you, but the sad truth is that you wouldn’t understand and if I tried to explain it to you, your brain might implode from information overload."

by LagunaKing on Nov 30, 2010 1:33 PM PST via mobile reply actions