Game #76 - Celtics @ Pacers Preview

Pacers Starters:

Keith McLeod - Yup, he is starting. That has to make Pacers fans uneasy.

Mike Dunleavy - This is his fifth season but I feel like he has been around forever. I refuse to look up his salary because it will only depress me. Classic case of a guy who won't shoot guns outside of a strip club but may not give enough on the court for the fans to be happy about that.

Jermaine O'Neal - Much like Tommy Heinsohn I really like O'Neal. But I feel like I have read one to many injury stories about him over the last 3 years. He's a mess and a warrior at the same time.

Danny Granger - 32 points on 11-14 from the field, 3-3 from beyond the arc, and 7-7 from the line last night. Word on the street is he frustrates people by not doing that more regularly. Also he only grabbed 2 rebounds last night, which seems odd.

Troy Murphy - Screw it some Pacers fans might read this. He and Dunleavy are on the hook for around $78 million over the next 4 seasons. On the bright side Jonathan Bender comes off the books after this season ($7,810,000). I like Murphy but not at around $10 million per season. Pacers fans: Do not feel compelled to tell me how much Wally Szczerbiak and Theo Ratliff make. I already know.

Other players of note:

Jamaal Tinsley - Got the old DNP last night. Seems to be on a mission to become one of the shadiest guys in the Association.

Jeff Foster - Also got the DNP last night. I find his game mesmerizing in an odd way. Does not look like a fun guy to play against.

Darrell Armstrong - He is old.

Orien Greene - Played 11 minutes last night. I feel good about the fact that he is no longer part of Boston's rotation. I do not however feel good about Boston's current rotation.

Marquis Daniels - Loved the trade for him at the time. Turns out that teaming him with Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley was not the best thing for anybody.

The Pacers are still fighting for their playoff lives even after losing 7 of their last 10.

I think the Pacers' struggles can be blamed on karma. Back in the day Larry Bird and Rick Carlisle were on the C's together. They once played a joke on Jerry Sichting, which involved telling Sichting they would meet him at the Ramrod to watch a game?

If you're struggling to get the joke consider the following:

1. Bird and Carlisle didn't show up.
   
2. What kind of bar do you think the Ramrod was?

They are finally getting their comeuppance.

Do yourself a favor and check out Indy Cornrows. I know this sounds like me simply promoting another SBN site. But I have been reading Indy Cornrows since before it even joined SBN. That is one reason I find this so funny. Love the line of the night and the trials and tribulations of a Pacers fan.

Celtics Notes:

In my mind it is all about Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and Gerald Green. How much can they learn and improve with this valuable playing time? However, the Pacers should win the game. Yet this C's team surprises me from time to time. I just want the guys to get better and make it exciting. I can live with a repeat of last night.