Utah comes into this game off the break and picks
up on a long road trip due to Utah hosting the winter
Olympics. Indiana is the third stop on a nine-game
trip for the Jazz, their longest since they played 11
consecutive road games and went 0-11 in the 1974-75
season when the franchise was located in New Orleans.
So far, the Jazz (25-24 and occupying the eighth
Western Conference playoff spot) are 0-2.
"Coach (Jerry Sloan) is approaching it (the trip) like
we've got to play 41 at home and 41 away," O'Connor
said. "It just so happens nine of the away games are
in a row. But none of those nine teams is going to
feel sorry for us because we're hosting the Olympics."
The jazz also have some problems internally at the
moment as coach sloan, had a run in with center,
Ostertag who will be suspended for tonight's game.
Jazz reserve center Greg Ostertag was suspended by the
team for tonight's game after he bumped coach Jerry
Sloan on the sideline after being pulled with 7:40
left in the third quarert of the game Wednesday in
Memphis. Ostertag had committed three fouls in four
minutes. If things continue like they were before the
break then suspensions would be the least of their
problems. F Karl Malone is 29-for-73 from the field
(.397). . . . Their shooting guards aren't shooting
well. Quincy Lewis (.438), DeShawn Stevenson (.400),
Bryon Russell (.361) and John Starks (.344) have shot
a combined 38.5 percent. They are 51-for-201 on
three-pointer, 24.9 percent. In their early-season
loss to Indiana, they shot 41 percent, committed 17
turnovers and allowed 21 second-chance points.
The Pacers on the other hand are in the midst
of a nice stretch at home, but they also suffer from
injuries. The Pacers, meanwhile, are in the midst of
an 18-day span -- including the weeklong All-Star
break -- in which they play four games (three at
home). That bodes well for center/power forward
Jermaine O'Neal (sprained left ankle), point guard
Jamaal Tinsley (left hip) and forward/center Carlos
Rogers (bruised left shoulder).O'Neal said his ankle
was swollen Monday after playing 17 minutes in the
All-Star game, but he'll be ready to "play as many
minutes as needed" tonight. Tinsley echoed O'Neal's
playing time projection. The pacers are looking to get
out of the gates on a good note, and it is important
they have O'neal in the lineup, when they take the
floor tonight. The Pacers are 24-18 with O'Neal in the
lineup, but 1-7 without him.
"It's important to get off to a good win, particularly
(today)," Thomas said. "Utah's a tough team. Stockton
and Malone have had rest, and they'll come in here and
I'm sure they'll want to play well."
Trends play a role in tonight's contest as well:
The Pacers have already played and beat the Jazz once
this year, and that is a good sign as the pacers are
10-4 straight up, and 10-2-2 against the number when
facing a team they beat in the first game. The Jazz
follow suit in the same spot as they are just 2-9 su,
and 4-7, when facing a team that beat them in the
previous meeting.
The Pacers are 4-1 after three days rest are more, and
although overall they have just been around .500 as a
play this year they are a nice 17-5 as a favorite.
The Pacers come in ready to play and this road trip
just gets longer and longer for the Jazz.
Final: Pacers 97 Jazz 87
JT Sneaks
up on a long road trip due to Utah hosting the winter
Olympics. Indiana is the third stop on a nine-game
trip for the Jazz, their longest since they played 11
consecutive road games and went 0-11 in the 1974-75
season when the franchise was located in New Orleans.
So far, the Jazz (25-24 and occupying the eighth
Western Conference playoff spot) are 0-2.
"Coach (Jerry Sloan) is approaching it (the trip) like
we've got to play 41 at home and 41 away," O'Connor
said. "It just so happens nine of the away games are
in a row. But none of those nine teams is going to
feel sorry for us because we're hosting the Olympics."
The jazz also have some problems internally at the
moment as coach sloan, had a run in with center,
Ostertag who will be suspended for tonight's game.
Jazz reserve center Greg Ostertag was suspended by the
team for tonight's game after he bumped coach Jerry
Sloan on the sideline after being pulled with 7:40
left in the third quarert of the game Wednesday in
Memphis. Ostertag had committed three fouls in four
minutes. If things continue like they were before the
break then suspensions would be the least of their
problems. F Karl Malone is 29-for-73 from the field
(.397). . . . Their shooting guards aren't shooting
well. Quincy Lewis (.438), DeShawn Stevenson (.400),
Bryon Russell (.361) and John Starks (.344) have shot
a combined 38.5 percent. They are 51-for-201 on
three-pointer, 24.9 percent. In their early-season
loss to Indiana, they shot 41 percent, committed 17
turnovers and allowed 21 second-chance points.
The Pacers on the other hand are in the midst
of a nice stretch at home, but they also suffer from
injuries. The Pacers, meanwhile, are in the midst of
an 18-day span -- including the weeklong All-Star
break -- in which they play four games (three at
home). That bodes well for center/power forward
Jermaine O'Neal (sprained left ankle), point guard
Jamaal Tinsley (left hip) and forward/center Carlos
Rogers (bruised left shoulder).O'Neal said his ankle
was swollen Monday after playing 17 minutes in the
All-Star game, but he'll be ready to "play as many
minutes as needed" tonight. Tinsley echoed O'Neal's
playing time projection. The pacers are looking to get
out of the gates on a good note, and it is important
they have O'neal in the lineup, when they take the
floor tonight. The Pacers are 24-18 with O'Neal in the
lineup, but 1-7 without him.
"It's important to get off to a good win, particularly
(today)," Thomas said. "Utah's a tough team. Stockton
and Malone have had rest, and they'll come in here and
I'm sure they'll want to play well."
Trends play a role in tonight's contest as well:
The Pacers have already played and beat the Jazz once
this year, and that is a good sign as the pacers are
10-4 straight up, and 10-2-2 against the number when
facing a team they beat in the first game. The Jazz
follow suit in the same spot as they are just 2-9 su,
and 4-7, when facing a team that beat them in the
previous meeting.
The Pacers are 4-1 after three days rest are more, and
although overall they have just been around .500 as a
play this year they are a nice 17-5 as a favorite.
The Pacers come in ready to play and this road trip
just gets longer and longer for the Jazz.
Final: Pacers 97 Jazz 87
JT Sneaks
