Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers Meet for First Time Since Major Trade

On February 5th the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers met for the first time since they traded several key players from each team. In a trade that happened on January 17th, the Indiana Pacers traded players Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Josh Powell for Golden State Warriors players Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, Ike Diogu, and guard Kieth Mcleod.

The trade was made so that the teams could shape up things. Each team was struggling and for different reasons. The Golden State Warriors were in need of some players that would better fit into their run and gun offense. The Indiana Pacers needed players who would allow them to play better defensively and open up more space on the floor. Also, the Pacers were looking to deal troubled player Stephan Jackson because of the negative publicity he had been bringing to the team.

Even though Stephan Jackson got into a lot of trouble with the Pacers, he has been a model citizen since joining the Golden State Warriors. He felt as if he was not understood and dealt with the wrong way with the Pacers. Jackson was in a situation where the team base had turned on him and it was a time for a change. In order to move him, the Pacers had to part with solid player Al Harrington. Saruns Jasikevicius was a throw in to the trade.

In his return back to Indianapolis tonight, Stephan Jackson played one of his best games of the season. Jackson scored a season high of 36 points. The basic looked huge to him and he converted 10 of his 22 shots. Fans booed Jackson every time that he had the ball in his hands. It became apparent that Jackson fed off the hostile environment and hit one big shot after another.

Jackson also received help from Al Harrington. Unlike Jackson, Harrington was actually cheered when introduced and went on to score 16 points. The two big players who were traded to Indiana did not do to well. Troy Murphy ended the game with 3 points and 4 rebounds. Mike Dunleavy ended the game with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. This was there one and only meeting that will take place this season after the trade.

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