By CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent At Philips Arena, known to host some rowdy playoff crowds, a feeling of inevitability will likely hang in the stadium like a dense cloud of smoke from pregame fireworks when the NBA playoffs return there for a sixth consecutive season. Unless they win the next four contests, the Atlanta Hawks’ […]
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Tag: Pacers
By CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent INDIANAPOLIS – In the playoffs, it really doesn’t matter how you got there. If it did, the Indiana Pacers are learning, they wouldn’t be lighting up the scoreboard. More than 72 hours after opening the 2013 postseason in grand style, the Pacers doubled down with a 113-98 demolition of the […]
Continue ReadingBy CLIFF BRUNT ISL Founder It made sense that the “Human Highlight Film” was in the building for the Pacers-Hawks game. Dominique Wilkins, the former dunking machine and current vice president of basketball operations and broadcaster for the Hawks, witnessed some highlights that were worthy of his presence. Indiana’s Roy Hibbert put this facial on Ivan Johnson, courtesy […]
Continue ReadingBy CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent Let’s take a quick look at how the Indiana Pacers pounded the Atlanta Hawks 113-98 on Wednesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. WHY IT HAPPENED: Indiana’s offense overwhelmed the Hawks’ defense for a second consecutive game to give the Pacers a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven first round series. The […]
Continue ReadingBy CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent The favored Pacers won their playoff opener at home fairly easily, and Atlanta now faces a crucial Game 2 on Wednesday. Whether the Hawks dramatically improve their odds of winning the series will hinge on their ability to make successful adjustments. None is more important than improved shot selection. Based […]
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By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Founder INDIANAPOLIS — So, how great was Paul George’s performance on Sunday? In case you’re unaware, George had the second triple-double in Pacers playoff history to help Indiana defeat Atlanta 107-90 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round series. The high-flying forward finished with 23 points, 12 assists and 11 […]
Continue ReadingBy CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent So here we go again. For the fifth time, and first since 1996, the Pacers will play the Hawks in the playoffs. Indiana has won twice: 4-2 in 1994 and 3-0 in 1995. How do they match up in this year’s first round? Let’s take a look. SMALL FORWARD: Kyle […]
Continue ReadingBy CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent Keys to the Series Both teams have polished mid-level post stars – David West for Indiana, Al Horford for Atlanta – supported by flashier, wild card forwards (Paul George, Josh Smith). On both sides, look for the ability of the supporting cast to dial it up in the postseason. That […]
Continue ReadingBy CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent A season that began with Danny Granger fighting a sore knee ended with the Pacers making their third consecutive trip to the postseason. In between, there was amazing play on defense, the arrival of Lance Stephenson and an All-Star season for Paul George. October/November (8-8) George Hill set the tone […]
Continue ReadingBy CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent What’s interesting for the Pacers is that their two potential Round 1 opponents are the two clubs they probably want to see the most in the postseason: Atlanta and Chicago. Those teams are less apt to pull an upset than, say, Boston. Presuming they survive, which won’t be easy given […]
Continue ReadingBy CHRIS GOFF ISL Correspondent Let’s take a quick look at how the Indiana Pacers lost an ugly 90-80 game to the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. WHY IT HAPPENED: Playing a team without any healthy big men, the Pacers looked clueless and flat throughout the day and fell behind […]
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