Post-Game Grades: Pacers Win Televised Scrimmage vs. Sixers
By Jared Wade
The Good – The start to this one. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen this team open a game cooking and the Philadelphia train wreck tire fire provided great opportunity to do so. The Pacers got off to a 9-0 start before jumping out to a 21-9 lead. They hit 9 of their first 13 shots and no egregious turnovers for more than the first six minutes, during which the offense was as crisp as we’ve seen in some time.
The Bad – Turnovers remain a concern (rinse and repeat), and obviously allowing the Sixers to crawl back into this one somewhat was less than ideal.
MVP – Paul George. Went 6-for-8 from the floor (missing just 2 shots from deep) and 3-for-4 from the line in the second half as he added 17 of his points after the break. You don’t want to see so many turnovers, but he made up for it by showing some signs of his November self in the midrange. Came off screens with purpose and hit measured looks at the rim.
LVP – Evan Turner. Nobody (on either team, really) played markedly bad but if Turner isn’t making any shots, what is he really giving you?
X Factor – Lavoy Allen. Who knew? Didn’t miss a shot and was a nice cog in the offense, throwing one nifty pass to Luis Scola to get the Argentine to the line (which is a rhyme). Take your time mending those ribs, Ian Mahinmi.
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| David West, PF 33 MIN | 8-13 FG | 2-4 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 4 BLK | 4 TO | 18 PTS | +15No qualms with the line and hitting 61.5% of your shots is always a good move. |
Paul George, SF
36 MIN | 9-15 FG | 3-4 FT | 4 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 5 TO | 25 PTS | +10
When Paul George is back to shooting like this you can overlook the turnovers. Maybe two days off then this televised practice vs. the Sixers is exactly what he needed to get back on track.
Roy Hibbert, C
30 MIN | 2-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 5 BLK | 3 TO | 4 PTS | +13
The production is embarrassing, but I thought he actually fit into the offense well early as Indiana was starting the game off in run-out fashion.
George Hill, PG
39 MIN | 4-11 FG | 3-4 FT | 6 REB | 9 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 14 PTS | +9
Added 14 points on 11 shots himself plus another 18(+) on the assist market. He’s really starting to shoot confidently — which is big since he’s the team’s best threat from deep.
Lance Stephenson, SG
40 MIN | 6-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 12 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 13 PTS | +7
Man, was he playing well in the first quarter. Too many turnovers.
Lavoy Allen, PF
18 MIN | 6-6 FG | 1-2 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 13 PTS | -6
Damn. Maybe Ian and Bynum should take a few more games off.
Luis Scola, PF
15 MIN | 2-3 FG | 5-8 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | -8
Getting to the line like a champ.
Evan Turner, SF
21 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | -8
Not an ideal homecoming.
C.J. Watson, PG
8 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PTS | +3
Got hurt early on and didn’t play in the second half.