Post-Game Grades: Pacers Fade Late in Loss to Spurs
By Tim Donahue
The Good: For 42 minutes, the woefully undermanned (on paper) Indiana Pacers met the Defending Champion Spurs on hostile ground and turned back every challenge. Given the givens, it would have been reasonable to expect Indiana to wilt in the third quarter, when San Antonio came back to take the lead. Instead, Vogel’s Replacements pushed the lead back to five and held it until the middle of the quarter. Sure, it ended with a loss, but less than three weeks ago, this team was on the verge of sliding into oblivion. Now, they led or were tied with the Champs in the Champs’ house for 33 minutes last night, after leading or being tied for 41 minutes of their win in Dallas the other night.
There’s no clear reason for this group of players to be competitive, but they are.
The Bad: 18-2
MVP: Manu Ginobili absolutely crucified the Pacers in the second half last night. At one point, he was responsible for something like 21 straight Spur points. His play kept San Antonio within striking distance, and strike, they did.
LVP: C.J. Miles is coming back from injury, and he is playing better than he did prior to his health issues, but it’s still not enough. Miles doesn’t need to be a star, but he needs to give more than five points.
X-Factor: Ettore Messina – With Gregg Popovich missing the game due to a minor medical procedure, Messina made history by becoming the first European to coach an NBA game. For one game, at least, the transition was seemless. The Spurs’ understanding of Indiana’s strengths and weaknesses and fourth quarter adjustments were impeccable.
 | Luis Scola, PF 26 MIN | 5-12 FG | 3-6 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 13 PTS | -6During a seven-minute stretch spanning from the three minute mark of the second quarter to 7:50 of the third, Scola missed all three of his shots (inlcuding two bunnies), two of his four free throws, and committed two turnovers. The Spurs used the 17-8 stretch to go from down nine to tied. Scola’s play in this stretch marred an otherwise productive night for Luis and left the Pacers with less margin for error when San Antonio’s 18-2 burst came in the fourth quarter. |  |
Solomon Hill, SF 29 MIN | 4-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | -11The curve is getting steeper for Solomon. A scant few weeks ago, a solid performance where he did no harm would have been graded more kindly. Now that he’s established himself as a key contributor, he is expected to contribute more than he gave in San Antonio.
Ian Mahinmi, C 23 MIN | 4-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | -8Ian has performed admirably replacing the injured Roy Hibbert over the last two games, but it will be nice when the Pacers only have to ask him to play well as Roy’s backup.
Donald Sloan, PG 27 MIN | 1-6 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 6 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 3 PTS | -3A solid 6 assists in 26 minutes, but otherwise, a non-factor. Like Solo, more is needed from him.
Rodney Stuckey, PG 35 MIN | 9-20 FG | 4-5 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 22 PTS | -20This is the conundrum with Stuckey: who do you hold responsible when his ballstopping ways choke the offense? The combo guard was a big driver of the Pacers’ first half lead, but was 0-for-4 with a turnover during the 5-minute 18-2 Spurs run that took the game away from the Pacers. The Pacers have precious few scoring choices, and Vogel was calling the tune, but the Spurs easily adjusted and Rodney didn’t. Game over.
Lavoy Allen, PF 24 MIN | 4-7 FG | 0-1 FT | 9 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | -1Allen continues to be a contributor through hitting the boards and being efficient.
Chris Copeland, SF 23 MIN | 4-10 FG | 2-2 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 12 PTS | +6Uneventful night, other than the more=sizzle-than-steak four-point play after the game was largely decided. Also, having been moved mostly to the 4 over the last two games (27 of his 38 minutes), he’s got rebound a little more.
Damjan Rudez, SF 18 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | +9Becoming more productive offensively, but zero rebounds in his 33 minutes on this Texas trip is disturbing.
A.J. Price, PG 21 MIN | 4-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 11 PTS | -4Was this A.J.’s last game with the Pacers? Possibly. If so, the Pacers will have gotten their money’s worth. They’ve played .500 ball in Price’s 10 games, and the offense has has scored 5 points per hundred more with him on the floor. Should Indiana make the playoffs this year, Price’s short stint will have played no small role.
C.J. Miles, SG 15 MIN | 2-6 FG | 0-2 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | +8Need more. Much, much more.