Indiana Pacers Reaching for the Panic Button After Another Home Loss

Sure, the Pacers were playing against one of the best teams in the entire league tonight, but it was a home game that exposed many weaknesses. The Pacers fell to Boston on Tuesday night, 95 to 83.

Even without Rajon Rondo, the Celtics were able to handle the Pacers on their home floor. Paul Pierce led the way with 21 points for Boston. Brandon Rush led Indiana with 17 points, while Danny Granger finished with 15, despite shooting just 5-of-21 from the floor, including 0-for-6 from downtown.

The Pacers got off to a good start this season, but in recent weeks have really been disappointing to watch. They have lost consecutive games at home in just the last three days. They will now head to Washington to play the first of two games against the Wizards. They play in Washington tomorrow night, then host the Wizards for their next game.

There are some major concerns for the Pacers as they go into these next couple of games. The defense had been one of the best in the league when it came to opponents field goal percentage, but that has not been the case the past couple of weeks. Once again, the opposing team shot over 50 percent from the floor, as the Celtics hit 51 percent of their shots tonight.

Compare that to just 37 percent for the Pacers, and you have your loss right there.

Not only has the defense not been what it once was earlier this year, but the offense has really been struggling as of late. They put 83 points on the board tonight, making it the fourth straight game they have scored less than 94 points. Actually, they have scored less than 94 points in seven of their last eight games.

Danny Granger has been struggling mightily this season when it comes to shooting percentages. He continued his poor shooting tonight, as he made just five of his 21 attempts from the floor. He missed all six of his three-point attempts, and the rest of the team really wasn't much better.

Both teams held a 12 point lead at one point during the game, but Boston was able to hit shots when it mattered. The Pacers couldn't buy a bucket when they needed one. They shot just 26 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter.

There is no shame in losing to one of the best teams in the NBA, but to lose this way is really frustrating for a franchise that looked to be on the way up early on in the season. Boston has won 15 of their last 16 games.

Indiana led by one point heading into the fourth quarter, but couldn't even make a field goal until almost five minutes into the quarter. Boston's bench took over in the fourth, and never looked back.

Mike Dunleavy and Nate Robinson collided in the third quarter. Dunleavy ran straight to the locker room holding his face and ended up getting stitches to close a laceration above his right eye. Robinson was going to get stitches as well, as soon as the game was over.

After leading by double digits in the third quarter and shooting 53 percent from the floor in the first quarter, the Pacers scored a game low 16 points in the fourth quarter, while Boston put in a game high 29 in the final quarter. Game, set, match.

The Pacers will try to finish out the year with a couple of wins against the Wizards before starting the 2011 year off against the Knicks, Spurs, Hawks, Mavericks, and Bulls. They will play in Washington tomorrow (Wednesday) and host them at Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday afternoon.