The Pacers may have to adjust their long-term plans in the light of the seriousness of Mike Dunleavy's knee situation. The 6-9 shooting guard revealed this week that what had been listed as a sore left knee actually is what he called a giant bone spur on his right patella tendon.
Entering this year, the Pacers' strategy was to build around Dunleavy and forward Danny Granger, the team's top two scorers a year ago. Granger, who averaged 19.6 last season, became an All-Star and one of the league's top scorers. But Dunleavy, who averaged 19.1 points per game last year, has played only 18 games. If he elects to have surgery, he said the rehabilitation could last into the early part of next season. The knee issue hadn't been a factor until this year for Dunleavy, who missed just 11 games his first six seasons. Pacers team president Larry Bird said this week that the unexpected development with Dunleavy "set us back not only as a team but as a franchise."
With Dunleavy's condition not expected to be known by June, Bird said the Pacers may have to make different decisions in the draft.
TRAIL BLAZERS 107, PACERS 105: Brandon Roy's free throws with 1.7 seconds left capped a furious fourth-quarter rally that gave Portland its 10th consecutive home victory. Jarrett Jack, acquired by the Pacers from the Blazers, missed a rushed three-pointer at the buzzer. Roy scored 13 of his team-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, helping Portland erase a 10-point, fourth-quarter Indiana lead. LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw each scored 21 for Portland. Marquis Daniels tied his season high with 28, and T.J. Ford scored 24 to lead the Pacers.
