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In our first meeting with the Pacers on January 20th, the Spurs fell down 2-0, tied the game up at 2-2 and would lead for the next 46 minutes. It was one of our more convincing wins of the season. We held a potent Pacers offense to only 81 points on 37% shooting, one of their rougher outings all year. Going into tonight’s game in Indy, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

But the tone around here has been anything but positive in recent days. After tough losses to the Hornets and Thunder, morale has been low. The consistency we are known for has been absent. Our late game execution and stodgy defense come and go inexplicably. As the playoffs creep ever closer, we are in an uncharacteristic search for an identity.

That being said, if any team possesses the ability to pull it together quickly, it’s the Spurs. Our mental toughness hasn’t disappeared; it’s just in a state of dormancy. I still we believe we have all the talent and intelligence necessary to make a deep playoff run. It’s time to start playing to our potential again.

As far as the specifics of this evening go, a game against the Pacers is an excellent opportunity to exorcise the demons that have haunted us in our match-ups with OKC. Keep your eyes on Danny Granger and whomever Pop assigns to cover him. He is very similar to Kevin Durant: Tall, long, and can score anywhere on the floor. Granger averages 25.1 ppg; Durant averages 25.8. And his PER (21.25) is slightly higher than Durant’s (21.19). The Pacers also like to shoot early in the shot clock; at 98.8 possessions per game they play at the third fastest pace in the league. Subsequently control of the defensive glass, which we didn’t do well in the first half of Tuesday night’s game, will be critical.

The game starts at 7 Eastern/6 Central.