Indiana Pacers Breakdown: Pacers Defense Masks Lack of Talent

[Erick Blasco]

 

 

The young Indiana Pacers are a year older and are playing more purposeful basketball that has them competing for a playoff spot with the dregs of the Eastern Conference. In examining their 98-92 loss to the New York Knicks, the Pacers showed signs of being a team that can put the pieces together and lock down at least the eighth seed in the East, but also showed numerous holes in their game.

 

Let’s see what the Pacers do well and what they do wrong.

 

 

The Good

 

 

When the Pacers operate out of sets, they get plenty of ball movement and weak-side action. This was indicative right from the start of the game, when the Pacers opened up in a high post set using Princeton Offense principles.

 

Danny Granger fed Jeff Foster at the high post and received a back screen from Darren Collison. Foster then fed the opposite high post where Mike Dunleavy Jr. was cutting through. Collison continued around Foster to the top of the key while Dunleavy moved towards Collison along the free throw line extended. Dunleavy pitched the ball to Collison at the top of the key and continued to the right wing.

 

Lost in the weaving and curling, Danilo Gallinari was late tracking Dunleavy out to the wing. Collison found Dunleavy for a wide open three. Though the shot was missed it was an open jump shot, something Jim O’Brien’s offense created throughout the course of the game.

 

Granger is Indiana’s go-to player, and has an effortless stroke when open. He sank two of his four threes. He also posted four times, going 1-2 with a pair of potential assist passes leading to missed open jumpers.

 

Dunleavy cuts and passes well, with one backdoor cut leading to a plus-one, and two of his passes leading to assists with no turnovers against him.

 

Jeff Foster is a terrific passer and decision maker from the high post.

 

http://www.indycornrows.com/2011/1/4/1912638/indiana-pacers-breakdown-pacers-defense-masks-lack-of-talent