Post-Game Grades: Wow, the Lakers Are Bad
By Tim Donahue
The Good – 50 bench points. 21 offensive rebounds. 21 second chance points. All season highs.
The Bad – Gave up 54 first half points and only led by three.
MVP – Paul George. Over the last 10 minutes of the third quarter, Paul George scored 12, and the Lakers scored 12. The rest of the Pacers chipped in 20, but PG was the tip of the spear as the best defense in basketball finally made an appearance after 4 straight quarters of giving up a lot of points.
LVP – The Lakers’ in uniform. Though the Pacers played relatively poorly for a long stretch of the 1st half and led by only 1 in the third, it was difficult to envision them actually playing badly enough to lose to these Lakers. That roster – thanks, in part, to injuries – is a hot mess.
X Factor – Evan Turner, acquired last week in a trade for Danny Granger, provided some offensive punch off the bench. However, it was his second half performance that had fewer points, but more rebounds, more assists, and better +/- that was what Pacer fans were probably wanting to see.
David West, PF 28 MIN | 4-12 FG | 3-4 FT | 12 REB | 3 AST | 3 STL | 2 BLK | 2 TO | 11 PTS | +23 |
Important as a big, physical force against a smallish Laker team, but didn’t convert on his opportunities as much as you’d like. Still 11 & 12 with 3 steals and 2 blocks is doing work.
Paul George, SF
28 MIN | 6-18 FG | 7-7 FT | 7 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 20 PTS | +23
Turned the game with some wilting defense in the third quarter.
Roy Hibbert, C
24 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 4 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | +11
Got back to protecting the rim well, but Pacers still need him to become more consistent offensive option.
George Hill, PG
24 MIN | 6-9 FG | 1-1 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 14 PTS | +14
Loved his aggressiveness early.
Lance Stephenson, SG
33 MIN | 6-12 FG | 1-2 FT | 9 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 13 PTS | +25
He Lanced, but not as much as usual.
Lavoy Allen, PF
5 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | -8
Garbage time.
Luis Scola, PF
14 MIN | 3-8 FG | 3-4 FT | 9 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 9 PTS | +8
Still struggling with his shot, but 9 & 9 in 14 minutes is kind of a ridiculous stat line.
Evan Turner, SF
26 MIN | 6-12 FG | 1-2 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 13 PTS | +9
Couldn’t ask for a whole lot more with two days of practice. It won’t always be as easy as it was against a disastrous Laker team, but the promise is there, offensively.
Chris Copeland, SF
6 MIN | 0-2 FG | 1-2 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 1 PTS | -11
Garbage time.
Ian Mahinmi, C
19 MIN | 4-7 FG | 1-1 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | +17
Ian’s been a consistent contributor over the last month, and tonight was one of his best performances in a Pacer uniform – at both ends.
Donald Sloan, PG
6 MIN | 0-1 FG | 1-2 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 1 PTS | -11
Garbage time.
C.J. Watson, PG
21 MIN | 5-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 11 PTS | +11
CJ hitting shots was good to see.
Rasual Butler, SG
6 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -11
Garbage time.