Post-Game Grades: Pacers Wack a Flocka Hawks

Sorry for the delay, gents and ladies. Not much point in getting too deep into this now, so far after the end, but let’s just say the Pacers must have gotten some nice rest over the All-Star break. They came out of the gates in this one and straight flattened the Hawks. It was a bloodbath early on in the first quarter.

Atlanta fought back and even put a nice scare into Indiana in the middle quarters, but the East’s best team so far this year stepped back on the gas and pulled away. It was the Donald Sloan, Chris Copeland show by the end. All in all, this game — the early first quarter mostly — was a great reminder that when Indiana is playing it’s best, there might not be anyone in the NBA that can beat them.

Scored 10 of his 17 points in the first quarter as Indiana dug the first 5 feet of the 6-foot hole they would bury the Hawks in. Nice work getting to the line.

Paul George, SF

28 MIN | 8-18 FG | 6-6 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 26 PTS | +17

Looked on pace to have one of his early-season, uber-efficient scoring nights. Still finished with a pretty line, given all the 3s, but only hit 2 of his final 9 shots. Still, he looked like an MVP candidate again early on and gave Indiana the spark it needed out of the All-Star break.

Roy Hibbert, C

25 MIN | 4-9 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 4 BLK | 0 TO | 10 PTS | +16

Nothing too spectacular but finished played a solid game. 4 blocks is mighty nice.

George Hill, PG

25 MIN | 4-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 7 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | +16

Didn’t miss a shot. Had one very aggressive move early, but that didn’t translate to a full game of attacking. But if you don’t miss from the floor and you rack up 7 dimes in 25 minutes, you’re certainly doing all good stuff for the offense.

Lance Stephenson, SG

36 MIN | 5-11 FG | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 7 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 13 PTS | +21

Stat stuffing like Thanksgiving dinner. Probably doesn’t need to take quite that many 3s but he was hitting early.

Luis Scola, PF

15 MIN | 3-4 FG | 3-4 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | -1

Atta guy.

Chris Copeland, SF

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

FOR THREEEEEEEE.

Danny Granger, SF

23 MIN | 3-6 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 9 PTS | -4

Well played.

Ian Mahinmi, C

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

One of the better games he’s had in a long time. Dunking, swatting and just generally being a presence.

Donald Sloan, PG

6 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -9

Right on.

C.J. Watson, PG

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

His catch, one-dribble pull-ups are becoming almost automatic.

Orlando Johnson, SG

1 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -5

Back from the D-League.

Rasual Butler, SG

5 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -6

Lotta 1s in that line.

Frank Vogel

Coming out of the break as good as you could hope.