Post-Game Grades: Indiana Pacers Survive Scare From Philadelphia 76ers
By Jay Neal
100. Final. 115. 93. 122
The Indiana Pacers overcome late deficit & their own mediocrity to avoid embarrassing home loss.
The Good: Is there any good that comes from going to overtime against a winless team with the worst offense in the league playing without their best player? Not much. The Pacers put one in the win column instead of the loss column. That’s the only good that comes from this game.
The Bad: The defense. It’s bad. It’s really, really bad and it doesn’t appear like it’s going to get better anytime soon. The Pacers allowed the worst offense in the league score 109 points through regulation. Alleged basketball players named Hollis Thompson and TJ McConnell were granted free access into the lane repeatedly, leading to easy baskets and open looks from the perimeter. The Sixers shot 48% from the field and hit 14 three-pointers.
MVP: Welcome to the 2016-17 season, Jeff Teague. 30 points, nine assists, and only one turnover. That’ll work.
LVP: Monta Ellis was all kinds of awful throughout the game. His off ball defense is bad more times than not, as evidenced by losing Gerald Henderson on a 3-pointer with under 10 seconds left, but the six turnovers only exacerbated his bad night.
X-Factor: Paul George. The superstar arrived in time to save the Pacers with a game-tying shot with 3.9 seconds left in regulation. 28 and 8 with clutch buckets. The blue & gold will take that every night.
B+. Early foul trouble & lazy defense overshadowed an 11-point 1st quarter. He made up for it with 13 points in the 4th quarter & overtime. His offense sealed the game.. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. PAUL GEORGE
D. You can’t have sub-par defense that nearly loses the game AND six turnovers. You have to pick a struggle.. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. MONTA ELLIS
A-. This is the point guard Pacers fans thought they were getting when the trade was made. He overcame a bad start by getting back to what he does, getting into the lane & wreaking havoc on opposing defenses with his own scoring or setting up teammates. Easily the best he has looked this year.. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. JEFF TEAGUE
A solid 15 & 9 for the 20-year old, but he did struggle defending Jahlil Okafor on the block. Next up, Joel Embiid. Good luck, young fella.. Center. Indiana Pacers. MYLES TURNER. B-
Indiana Pacers. THADDEUS YOUNG. C. Played a lot of minutes. Did a few Thad things, but not nearly enough.. Power Forward
B. Continued his hot shooting (3 of 4 from 3-pt range) and was a +18 off the bench. Another solid performance.. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. C.J. MILES
Indiana Pacers. AL JEFFERSON. B+. His best game as a Pacer. Scored 10 of his 18 points in the 3rd quarter while the offense went through him with Turner in foul trouble.. Center
C. Did Lavoy stuff, wasn’t actively harmful. Nothing to see here.. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. LAVOY ALLEN
B. Five assists, no turnovers in 12 minutes. Couldn’t ask much more from a backup point guard.. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. AARON BROOKS
Hit a 3-pointer, but got owned on the block a few times by Gerald Henderson’s veteran savvy.. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. GLENN ROBINSON III. C