Post-Game Grades: Miami Dismantles Indiana

Danny Grange may have said it best on Monday: “We’re 4-1 on paper.” Or perhaps it was Jalen Rose the other day on a Grantland Network podcast: “Winning is the best deodorant.” No matter which you prefer, each seems increasingly apt to describe the current state of this Pacers team, which was ran out of the gym 118-83 by the best team in the NBA.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 33 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds. Dwyane, of course, didn’t play due to injury. Reportedly, 11 Pacer players did play, but you could have fooled me. It’s really hard to try to analyze anything without jokes in a game that was over by the 14-minute mark. In the second quarter, a game that was previously competitive became more one-sided than a George Hill/Eddy Curry see-saw ride. See, there I go again.

The Pacers shot

1-for-11

1-for-15 in the period while committing 10 turnovers.

What more is there to say? It was 62-39 at the half and turned into a pick-up game.

Express your thoughts below in the comments or yell at me on Twitter @8pts9secs.

Indiana Pacers 83 – Miami Heat 108

DARREN COLLISON 5/9 FG \| 10 PTS \| 1 AST Missed so many open players tonight. Let’s put it this way: Dwayne Wade looked better in his suit on the bench than any Pacer did on the court. And DC was one of them.
PAUL GEORGE 4/11 FG (3/5 3PT) \| 13 PTS \| 4 TO When George finished at the rim on his team’s second possession, things looked promising. But as he faltered throughout, the fact that he can’t really dribble is starting to become an issue. He was sloppy with the ball all night and Wade wasn’t even out there harassing him.
DANNY GRANGER 2/13 FG \| 6 PTS \| 4 TO When you start off the first quarter shooting 1-for-5, it can’t get much worse. Until you go 1-for-8 in the final three quarters. Just a miserable performance from a guy who can’t hit a barn floor with manure right now.
DAVID WEST 2/6 FG \| 9 PTS \| 4 REB \| 3 TO Indiana’s marquee offseason pickup was shooting 40.7% on the season before tip-off, and this was unquestionably his worst game as a Pacer. The only time he asserted himself tonight was when he (understandably) complained his way into a technical foul.
ROY HIBBERT 7/11 FG \| 16 PTS \| 12 REB The big fella played well — too bad his starting PG, SG and SF spent most of the game dribbling around counting the screws in the parquet floor rather than pounding the ball inside.

TYLER HANSBROUGH 2/8 FG \| 14 PTS \| 3 REB \| 4 PF Maybe show up before your team is down by 25 next time. Tyler was 0-for-4 with a TO and 2 fouls in the first half. He must be leading the league in missed lay-ups.
DAHNTAY JONES 0/2 FG \| 2 PTS \| 3 PF Dahntay Jones played 16 minutest the way you would expect Dahntay Jones to play 16 minutes. He did contest one shot by flying at Battier in the corner and air-clapping his hands. I do that in pickup. It’s pretty douchey.
GEORGE HILL 1/5 FG (6/7 FT) \| 9 PTS \| 3 TO Whatever.
LOU AMUNDSON 1/2 FG \| 4 PT \| 4 REB \| 4 PF He had a dunk and a ponytail.
AJ Price 0/0 FG \| 0 PT \| 1 AST \| 1 TO Played 5 minutes.
LANCE STEPHENSON 0/2 FG \| 0 PT \| 1 AST \| 1 TO Actually liked some of the things I saw from Lance tonight but I’ve already put more effort into these grades than Indiana did in this game so I’m done typing. UPDATE: He also sprained his ankle and didn’t return.

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DARREN COLLISON 5/9 FG \| 10 PTS \| 1 AST Missed so many open players tonight. Let’s put it this way: Dwayne Wade looked better in his suit on the bench than any Pacer did on the court. And DC was one of them.
PAUL GEORGE 4/11 FG (3/5 3PT) \| 13 PTS \| 4 TO When George finished at the rim on his team’s second possession, things looked promising. But as he faltered throughout, the fact that he can’t really dribble is starting to become an issue. He was sloppy with the ball all night and Wade wasn’t even out there harassing him.
DANNY GRANGER 2/13 FG \| 6 PTS \| 4 TO When you start off the first quarter shooting 1-for-5, it can’t get much worse. Until you go 1-for-8 in the final three quarters. Just a miserable performance from a guy who can’t hit a barn floor with manure right now.
DAVID WEST 2/6 FG \| 9 PTS \| 4 REB \| 3 TO Indiana’s marquee offseason pickup was shooting 40.7% on the season before tip-off, and this was unquestionably his worst game as a Pacer. The only time he asserted himself tonight was when he (understandably) complained his way into a technical foul.
ROY HIBBERT 7/11 FG \| 16 PTS \| 12 REB The big fella played well — too bad his starting PG, SG and SF spent most of the game dribbling around counting the screws in the parquet floor rather than pounding the ball inside.

TYLER HANSBROUGH 2/8 FG \| 14 PTS \| 3 REB \| 4 PF Maybe show up before your team is down by 25 next time. Tyler was 0-for-4 with a TO and 2 fouls in the first half. He must be leading the league in missed lay-ups.
DAHNTAY JONES 0/2 FG \| 2 PTS \| 3 PF Dahntay Jones played 16 minutest the way you would expect Dahntay Jones to play 16 minutes. He did contest one shot by flying at Battier in the corner and air-clapping his hands. I do that in pickup. It’s pretty douchey.
GEORGE HILL 1/5 FG (6/7 FT) \| 9 PTS \| 3 TO Whatever.
LOU AMUNDSON 1/2 FG \| 4 PT \| 4 REB \| 4 PF He had a dunk and a ponytail.
AJ Price 0/0 FG \| 0 PT \| 1 AST \| 1 TO Played 5 minutes.
LANCE STEPHENSON 0/2 FG \| 0 PT \| 1 AST \| 1 TO Actually liked some of the things I saw from Lance tonight but I’ve already put more effort into these grades than Indiana did in this game so I’m done typing. UPDATE: He also sprained his ankle and didn’t return.