Ballin’: Midwest Mystery … Pacers Surprise Lakers
NBA December 3rd. 2008, 11:00amLA Lakers 117, Indiana 118: The Lakers collapsed in the fourth quarter, blowing a 15-point lead and Troy Murphy tipped in the game-winner at the buzzer as the Pacers dealt LA its second loss of the season. The Pacers are only 7-10, but they are also the only team this season to defeat last year’s NBA Finalists.
Portland 104, New York 97: Greg Oden was ineffective (1-for-5, two points, seven boards in 19 minutes) and missed two dunks, but it didn’t matter because Brandon Roy went for 23 and Rudy Fernandez added 18 as the Blazers owned the fourth quarter and won their fourth in a row. Duhon continues to compile stunning stats: 23 points, 13 assists.
Philadelphia 103, Chicago 95, OT: Andre Igudola, laboring through the start of the season in which he’s no longer “the man,” finally had a complete game, scoring a season-best 25 points as the 76ers snapped a four-game skid. Iggy’s shooting (field and three) numbers are down, his turnovers are up, and his scoring is way down. A night after getting undressed by rookie D Rose, Andre Miller responded with 28 points and
Detroit 89, San Antonio 77: Clearly, the Spurs are still getting used to having Parker and Manu back – they collapsed in the fourth quarter and let the Pistons storm back late on the road behind Rasheed Wallace’s three-point shooting.
Toronto 93, Denver 132: Darn. Looks like George Karl lucked-out big-time by acquiring Billups. The Nuggets are 13-6 after rolling the inconsistent Raptors. Mr. Big Shot scored 24 points and had 14 assists and Denver shot 59 percent.
36 Responses to “Ballin’: Midwest Mystery … Pacers Surprise Lakers”
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December 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
TBL – I am disappointed your rec league game did not make Ballin’ I know you want to share. Consider this your invitation.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Ok, here goes – I have a man crush on Danny Granger.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Toronto is 8-9. Philly is 8-10
Still think they are better than Orlando TBL?
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
pacers are better than people think.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 am
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but when they get Dunleavy back, they’re going to be a tough out. If the Pacers can make it to the playoffs, Granger should get some MVP consideration.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
The Pacers are only 7-10, but they are also the only team this season to defeat last year’s NBA Finalists
I believe the Pistons also beat LA.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 am
I believe he means both of the finalists.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 am
Snagged the company tix last night and got to see a great game.
It was good to see the Fieldhouse rockin last night.
At one point the Pacers had Murphy, McRoberts, Hibbert, Jack and Daniels on the floor.
Im not expecting much, but this is a fun team to watch and root for.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 am
Pacers still need better point guard play – I’ll admit I thought TJ Ford would be better than he his, but I think despite the time he’s been in the league he still needs to mature a bit.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
granger = lebron lite
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
Indiana Pacers in the playoffs? puhlease
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
The Pacers are a lock for the playoffs. With Dunleavy back, they are top 6 in the East. Period.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
@irish: The Hakws and 6ers made it out of the east last year. Why not the Pacers this year?
You just hate everything.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
is it that far reached? boston, cleveland and orlando are locks. detroit, toronto and philly should make it. other than that…it’s not that crazy to think that indy could sneak in at a 7 or 8 seed.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:34 am
if danny granger isn’t an all-star, I’m never watching another NBA game. It’s amazing I talk to some “huge” NBA fans and they’re always like Danny who? And we’re making the playoffs tbl! Count on it. I said it last week-the only reason there record is below par I because of the quality teams they’ve played yet they’ve still been competitive in every game. The NBA schedule makers did us no favors. I think one of the columnist on Pacers.com said they’re in the midst of the toughest 4 game stretch in NBA history. We just played the Lakers then we have Bos, Cleveland and Boston again. The season will play out and the schedule will even out-this is a playoff team and Dunleavy’s still not back yet. Last nigh was probably the loudest the fieldhouse has been since the first game after the brawl. Loved it!
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
@JAY V- a lock? Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando are locks in the EAST
Miami, NJ, NYK, Chicago, Philly, Toronto, and ATL. Still have to get past those teams
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
After Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, and Orlando, the next four playoff spots are going to be up for grabs. Seriously, who do you feel comfortable saying which teams will make it? Atlanta? Probably. New Jersey? I’m not sold. Philly, Miami, Chicago, Toronto, NY, and Indy all seem lumped together.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 am
i forgot Detroit
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
You just hate everything
i do? i think i have been pretty nice on here lately. A lot better than how i used to be
Im not buying the Pacers right now. Your team is not even .500 and you guys are saying playoffs. Yes, you should be excited for your win against LA.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 am
Billups had a +/- of +48. Nuggets had 37 assists, most by any team in reg. this year. This is type of game the nuggets used to squander away. Things are changing. Might even get a playoff win this time around. (game, not series)
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 am
denver w/ billups >>>>>>>>>>>>> detroit w/ AI
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
by the way, the Lakers are FRAUDS!
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:55 am
I really gotta learn how to use these buttons.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
If you had seen the game last night you would know that Iggy was terrible. Miller also continued to get undressed by D-Rose, he will be having nightmares of Rose crossovers for 2 weeks.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 am
The new irish has been very refreshing, people have finally been able to see that you know a lot about what you are talking about
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I don’t see people talking about this, but Kobe’s three point shooting has plummeted. Same happened in last year’s playoffs (despite his domination in every other facet of the game). Perhaps not having that surgery is effecting his long distance stroke??
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Granger was 10-27. What’s the big deal?
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
thks diesel
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
The East is so bad overall that the Pacers should have a chance at the playoffs.
And spence is partially right, Denver has improved more with Billups than Detroit has with AI. Detroit has actually taken a step back by picking up a me first player. Billups has always been a great distributor of the ball. 5 assists for AI is a big night, and two of those are usually by mistake.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
This is the best Nuggets team since Kiki and Alex English. I am terrified of the possible collapse in April. Seriously.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Pacers are legit, except the need Rush to grow up in a hurry. Dunleavy is not coming back this year
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
The East are up h2h versus the West, 49-32. So let’s ease off the “East is teh suck” talk.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
the ‘cers just need to figure out how to play with a lead. the only recent wins are when they come from behind and they continue to blow 4th quarter leads in thier losses. this is a team learning how to win and it will happen. they need better pg play, but as Big Roy and Rush grow up they should be in the playoffs. hell, they even got decent minutes from McRoberts last night
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Agreed, this is not the West of the past few years. The Mavs and Suns are not nearly as good as in recent years. If LA stays healthy they are a dominant team, but Boston and Cleveland can definitely hang with them and anyone else in the West.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I agree that the East is catching up or even with the West, but the West has more good teams and more bad teams than the East. OKC, LA Clippers, Memphis, Minnesota are 4 of the 5 worst teams in the league, but I’d take the 7-10 seeds in the West over the East.