Nightly Grades 2.6.13: Tough Pacers

Each night, Eye on Basketball brings you what you need to know about the games of the NBA. From great performances to terrible clock management, the report card evaluates and eviscerates the good, the bad and the ugly from the night that was.

	Indiana Pacers resiliency	The Pacers, due to a rescheduled game from earlier in the season, were forced to play a back-to-back-to-back on the road in Philadelphia. Even against a Sixers team missing Jason Richardson (and Andrew Bynum as always), the Pacers couldn't have their legs. Third night in a row? And what do they do? Hold the Sixers to 69 points. This Pacers team has an astounding level of toughness every night.
	Golden State defense	Well, they didn't give up a record number of threes, so they've got that going for them. But once again the Warriors, who even without Andrew Bogut have played tough all year, were ran out of the building defensively. The Warriors need to get back to the principles that had them playing so well, Bogut or no Bogut.
	Miami Heat	Not a perfect performance. But against a tough effort from Houston, had an answer for whatever the Rockets threw at them. Typical LeBron brilliance, and spectacular defensive play from Dwyane Wade down the stretch. The Heat still are able to push ahead when they want.
	New Orleans	Finally, the defensive effort the Hornets have needed showed up. They locked down in the second half on the Suns, holding them to just 31 second-half points and pulling away. More of that, New Orleans, and real progress is going to come.
	New York Knicks	Went back and forth with runs vs. Washington but never really had control of the game. When things aren't going right, the Knicks struggle to figure out different ways to win. When the threes don't fall, they have a hard time setting their defense up and the problems compound.
	Memphis Grizzlies	The Meltdown continues.