The Indiana Pacers were one win away from advancing to the NBA Finals a season ago and although their goal of playing for a championship came up just a bit short, the 2013-2014 version of the Pacers has certainly proved to be a significant threat to the entire league during the early portion of the long schedule. Playing competitive basketball against the eventual champion Miami Heat in last season's Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers showed that their core group can play with anyone on a game-by-game basis.
Big man Roy Hibbert, who really came into his own during the 2012-2013 playoffs, anchors the flow in the paint while rising star Paul George and talented guards Lance Stephenson and George Hill provide the majority of the scoring while heavily contributing on the defensive end. The multiple combinations head coach Frank Vogel is able to use on a given night just adds to Indiana's scary ability and it certainly solidifies this team as a major force in the Eastern Conference. Starting the 2013-2014 campaign with seven-straight victories, Frank Vogel is certainly pleased with his team's start but doesn't want to over-hype the undefeated streak to begin the season.
"I really don't get too caught up in the historical value of it, other than we're ahead of the race," he said. "We're trying to get the No. 1 seed to put ourselves in the position come playoff time with the best chance to come out of the East."
Paul George and the Pacers will look to continue their winning ways with a Monday night showdown against the 3-3 Memphis Grizzlies, a team that also advanced to the conference finals a season ago. Falling to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, Memphis entered the current season with expectations very similar to those of Indiana.
Coming off a 108-90 thumping of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, head coach Dave Joerger and the Grizzlies hope to build off the recent performance after struggling at times prior to the Golden State game. Consistency will be crucial if Memphis is to get back to a championship level of competitiveness this season.
"I don't think we're fixed," the first-year Grizzlies coach said. "I don't think it's as broken as people think it was last week. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that all is well in the world of Grizzlies basketball. I feel like we're going in the right direction."
Last meeting the Pacers on January 21, the Grizzlies hope to take down an Indiana team who defeated them twice last season. Memphis will also attempt to prevent their Eastern Conference opponents from becoming the first team since the 2010-2011 season to start a season 8-0. That year, both the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Hornets began their respective slates with eight-consecutive victories.
Indiana Pacers vs. Memphis Grizzlies: DATE, TIME & TV INFO
DATE: Monday, November 11
TIME: 7:00pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: NBA League Pass / FSMW (Indiana area) / SportSouth (Memphis area)
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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