Talent has never been a question for Pacers center David Harrison. It's his ability to avoid foul trouble and control his emotions that has given him problems.
Harrison, who was recently suspended by the team for a game, showed the type of player he can be on the defensive end when he blocked a career-high six shots against Seattle on Tuesday. "I've had a couple of four block games in the past, but it was just timing tonight," Harrison said after the game. "It just worked that way. This is the type of stuff I need to do if I expect to stay on the court."
The Pacers need Harrison to have an impact defensively because they continue to lack a defensive presence in the paint without Jermaine O'Neal in the lineup.
"We defend at a very high level when David is in there, and if he can keep out of foul trouble he changes shots, blocks shots," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "We miss the shot blocking that we normally get with Jermaine (O'Neal). David came in there and gave us a solid 20 minutes of basketball."
PACERS 114, SUPERSONICS 107: The key behind the Pacers little bit of success since the All-Star break?
Mike Dunleavy.
Putting the ball into Dunleavy's hands has led to good things for Indiana over the past month.
The Pacers, who ended a three-game losing streak Tuesday, are 4-7 since the break, with Dunleavy having scored at least 30 points in each of those victories.
Dunelavy, who is having a career season, had his seventh 30 point game of the season when he finished with 32 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
The 32 points didn't come without some pain for Dunleavy. He left the game twice --with an ankle injury and after getting hit in the nose by Seattle's Jeff Green.
Dunleavy scored 18 of his 32 points after returning from his ankle injury.
Shooting guard Danny Granger helped Dunleavy out by scoring 23 points.
