Post-Game Grades: Pacers Can’t Make Good on Late Comeback vs. Bulls
By Jared Wade
100. Final. 96. 24. 95
The Good: Second-half defense. In the third quarter, the Indiana Pacers kept the Chicago Bulls out of the paint (outscoring them 10 to 4 in the lane) and off the glass (zero second-chance points in the period). The good defense continued in the fourth, as Chicago shot just 5-of-22 (22.7%) in the final 12 minutes, though obviously some of that was happenstance and good fortune as opposed to stellar play by Indiana.
The Bad: The beginning. The Pacers nearly spotted the Bulls two touchdowns to start the game, falling down 15-2. They would make dents into this throughout the game — once pulling even late — but it was too poor of an opening for a team that never once held a lead.
MVP: Paul George. In addition to the team-wide good D and good fortune in the fourth (Derrick Rose also left with injury), PG went into superstar mode in crunchtime. After Jimmy Butler picked up his fifth foul, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg put Tony Snell on George, and the Pacers wingman seemed to take that as a personal insult. He destroyed Snell on back-to-back possessions, scoring four quick points effortlessly to cut a 6-point deficit to just 2.
But he just missed while going for the tie on the following play and then again came up short on the final possession of the game with his team down 1. Did Jimmy Butler get his arm on the last shot? Could might maybe be, but it was an incredibly close call, and a huge Butler jumper on the other end not long before is what put Chicago ahead for good.
LVP: Glenn Robinson III. The extra N is for “NOOOOOOPE.” He shot 1-for-7 in just 16 minutes and played some unforgivably bad defense on several possessions. The shooting is going to happen. The missed assignments and general cluelessness are why he likely won’t surpass Chase Budinger in Frank Vogel’s rotation anytime soon.
X-Factor: Turnovers. The Pacers took care of the ball well, Paul George notwithstanding, on a night when they didn’t have a guy you could definitely call a point guard in uniform. They were particularly good after the break, only coughing the ball up 5 times in the second half. It’s almost as if having possession makes it easier to rack up points and cut into a lead. One to grow on perhaps.
A. <p>He’s still got his warts, but Paul George put the team on his back late.</p>. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. PAUL GEORGE
Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. MONTA ELLIS. A-. <p>After PG made two straight shots then missed one, Monta took his turn, getting into the lane and scoring a tough bucket over several defenders to tie the game. He might have even been fouled. On the night, he scored 20 for third time in five games.</p><p><span style=
<p>Made 5 triples and Indiana needed em all.</p>. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. C.J. MILES. A-
Center. Indiana Pacers. IAN MAHINMI. B-. <p>Solid.</p>
D. <p>Was really good on the glass actually, but they needed him to score at least a few more points on night when so much firepower was sidelined.</p>. Center. Indiana Pacers. JORDAN HILL
Indiana Pacers. SOLOMON HILL. C. <p>He just isn’t very good to begin with and now seems to lack timing and a bit of confidence. He did have two really nice drives though.</p>. Small Forward
C. <p>Good enough but was overmatched and error prone on a lot of possessions.</p>. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. LAVOY ALLEN
D. <p>Zero points in 18 minutes as a fill-in starters is awful.</p>. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. CHASE BUDINGER
Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. JOE YOUNG. C. <p>Played his first NBA game. Hit a J. Got smoked a few times.</p>
Indiana Pacers. GLENN ROBINSON. F. <p>All the way yikes.</p>. Small Forward