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t Larry Bird that the Pacers have enjoyed a succe

Started by wff0605, 2014/11/09 03:09AM
Latest post: 2014/11/09 03:09AM, Views: 287, Posts: 1
t Larry Bird that the Pacers have enjoyed a succe
#1   2014/11/09 03:09AM
wff0605
INDIANAPOLIS -- Frank Vogel never doubted his Indiana Pacers. cheap jerseys from china . In his early weeks as interim coach, he often talked as though Indianas presence in the post-season would be a foregone conclusion, even though he took over a team that was 10 games under .500. His team backed up his confidence. Danny Granger scored 25 points, and the Indiana Pacers clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2006 with a 136-112 victory against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Indiana improved to 19-16 under Vogel, who turned the teams fortunes despite going with a younger lineup that won while experiencing growing pains. "Its a credit to Frank and his staff," Granger said. "Granted, we still have some problems, and we had some problems along the way, but with the time they had to rehaul the team and do things differently, I think they did a great job." The Pacers needed a win and a Charlotte loss to Orlando on Wednesday to clinch a playoff berth. As the Pacers game ended, the Orlando-Charlotte game was in overtime, and the Conseco Fieldhouse staff put the game on the Jumbotron. Many fans stayed to cheer to the Magic on to a 111-102 win. Vogel was thankful when his bold prediction became reality. "Im just really, really happy for a lot of people," he said. "Im so happy for our fans. Its going to be a fun ride." Vogel took over for Jim OBrien, who coached the team for 3 1-2 seasons. Pacers veteran Jeff Foster said OBrien deserves some of the credit. "Hes (Vogel) a disciple of O.B.," Foster said. "I have the utmost respect for O.B., and Im sad that hes not around to get a chance to experience this with us, because this was his goal as well, and hes built this to where we are now." The berth has special meaning for several Pacers. It will be the first playoff appearance for veteran Mike Dunleavy. "It feels great, but I really didnt think it would take nine years to do this," he said. "I am really happy that I am here and could do it with such a class organization." Reserve forward Josh McRoberts, an Indiana native, nearly was sent packing before the trade deadline. "Its an honour to get back to the playoffs, to be a part of that," he said. "Its cool to be able to see it through." Paul George scored a career-high 23 points and Darren Collison added 15 points and 11 assists for the Pacers (36-43), who posted their second-highest point total of the season. Jordan Crawford scored 29 points and Andray Blatche added 23 for Washington (21-57). John Wall had 19 points and nine rebounds. Indiana shot 60 per cent from the field and the Wizards allowed the most points they have in a game this season. "Energy caught up to us," Washington coach Flip Saunders said. "I was worried before the game. Guys just didnt seem to have that pep in their step. We almost really lost the game in the first seven minutes." Granger, who was averaging 20.4 points coming in, ended a streak of five straight games under 20 points. Dunleavy scored 14 points after scoring 15 points on Sunday in a loss at New Orleans. The former starter missed 20 straight games with a broken left thumb, but has played the past four games and appears to be returning to form. Indiana led 75-56 at halftime and had five players score in double figures. Washingtons Crawford and Blatche each scored 20 points in the first half, yet the Wizards werent even in the game. It was the most points the Wizards have allowed in a first half all season. Granger scored eight points in the first 2:26 of the second half as Indiana extended its lead to 85-60. Indiana scored its 100th point on a free throw by Tyler Hansbrough with 4:03 left in the third quarter after a Flagrant 1 call against Blatche. It was a sometimes chippy game that included five technical fouls and the flagrant on Blatche. The Pacers kept their composure. "A lot of young guys have shown a lot of growth throughout the year," Foster said. "Weve had some highs, some lows, but this is the time of year, where, as Reggie Miller said, you make your money." Foster said the team will have to learn about playoff basketball on the fly. "These guys have to realize that this is a whole new stage, a whole new beast were getting ready to experience. They have to approach it a different way in the next week and a half." NOTES: Blatche scored 16 points in the first quarter. ... Washington fell to 3-36 on the road. ... Despite the playoff push, the Pacers drew just 14,222. ... Quite a few fans made the drive to support former Kentucky star Wall. Indianapolis is a three-hour drive from Lexington, Ky. He finished with 19 points and nine assists for the Wizards. cheap jerseys from china . Le Toux was "lost" and "a little bit furious" after learning in late January the Philadelphia Union had traded him to the Vancouver Whitecaps. . -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have hired former St. [url=http://www.stitchednflcheapjerseys.com/]http://www.stitchednflcheapjerseys.... . Jim Thome twisting his body, trying to coax a liner to kick up