NBA Match Preview: Charlotte Bobcats vs. Indiana Pacers
Having met for a match early in the season, the Indiana Pacers are ready to take on the Charlotte Bobcats for a second meeting this season. This time around, the Pacers host the Bobcats. Playing at the Conseco Fieldhouse, the two
teams are set to play each other on Friday night.
Playing only their second match this week, the Bobcats are currently at a 1-0 mark for the week. Playing the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, the Bobcats managed a two-point margin over the Nuggets, winning 100-98. Their win not only
marked the end of a seven game winning streak, but it also denied the Nugget’s coach, Karl Brown; his 1000th win milestone.
The Bobcats, currently at 8-13 mark this season, finished off last week with a 1-2 mark. Losing both matches on the road on Wednesday and Saturday, the only win for the Bobcats came at home on Friday when they thrashed the New
Jersey Nets by a margin of seven points.
Standing at a disappointing 3-8 on the road, the Bobcats are currently on a five game losing streak in away matches. Beginning with the Miami Heat on the 19th of last month, their latest defeat on the road came last
week when they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. In their worst loss this season both at home and away, the Bobcats lost to the Sixers by a margin of eighteen points.
Though they may be losing on the road, Bobcats’ guard forward Stephen Jackson believes he and his teammates have what it takes to win. Although teammate point guard D.J. Augustin performed poorly against the Pacers last time, his
recent performance on Tuesday suggests he can do better. Talking about Augustin, Jackson said, "We are a better team and we're more aggressive when he is aggressive. The offense opens up and when he comes off pick-and-rolls and is aggressive to score,
that opens up shots for me and Gerald. I think when D.J. is aggressive, the team is better."
The Pacers, on the other hand, enjoy a somewhat better standing in the Eastern Conference. Levelled at a 10-10 mark for the season, the Pacers have been alternating between a win and a loss at the Fieldhouse for the past few months.
Known for turning things around all season this year, the Pacers look forward to putting on their best game as they award the Bobcats their sixth loss on the road.
Finishing off last week with a 1-2 on the road, the Pacers are currently 1-1 this week. Although they lost their away match to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, they did manage to win one at home. Their latest win at home came
on Monday when they did away with the Toronto Raptors by a margin of 24 points.
Enjoying a level 5-5 at home, Pacers not only enjoy a statistical advantage over the Bobcats, but also a few psychological ones. Leading the head-to-head score, 1-0, for the season, the Pacers know they can defeat the Bobcats.
Having done it once before despite the Bobcats enjoying home court advantage, the Pacers believe they can defeat the Bobcats especially since they enjoy a better record at the Fieldhouse.
Although Pacers are the favourites to win tonight, it cannot be said for sure as to who will be victorious. Will the Bobcats be able to turn things around? Or will the Pacers succeed in leading the head to head 2-0?
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