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| Gerald Green resurrected his career with the Nets last season, but headed to the Pacers this offseason when Brooklyn wouldn't give him the type of contract he desired. He faces them for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign tonight |
When: 6:00 PM; Sunday, January 13th, 2013
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
At 23-14, the Indiana Pacers are leading the Central Division by two games over the Chicago Bulls and are just two games behind the Miami Heat for the best record in the Eastern Conference. All without their, arguably, best player in Danny Granger, who hasn't played a single game this year due to a knee procedure he underwent in the offseason. Earlier this year, when the Paers stumbled out to a shaky 8-9 start, it appeared that the loss of Granger would be a truly crushing blow to their playoff chances and that they would fade until his expected return later in the season.
Obviously, that was an overreaction as Indiana has been relatively fine without their star small forward/swingman in the lineup. Younger up-and-comers like Roy Hibbert, Paul George (Net-killer), and George Hill are just some of the names that have been leading coach Frank Vogel's team in Granger's absence. When added to contributions from veterans like David West and other role players like Gerald Green and Tyler Hansbrough, the production of the Pacers has been astounding and clearly good enough for them to more than tread water until they become healthier again; it's been good enough to make them a top-level Eastern Conference team, even when shorthanded.
However, the injury bug–rather, flu bug–has hit them like it has hit the Nets, although not nearly to as hefty of an extent. Paul George, who wasn't able to play in Indiana's win over the Bobcats last night, is questionable with the flu. For Brooklyn, Gerald Wallace is out with a rib injury suffered on Friday when P.J. Tucker of the Suns fouled him had on a fastbreak. Gerald is day-to-day after tonight's game. Also, D-Will is questionable after a thigh injury also suffered on Friday and Kris Humphries is a game-time decision with his recurring ankle problem. Keith Bogans will start in Gerald's stead.
Probable Lineups
IND- Hill (PG), Stephenson (SG), George (SF), West (PF), Hibbert (C)
BKN- D-Will (PG), Johnson (SG), Bogans (SF), Evans (PF), Lopez (C)
Final Thoughts
The Nets are very banged-up right now and the Pacers are, relatively speaking, not. I'm not expecting a win against a good and non-injury-decimated Pacers squad but they aren't very good on the road so anything is possible.
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