Post-Game Grades: Pacers Smoke Terrible Lakers

The Good: They often say it’s a make-or-miss league, and in the first half, the Pacers was missing. Still, they attacked the offensive glass (17 offensive boards) and didn’t give the ball away (only 4 turnovers), which allowed them to turn their third-quarter break-out into a game-ending run instead of merely a nice quarter.

The Bad: Free throws. Yall crazy for this one, Pacers. They hit just 5-of-12 (41.7%) freebies attempted in the first half, letting the Lakers off the hook enough to have this one knotted at the break. Lance was particularly gross, hitting just 3-of-9 free throws on a night when the Pacers made only 15-for-27.

MVP: David West. He set the tone early and established the interior dominance that Indiana would maintain all night. There is always something nice about watching a hard hat carrier come to Hollywood and turn Staples into a gritty landscape.

LVP: Paul George started the game 2-for-11 — and missed a dunk — while looking a bit sick to be home. Just 4-for-21 on the night with half his team’s turnover total. That was only 2, but still. Is it the sleeves, Money? It’s gotta be the sleeves.

X-Factor: George Hill. Aggressive from the get go and when the Pacers have a third weapon on the perimeter, this team is a whole different animal. The Lakers are really, really bad, but this was a great game for Hill to reassert himself into the offense.

A few defensive lapses on Pau, but he was getting em back on the other end. Mr. West was in the building and he brought his lunch pail.

Paul George, SF

34 MIN | 4-21 FG | 5-9 FT | 5 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 14 PTS | +10

Too much home cooking for the Southern California native perhaps. Let’s forget this ever happened. Did have a sick little dunk on a breakaway at least. We can remember that. Keeps him from a failing grade tonight.

Roy Hibbert, C

30 MIN | 5-11 FG | 1-2 FT | 10 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | +9

Quietly finished with a double double after struggling with his shot early. Wasn’t particularly imposing on the other end either.

George Hill, PG

29 MIN | 6-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 13 PTS | +12

Spent some time attacking the rim like Russell Westbrook. It was a nice little reminder that the heady vet can still pick his spots at times. Maybe pick them more then once every 15 games though. Nice end to a nice road trip for Hill, who scored at least 10 points in each of Indiana’s last five games.

Lance Stephenson, SG

38 MIN | 6-9 FG | 3-9 FT | 14 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 15 PTS | +12

Career-high 14 boards and a bundle of excitement on a sloppy night when the Pacers needed exactly that. Some erratic stuff early but settled in and started attacking the rim vigorously while still staying restrained enough to make some nice set ups. May have set a non-Mark Jackson franchise record for most casual behind-the-back passes. Make your free throws though, Shaq.

Luis Scola, PF

19 MIN | 4-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | -2

A nice scoop, a nice follow of his own miss to score but he also got his shot blocked by Ryan Kelly. So … you’re deported. Argentina is nice this time of year at least. Try the steak.

Danny Granger, SF

23 MIN | 3-10 FG | 2-2 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 10 PTS | +6

Found his shot, perhaps despite all the misses. Looked confident with his makes and missed a few that looked good. Still releasing it a little flat, it seems though.

Ian Mahinmi, C

18 MIN | 2-5 FG | 1-2 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 5 PTS | +3

Nice little game. He’s been attacking the rim well after the catch of late and that continued tonight.

C.J. Watson, PG

19 MIN | 4-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | 0

Did his thing. Loved that little one-dribble-left, pull up jumper late.