chalk. Those tricky calls arent being farmed out to technology quite yet. [url=http://www.cheap-nhljerseys.us.com/]cheap jerseys from china . -- From Notre Dames unbeaten regular season to college footballs biggest awards, Manti Teo just keeps winning. Cheap NFL Jerseys . I had watched NHL, NBA and MLB All-Star games from a distance and was intrigued by their status as a big event but wondered why teams would want this kind of distraction in the middle of the season.PHILADELPHIA -- As the final seconds ticked down, what was left of a thin crowd booed the 76ers as they headed off the court in their home finale after their latest close-call defeat. The question looms large now: Will the Sixers play at home again? The Indiana Pacers did their best to spoil Philadelphias attempt at earning some breathing room for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Danny Granger scored 24 points, and Roy Hibbert had 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Pacers to their sixth straight win, 102-97 over Philadelphia on Tuesday night. The Pacers won their fifth straight road game and 10th of 11 overall and seem to be hitting their stride as the post-season nears. The Pacers play their final four games at home and, barring a complete collapse, should earn the No. 3 seed in the East. "The talent we have on this team is really high," Granger said. "We just execute. We just play the game the right away." The Sixers could take some tips. Andre Iguodala scored 23 points for the Sixers in their third straight loss as they continue their late-season swoon. They lead idle Milwaukee by only 1 1/2 games for the eighth and final spot in the East. The Sixers play their final five games on the road, including April 25 at Milwaukee. The Sixers finish a three games-in-/three nights string Wednesday in Cleveland. Thaddeus Young scored 19 points and Lou Williams had 18, both off the bench, for the Sixers, who are a woeful 3-18 in games decided by seven or less points. They dropped to 2-23 when tied or trailing after three quarters. "Eventually, youve got to win some of those games," coach Doug Collins said. "Theres two things we havent done this year, win close games and get to the free-throw line. Both of those are physical and mental toughness." David West had 13 points and George Hill added 12 for the Pacers, who made 13 of 24 3-point attempts. The Pacers made 11 of 24 3s against Minnesota on Monday night. "We just flat-out battled like it was a playoff game," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. Sparked by Tyler Hansbrough, the Pacers put away a Sixers team that came to life in the third quarter. The Sixers used a 13-2 run in the third to help turn a halftime deficit into a four-point lead. The Sixers were badly outplayed a night earlier in a loss at short-handed Orlando and hoped the home finale wouuld help them regain some needed momentum. [url=http://www.chinawholesalejersey.us.com/mlb-jerseys-china_minnesota-twins-je... Minnesota Twins Jerseys[/url]. For a moment, with Jrue Holiday dunking on a fast break and Iguodala nailing a key 3, it seemed the Sixers had found their way. It wouldnt last. The Sixers turned the ball over on their last three possessions of the third quarter -- the first led to Dahntay Jones 3-pointer and the second to Leandro Barbosas layup that tied the score at 70. The Pacers failed to get a shot off in time off the third one before the quarter buzzer sounded. No worries. The Pacers picked up in the fourth where they left off in the third. Hansbrough opened the quarter with a jumper, then showed some of that old "Psycho T" toughness in the paint, converting a three-point play. Granger stretched the lead with consecutive 3s and the Pacers were on their way toward their second win in two nights. "Tyler always does that," Granger said. "He wakes up both teams with his energy. You better be looking for him." Oh, the Sixers tried to rally. Iguodala, though, was booed as he missed two free throws and the Sixers down seven points late in the game. Young buried a late 3 to make it 98-95 in the final minute, but Williams missed a tying 3 and the Pacers avoided the late upset scare. "We cant come out and not win games," Young said. "We have to, now." The Sixers, who started the season 20-9, are in serious trouble of missing the playoffs. At 31-30, they could come up short in their first winning record since 2004-05. Sixers great and Hall of Famer Julius Erving addressed the team after the game and told them they could rise to the occasion over the final games. Collins said the Sixers cant let this chance at the post-season slip away. "We just couldnt get to the finish," Collins said. The Sixers had three starters fail to score in the first half and shot only 41 per cent from the field. Granger hit three early 3s to lead the Pacers to a 47-42 halftime lead. "You get in one of those modes where you feel like all of them are going in," Granger said. Notes: Collins said hes happy for Indiana team president Larry Bird that the Pacers have enjoyed a successful season after several lean years following their brawl with Detroit. Collins said, "theres no finer basketball city than Indianapolis." ... The Sixers went 19-14 at home. ... The Pacers went 19-14 on the road. ' ' '


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