2013 Playoffs: Pacers-Knicks Game 3 viewer’s guide
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
The Indiana Pacers host the New York Knicks on Saturday night in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference second-round series at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The series is tied 1-1. The Pacers have won their past three home games against New York and also have a three-game home playoff winning streak active against their big-city rivals.
Here are some key storylines and trends to monitor before and after the contest tips off at 8 p.m. on ABC:
Offensive rhythm: The Pacers shot 49 percent in Game 1 and were humming Tuesday night (46 percent) when they didn’t give the ball back to New York with a turnover. More encouraging, Indiana is undefeated at home (3-0) in the playoffs and has been unstoppable offensively in the building between Delaware and Pennsylvania Streets, connecting on 45 percent, 47 percent and 51 percent from the field in those victories. They weren’t good at scoring the ball this year, but the Pacers have found points with ease more than you’d think under the bright lights. Paul George is averaging 18.9 points per game in the postseason, and David West is making half his shots. George Hill (14.6) and Roy Hibbert (13.5) have upped their scoring averages. What truly makes the blue and gold shout with joy is seeing the series shift to Indianapolis. During the regular season, they averaged 104 points per 100 possessions at home, a total which would have ranked No. 11 in the league’s overall efficiency chart. On the road, the Pacers dropped to 99.1 points per 100 trips, a meager figure that would have eclipsed only five lottery teams. What accounts for the large split? Perimeter shooting. At home, the Pacers hit 37 percent of their 3-pointers. Away from familiar sightlines, they make just 32 percent of their triples. Given the way things have been going lately, the Pacers will probably be firing on all cylinders come Saturday.
Now you see me: Appearing as No. 1 in your program, Amar’e Stoudemire is set to make his series debut in Game 3 for the Knicks. A 6-foot-11 power forward, Stoudemire’s specialty is getting buckets and drawing fouls. He’ll probably be rusty. He last played in a game on March 7. New York coach Mike Woodson said he’ll be very cautious with Stoudemire because of his surgically repaired knees. Stoudemire said he feels his conditioning is perfect for the amount of minutes he’ll be asked to play. That’ll be 15 minutes or so at most, according to Woodson. Stoudemire only got in 29 games this year, though the former Suns standout averaged roughly 14 points when he did suit up. Expect him to be a very limited factor, but the Pacers’ rotations must account for Stoudemire rolling to the basket or drifting out for jumpers off the screen-and-roll.
Swing game success: The Pacers have won their last four Game 3s at home in which the series came to Indianapolis tied at 1-1. The Pacers have furthermore enjoyed a tremendous run of recent success in terms of getting off to fast starts in the NBA playoffs, leading after three games in six of their last seven series. Regardless of what happens Saturday, Indiana knew it seized the magical marker by taking the opener. In all six prior playoff meetings between the Pacers and Knicks, the winner of Game 1 eventually won the series.
Turning over a new leaf: The Pacers committed 18 turnovers in the first three quarters of Game 2 and have given it away 37 times in the series. Instead of switching on pick-and-rolls as they always do, New York trapped and pressured the ball often in Game 2. Carmelo Anthony credited point guard Pablo Prigioni for leading the way on this defensive strategy. These developments are the result of a New York strength aligning perfectly with an Indiana weakness. Only two teams committed mistakes on the offensive end more frequently than the Pacers in the regular season. Meanwhile, only three teams were better than the Knicks at forcing turnovers. Somehow, Hill, as the point guard, must find a way to beat pressure out on the perimeter, and big men Hibbert and West, who so frequently handle the ball in the post, need to show more poise in passing out of double teams. George, however, has been the worst offender on the team. He’s responsible for 11 of the 37 turnovers. Right now, he looks like a young and wild player. What can be done about his flinging the ball all over the gym – and something must – is a mystery. His defender, Iman Shumpert, is going to be up in his grill and swiping at the ball until he figures it out.
