Frank Vogel didn't pull out the customary cliché that most players and coaches use in this situation. He avoided saying the Indiana Pacers are taking their current tough schedule one game at a time.
The Indiana Pacers coach knows what lies ahead. The Pacers (11-4) are in the midst of their toughest stretch of games this season. Their next four games are against Eastern Conference teams that will likely make the playoffs.
The Pacers host the Orlando Magic tonight at Bankers Life Fieldhouse before going on the road for games against Chicago, Boston and the Magic.
"This is the toughest stretch," forward Danny Granger said. "It started with the (Los Angeles Lakers game Sunday). It's a barometer because it's going to measure where we are. We're playing against all teams we'll be competing for playoff seeds."
The Pacers aren't entering this stretch hoping for at least one victory. That mind-set is in the past. They expect to win all four games.
"There's not a game on this schedule stretch that I don't believe we're not going to win," Vogel said. "That's how I feel about every single game this week."
The Pacers made up for their fourth-quarter collapse at Sacramento last week by winning their final two games on the trip -- against Golden State and the Lakers -- to produce their first winning record on a West Coast trip in three years.
"We're excited to be 2-1," Vogel said. "We gave a game away in Sacramento. It's bittersweet and we're disappointed, but happy to get the last two."
The Pacers remained in Los Angeles after their victory Sunday night. Vogel wanted the players to get a full night's sleep due to this week's schedule.
Several players joked that they'll be home long enough to exchange dirty clothes for clean ones.
The Pacers' next three opponents present different challenges.
Center Roy Hibbert will face his toughest test this season when he tries to slow Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard. Howard, who has been mentioned in trade rumors all season, has recorded a double-double in all but three of his 15 games this season.
Hibbert suffered a broken nose Sunday when Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant accidentally hit him with an elbow in the first quarter. Hibbert returned to the game and finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The Bulls, who feature reigning MVP Derrick Rose, have the best record in the league (15-3) while giving up a league-low 85 points a game. The Pacers lead the league in field goal defense at 41 percent. Rose had missed four consecutive games prior to Monday due to turf toe.
The aging Celtics will be searching for their first win against the Pacers in three games this season.
"I think we've put ourselves in a pretty good spot," power forward David West said. "We know we're not going to play perfect every single night, but we're going to compete. That's the one thing this team is going to do. We're going to take our chances with what we have and try and win each game."
Call Star reporter Mike Wells at (317) 444-6053.
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