Preview: Kings at Pacers

SCOUTING REPORT

Heeeere's HighTops:

The Pacers enter the game with a 1-8 road record and 6-0 home record during March. For the season they are 10th in the East, but nine games behind Toronto for the 8th playoff spot at 27-47.  Officially, the Pacers were eliminated from the playoffs with their 94-84 loss in Atlanta on Sunday. For the season they are 19-16 at home and 8-31 on the road.

"We've been out of the playoffs for a long time," said Coach Jim O'Brien. O'Brien already had shifted to a younger rotation, with Josh McRoberts and A.J. Price getting regular minutes off the bench. Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert have started all year and Solomon Jones has picked up some time of late. The Pacers have won six of their last eight while leaning heavily on their young core. 
 
"We're still playing like we have something to prove," said Hibbert. "Unfortunately, we lost yesterday but we're still playing with a lot of heart. … We have nothing to lose. We might as well just go out there and play hard."
 
The starting frontcourt is Danny Granger, Troy Murphy and Roy Hibbert.  Danny Granger, a 6-8 230lb SF, took an elbow to the face in the final minute of the Charlotte game on March 16. Granger missed the next game in Cleveland and ever since his return he’s been out of this world. In the six games since the injury, Granger has averaged 31 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals, shooting 52.9% from the field and 45.2% from the 3pt line. And had a career-high 44-point game against Utah Friday. 

In the month of March, Troy Murphy, a 6-11 245lb 8th year pro, has been on fire as well, with 16.2pts/11.7rebs/2.3asts and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.2% from the field, 43.1% from three, and 80% from the FT line.  Roy Hibbert, a 7-2 280lb center, who’s in his 2nd year, is averaging 12.9pts/5.1rebs and 2.2 asts on 48.9% from the field.

The starting backcourt is Brandon Rush and Earl Watson. Watson, the 6-1 185lb PG, is in his 9th season. He’s averaging 7.6pts/6.9asts and 1.8 steals on 44.4% from the field and 32.4% from three.   Brandon Rush, the 6-6 215lb SG, was drafted by Portland with the 13th pick of the 2008 draft.  On 7/9/08, Portland traded Rush along with Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts to Indiana for Ike Diogu and the rights to Jerryd Bayless, who was selected by the Pacers with the 11th pick of the 2008 NBA Draft. Rush is averaging 12.9pts/4.3rebs/1.5asts on 45.5% field and 47.1% from the 3pt line.

Solomon Jones and Josh McRoberts are both 6-10 240lb forwards. McRoberts averages 4pts/2.7rebs in 11.5mpg and Jones averages 4.1pts/2.9rebs in 13.4 minutes off the bench. AJ Price is a 6-2 180lb rookie guard who’s averaging 6.6pts/1.8asts in 14.4mpg.  Also, off the bench is Mike Dunleavy, the 6-8 230lb 7th year SF, who’s averaging 7.3pts/3.2rebs on 39.5% field and 29% from three. And, Dahntay Jones, the 6-6 210lb 6th year guard, who’s averaging 7.9pts/2.9rebs on 49.7% shooting from the field. TJ Ford is listed day-to-day with groin injury, while Jeff Foster and Tyler Hansbrough are out indefinitely. 

Indiana likes to get up and down the court, and are only 2nd to GSW’s in possessions per game with 99.6 while the Kings are 6th with 96.8. The Pacers are 28th in Offensive Efficiency and 15th in Defensive Efficiency, while the Kings are 21st in both. Indiana is 28th in rebounding, and like the Kings, the Pacers have a high turnover rate. Indiana takes the 3rd highest number of 3pt shots per game 22.7 and makes the 4th highest number 7.8 per game. Indiana takes the 3rd fewest shots at the rim and makes the 2nd fewest 13.8 per game, while the Kings are the 6th most in attempts and 7th most in made baskets. In fact the Pacers are below average in scoring from every area except inside 10ft excluding at the rim.

The Kings are reporting that Evans will return for this game, joined by rookie forward Jon Brockman and Center Spencer Hawes who missed Sunday's game in Cleveland with a lower back strain. Francisco Garcia (wrist), Dominic McGuire (foot) and Sean May (knee) are not expected to play Tuesday against the Pacers. Also, after practice Monday, the Kings waived forward Joey Dorsey, which leaves the roster at 13.

With Evans returning after a long layoff, he’s likely to be a bit off his game. But Beno is better than ever and is just coming off a triple double against Cleveland. So, even with the guard spot reduced to two, the Kings look to have an edge. PF should be a wash, so the game might come down to how we match up against Granger and Hibbert.   And, the two players that Truck Robinson felt made the most improvement this season, Spencer Hawes and Donte Greene will more than likely be our answer.

It’s Indiana’s 3pt game against the Kings inside game.   How good can Evans finish at the rim against Hibbert, and how well can the Kings defend the 3pt shooting of the Pacers.   It should be a very interesting game.

Be sure to check for HT's Game Keys in the comments.

THE KEY BATTLE

Donte Greene vs. Danny Granger. OK, so The Show didn't exactly put the screws to LeBron (and notably it was Omri Casspi guarding King James at the end), but Granger is much more ... smotherable, even if -- as HighTops notes -- he's an incredible player. Greene's length and quickness are always key, but could really be a difference here. Indiana is not particularly deep in terms of scoring prowess.

BOLD PROCLAMATION

Joey Dorsey will buy a ticket and juggle behind the Kings bench, drawing the ire of former circus barker Paul Westphal.

BOLD BROCKLAMATION

"Triple double? Pssh," scoffs Brockman. "I once ate a 1-pounder at Fuddrucker's. Top that, Slovenian commie!"

DETAILS

4 PM PT tip. Two game threads (4, 5:15) and a post-gamer (6:45).