Post-Game Grades: Pacers Get First Win of Year by Stomping Pistons

The Good: It’s amazing what happens when you just make shots and don’t turn the ball over. Paul George didn’t finish with a great line, but he, Monta Ellis, and George Hill were a combined 13-for-23 (56.5%) with 34 points in the first half as the Pacers built what proved to be an insurmountable lead. Throw in some great help from the bench, and high-scoring wins where everything is clicking certainly won’t be rare this season.

The Bad: Not much really. They got murdered on the boards, but that’s gonna happen — especially with a monster like Andre Drummond on the other squad. But Detroit only managed 8 offensive rebounds in the first half and that was relatively fine, even if a few came on ugly possessions where Indy players failed to secure what should have been easy boards.

MVP: Rodney Stuckey. He scored 15 of the team’s 35 second-half points and was the key cog keeping them from sputtering when they had a bit of a lull. He finished with a team-high 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting.

LVP: C.J. Miles missed most of his shots, so sure. But none of the big key guys played particularly bad.

X-Factor: Jordan Hill. Ian Mahinmi was forced out of the game early with injury, and I thought that meant we were going to see many bad minutes from Jordy. Not at all. He was great, with his top moment so far as a Pacer coming right before the half when he grabbed a Dale Davis-looking rebound and put in a short jumper with less than a second to play. Great momentum to carry them into the half.

Final shooting numbers weren’t ideal, but it was mainly missing too many 3s. He also had some of his typical brain fart turnovers. But his defense showed plenty of top-notch hounding to force steals. He set that tone early on and the Pistons were never able to get there offense going all night afterwards.. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. PAUL GEORGE. A-

A. Yall are going to love — love — you some Monta Ellis by about Christmas time.<span style=. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. MONTA ELLIS

What a shooting start to the year he is having. He hit 2 of his first 3s of the night and while he cooled off after that, Stuckey and others took the relay baton. That’s what this team will be all year when they’re good. One guy gets things rolling then the rest pile on.. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. GEORGE HILL. A

Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. C.J. MILES. D. He shot 2-for-9 overall and didn’t hit a shot inside the arc.

Left early with an injury. While we hope it’s minor and obviously injuries suck, this should get Myles Turner his first career start tomorrow night. Chances are it won’t be his last and even what for him has become a typical outing should keep him in the spot going forward. It’s time. Make the move, Frank.. Center. Indiana Pacers. IAN MAHINMI. C

Godney in the second half.. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. RODNEY STUCKEY. A+

Indiana Pacers. JORDAN HILL. A. Easily his best game in blue and gold.. Center

MYLES TURNER. B+. Defensively he was stout, blocking 3 shots, to go along with 6 points, on 3-for-4 shooting, and 4 boards in just 15 minutes. I get that Frank doesn’t want to overwhlem the rookier too early and it is probably nice to make him earn some minutes to see how that process works. But, c’mon. He should be getting a lot closer to 30 minutes going forward.. Center. Indiana Pacers

D. He can hit a J at times, but he looked drunk out there at times, too.. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. LAVOY ALLEN

C-. 10 minutes without taking a shot or me remembering a single thing he did.. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. CHASE BUDINGER

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