Monday, February 10, 2014

West carries weight of his words in easy win

The Pacers defeated the visiting Denver Nuggets 119-80 Monday night. The Pacers are now 40-11, including 25-2 at home, while the Nuggets are 24-26. It was the Pacers largest margin of victory this season.
The Big Plays
The key moments in this game happened early. The Pacers were up 18-17 with 3:58 left in the first quarter and then went on a 20-3 run that lasted until the 9:09 mark of the second quarter. Pacers power forward David West had seven points in the run. The Pacers kept it going too and were up 61-40 at halftime.
The Ups
Pacers power forward David West backed his words
by scoring 25 points Monday, including 21 in the first half.
1) David West voiced his displeasure about how the Pacers let one get away in Orlando Sunday night when they lost a 17-point second half lead and the game. But what makes West a special player is that he backs up his words with his play. He responded in this one by scoring his number in the first half (that would be 21) on 10 of 12 shooting from the field. West scored in a variety ways, too, driving and using his left hand as well as shooting that 15-to-17 foot jumper from around the free-throw line area while scoring 17 points in the first quarter. West eventually finished with 25 points on 11 of 13 shooting.
2) This was one of those not in the box score type of plays, but even with the Pacers having a large lead at the time, it was great to see Pacers center Roy Hibbert get on the floor to go after a loose ball and hit it off of a Nuggets player and have it go out of bounds at the 5:39 mark of the second quarter.  It was just a nice little reminder of what this team should be about and what Hibbert is all about. And Hibbert finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, too.
3) When Fox Sports Indiana's Brooke Olzendam has Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke on right before the second half starts, it's often entertaining because Burke tells it like it is. He didn't have much bad to say about the first half, but you had to like his comment that the Pacers don't need to "act like the Harlem Globetrotters" when they make a pass. And really, it's hard to argue with that.
The Downs
1) After Burke's comments, Paul George then went out and made a completely unnecessary behind the back pass to George Hill on a fast break that was just a little off and allowed the Nuggets to get back and stop the break. Then on the next possession, George drove the lane and took a contested shot over the defense with the red-hot West standing about eight feet away wide open. It's understood that George is a scorer and not a pass first guy, but he also is generally not considered a selfish player. But that's still no reason to not pass the ball to West in that situation.
Afterthoughts
The Pacers have lost two in a row only once this season and it was apparent early on that it wasn't going to happen in this game. The Pacers caught a bit of break with Nuggets point guard and leader Ty Lawson out with broken ribs, and guard Nate Robinson out with a torn ACL. But the Pacers made sure this was never a game and that was a good thing for once.
Next Up
The Pacers finish their pre-All-Star break schedule with a 7 p.m. game against the visiting Dallas Mavericks Wednesday, who are led by former Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks have been a bit of surprise this season and are 31-21 and on a five-game winning streak heading into their game Tuesday night at Charlotte. They are led by as usual by forward Dirk Nowitzki at 21.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, guard Monta Ellis at 19.1 points and 5.7 assists, point guard Jose Calderon at 11.8 points and 4.9 assists, Vince Carter at 11.4 points and forward Shawn Marion at 10.9 points and 6.8 rebounds.

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