2 games no LeeCap.
TDrib had a solid game for Magic. 13p, 4r, 4a, 23 min.

I just don't get it. Up by 20, and the starters have pretty much left it all on the floor. Pretty much have done exactly what you want them to. What could have gone on in that timeout?

"Great job guys, but I think you can get it going again and beat them by 30. Come on, let's show these bench guys how it's done. Get back in there!"

So, they go back in, look blabbergasted to be back in, and get run out of the gym by the Pacers' second string. Good thing the Pacers' scrubs weren't headhunting or we could have had a sprained knee or back to go along with our single digit win.

Somebody help me... What possible rationale is there to put those guys back in the game?

I liked CB's aggressiveness early, getting in the paint and dishing - though also missing some close shots.

Not sure what's going on with TP. Making Peja look like Ben Wallace and letting him swat two in a row back in your face is just embarrassing.

What's wrong with Dice's hand? I noticed the bandage last game. He seems to be favoring it some. Some vacation accident?

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"But first, are you experienced? Or have you you ever been experienced? Well, I have."
Jimi

If he had taken them out when i wrote my last message (with 5:47 left) they would have all played around 30 minutes (tay around 34).

If he had taken them out even during that last time out (2:10 left), they would have been in around 33 -34 minutes (again, except tay).

so that was certainly weird and uncalled for.

however, and apart from those last 5 minutes, i'd say this substitution pattern was a step in the right direction for flippy.

i can't quite put my finger on it, but overall i liked this victory. indiana is still a gritty defensive team, with real active hands, and physical on the boards. though the gap was on kind of a yoyo string (4-12 pts, until the final sheed-led run), i never felt this was going to be a loss. it's good to beat teams that play ugly -- that's a hopeful sign to me.

i also liked that as soon as lindsay stepped on the floor everybody bodied up, trapped, denied passing lanes, rotated aggressively. (i know i know, his lob was ugly, in fact most of his offense was ugly, but i think he deserves a half dozen games or so at 10 minutes a game before we can definitively say that he hurts our offense more than he helps our defense).

I hate to admit that, but JO said something very true after the game

no way! i'll give jo himself, but austin croshere, jamal tinsley? that's what he's claiming is going to put them over the top against the pistons?

and take away sheed and chauncey and what have we got: uh...rip hamilton? ben wallace? antonio mcdyess? even tay... and, most of all, team chemistry...

sorry i think he's out of his mind if he really believes that. if he doesn't really believe it, but is just sayin' it to keep his team up, then that's fine. but it's flat out untrue

I like how JO says he isn't making any excuses and then proceeds to do so . Of course he's right, I mean its common sense ANY SPORTS TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND is worse without its best players.

Well, except the Pacers because they are playing better without JO than with him, oops .

And yeah the last minute lack of subbing is weird. You could tell the guys just didn't care after that because Indy scored on every possession and had like 2 or 3 more 3's. If the bench came in we'd have won by 10 at least, guaranteed.

Lindsay is a defensive specialist at this point in his career, I love the guy but he isn't a backup point and really, really sucks at it.

i think that was the third one. although it's hard to remember.

David Harrison suspended one game for swearing at fans. This one was obvious in the late game, he did it right after getting T'd up, live and on camera.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2343653

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They are the archetype for dominance. They are the gatekeepers of the conference. They are the Detroit Pistons.