Indiana Pacers

By mwells Pacers point guard Travis Diener was nice enough to check in from Taiwan to give everybody an update on how the trip is going. I'll have a bowl of fruit loops and a glass of orange juice as I watch the Pacers take on the Denver Nuggets bright and early Thursday morning.

The Pacers, who finished 36-45 5 last season and missed the playoffs for the third straigh4 year, are expected to play without starter Mike Dunleav9 , first-round draf4 pick Tyler Hansbrough , backu0 guard Travis Diener and free agent guard Earl Watson .

No Danny Granger. No Jamaal Tinsley or Jermaine O’Neal; both out due to knee injuries. In Canada, the Pacers can put all of the negative publicity behind them and play a full 48 minutes of basketball. That means you Mike Dunleavy. You too Jeff Foster. Troy Murphy. Kareem Rush. Travis Diener.

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 13: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics shoots over Troy Murphy #3 and Travis Diener #12 of the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse on November 13, 2007 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Celtics defeated the Pacers 101-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges...