Post-Game Grades: Lance Stephenson and the Indiana Pacers Piss Off the Toronto Raptors

Paul George led the way for the Indiana Pacers, but Lance Stephenson stole the show in their win over the Toronto Raptors.

The Good: What the hell just happened?

After trailing by as much as 19, the Pacers rallied back to win by 18.

Paul George went off for a 35 point, 10 rebound double-double, but the entire team just played with the energy and effort that they seemed to lack at times this season. The Pacers’ backs are against the wall, but it hard to deny that someone helped bring a certain edge to this team.

That someone is Lance Stephenson.

I’m very much a stats guy, but despite Lance only being 2 for 7 shooting at one point (he’d end the night 5 of 10), he was giving Indiana a boost. It wasn’t just that Lance plays aggressively, either, he just kept making great basketball plays.

After a win like this, that edge will get overstated, but don’t forget he’s still a good basketball player, not just a side show.

The Bad: Getting outscored 51-40 in the first half isn’t good, no matter what tonight’s outcome was.  Part of that came from shooting 34.9% of their shots while the Raptors to shoot 50%.

The MVP: Of course it was Paul George as he continues to end the regular season on a hot streak. Over the last nine games, he is averaging 31.3 points on 48% shooting from the field and 43.2% from beyond the arc.

When the whole team comes together like they did tonight, they win. But Paul George is making sure they’re never out of a game.

X-Factor: Lance Stephenson got under P.J. Tucker’s skin before the end of the game, which set the table for this sequence.

https://twitter.com/HardysMedia/status/849443936078888963

And that’s what you expect from Lance Stephenson.