Post-Game Grades: Pacers Play Horrible, Get Beat by Bulls
By Jared Wade
The Good – I’ve been trying in earnest and honestly can’t think of anything. George Hill played well, though even he was a little sloppy on defense at times.
The Bad – The first half. Indiana followed up its season-low 30-point first half against the Grizzlies on Saturday with a 34-point scoring bonanza tonight in the opening two quarters. It was a delightful mix of 12-for-34 (35.3%) shooting and 9 turnovers. Guys who weren’t George Hill (who made 4 of his 6 attempts) shot 8-for-28 (28.6%) in the half.
MVP – Taj Gibson. He was a bundle of energy and just keep the motor revving all night. Finished with a game-high 23 points (on 9-of-15 shooting) to go along with 9 boards.
LVP – Joe Kleine, Michael Olowokandi, Jerome James, and Travis Knight are wondering what’s up with Roy Hibbert.
X Factor – Kirk Hinrich. He made a bunch of plays at what felt like big times, hitting a 3 here or getting to the hoop there or, ya know, preventing Paul George from scoring on a 1-on-1 in transition way over there. The goggles, they do everything.
Agree? Disagree? Shout at me at @8pts9secs on Twitter.
| David West, PF 36 MIN | 4-12 FG | 6-6 FT | 9 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 14 PTS | -4Not bad in the second half. You’d love to see him lead by example and really get to bruising and not talking anymore. But he’s not going to ever do that apparently. |
Paul George, SF
41 MIN | 8-22 FG | 4-4 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 4 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 21 PTS | -5
There were some positives, like him trying to get to the FT line and making a few nice moves early to find space for himself to shoot. The defense, at times, was nice, like that wonderful steal and dunk. But he also was aimless on both ends on other occasions, and whines arguably more than anyone else in the NBA at this point.
Roy Hibbert, C
26 MIN | 0-5 FG | 3-4 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 3 PTS | -12
I don’t even know who this guy is anymore.
George Hill, PG
39 MIN | 6-10 FG | 3-3 FT | 2 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 17 PTS | -5
Only guy who played well tonight.
Lance Stephenson, SG
30 MIN | 3-9 FG | 1-1 FT | 10 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 8 PTS | -11
You know he’s not himself when he doesn’t record a single assist. I feel like he had a nice stretch of play in the 3rd quarter but it wasn’t nearly long enough.
Luis Scola, PF
15 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | -7
Missed a layup hilariously over his head with a smaller man behind him and missed a few other shots, as he does.
Chris Copeland, SF
5 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | 0
Not sure what his role is these days and I bet he feels the same.
Ian Mahinmi, C
17 MIN | 1-1 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PTS | 0
Couldn’t box out. One of his worst games in some time.
Donald Sloan, PG
9 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | -7
Had a nice drive to the hoop. Missed, but got his own carom and put it back in. Otherwise, played 8 minutes and 45 seconds of unmemorable hoops.
Frank Vogel
Would be cool if you re-taught these guys to play basketball.
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