Post-Game Grades: Pacers 98, Cavs 91 (OT)

The Pacers had their ups and downs in a shaky outing against the lowly Cavaliers. But they won, pulling out a win but outplaying Cleveland in the extra period. For the third straight game in as many tries, the Pacers were victorious despite shooting below 39% from the floor. On the one hand, it is impressive that they have remained undefeated despite not playing well. On the other hand, they have now struggled considerably on offense in every game this year.

Still, a win is a win. And here is how each Pacer player performed.

Express your thoughts below in the comments of yell at me on Twitter @8pts9secs. (UPDATE: Added grades for Lou, Lance and Dahntay, and marked down Tyler.)

Indiana Pacers 98 – Cleveland Cavaliers 91 (OT)

DARREN COLLISON 5/7 FG \| 11 PTS \| 4 AST \| +11 DC was exploited at times by a rookie point guard and you never want to see that out of a third-year floor general. But his efficiency can’t be disputed nor can the promise he showed running the offense much of the game.
PAUL GEORGE 0/4 FG \| 2 PTS \| 5 REB \| +13 George was really adversely affected by the early foul trouble. He never got into the game, though he did have one nice defensive sequence where he chased one of the Cav wings across the baseline and blocked his shot.
DANNY GRANGER 8/22 FG \| 22 PTS \| 7 REB \| 4 AST Danny shot poorly, but he seems to hit them when they matter. He hit two backbreaking threes in the final 2:25 last game and scored 9 of the Pacers’ 14 overtime points tonight. Also, something that might otherwise go unnoticed is a late challenge on Kyrie Irving’s attempted game winner at the end of regulation.
DAVID WEST 5/14 FG \| 14 PTS \| 10 REB \| +2 In only three games, West appears to have established himself as a leader and a go-to guy. Besides getting physical with Varejao, he hit two huge buckets in the clutch — one to tie the game with 4.4 seconds in regulation and another to put Indy up for good in OT.
ROY HIBBERT 7/11 FG \| 17 PTS \| 13 REB \| 3 BLK \| +15 This is one instance when you can just look at the box score. Roy was the best Pacer on the floor for most of his 35 minutes on the court. He notched his third straight double double, scoring 17 on just 11 shots. Meanwhile, he swatted 3 shots. This is the consistent presence down low Indiana needs.

GEORGE HILL 6/15 FG \| 15 PTS \| 5 REB \| 4 STL \| -8 You know you’re struggling when a 6-for-15 feels like manna from heaven, but Hill’s 15 point, 5 rebound, 4 steal performance showed much-needed signs that his game is coming around. He looked best when attacking the rim, showing quickness perhaps unmatched even by Collison. But he struggled running the offense.
TYLER HANSBROUGH 4/14 FG \| 11 PTS \| 12 REB \| -6 When he got his double double, I was thinking he should get a good grade, but his game was just so messy. That’s when I realized: he’s Keith Moon. They used to refer to him as “the one with the sloppy drums.”
DAHNTAY JONES 1/4 FG \| 4 PTS \| 2 BA \| -3 Jones was back to his ball-dominant self but wasn’t effective at it. Synergy shows two failed isolations, but there was also a PnR where he ignored the screen for a foray down the baseline that led to a turnover. It’s good he tries to make things happen. He just needs to be less dribble-y about it.
LANCE STEPHENSON 0/2 FG \| 0 PT \| 1 AST \| 1 TO \| +1 I’m grading on a curve for basically the only real rookie on the team this year. Lance made two nice plays and had one turnover that showed how inexperienced he really is. However, he looked more comfortable with the ball in his hands, and the offense ran more smoothly with him at the top than it did with George Hill.
LOU AMUNDSON 2/2 FT \| 2 PT \| 2 REB \| 4 PF \| +0 Lou more or less did what he does: hustle, foul, provide big-body minutes. Hard to either credit him with too much or ding him too badly for being who he is.

Home/Pacers News

DARREN COLLISON 5/7 FG \| 11 PTS \| 4 AST \| +11 DC was exploited at times by a rookie point guard and you never want to see that out of a third-year floor general. But his efficiency can’t be disputed nor can the promise he showed running the offense much of the game.
PAUL GEORGE 0/4 FG \| 2 PTS \| 5 REB \| +13 George was really adversely affected by the early foul trouble. He never got into the game, though he did have one nice defensive sequence where he chased one of the Cav wings across the baseline and blocked his shot.
DANNY GRANGER 8/22 FG \| 22 PTS \| 7 REB \| 4 AST Danny shot poorly, but he seems to hit them when they matter. He hit two backbreaking threes in the final 2:25 last game and scored 9 of the Pacers’ 14 overtime points tonight. Also, something that might otherwise go unnoticed is a late challenge on Kyrie Irving’s attempted game winner at the end of regulation.
DAVID WEST 5/14 FG \| 14 PTS \| 10 REB \| +2 In only three games, West appears to have established himself as a leader and a go-to guy. Besides getting physical with Varejao, he hit two huge buckets in the clutch — one to tie the game with 4.4 seconds in regulation and another to put Indy up for good in OT.
ROY HIBBERT 7/11 FG \| 17 PTS \| 13 REB \| 3 BLK \| +15 This is one instance when you can just look at the box score. Roy was the best Pacer on the floor for most of his 35 minutes on the court. He notched his third straight double double, scoring 17 on just 11 shots. Meanwhile, he swatted 3 shots. This is the consistent presence down low Indiana needs.

GEORGE HILL 6/15 FG \| 15 PTS \| 5 REB \| 4 STL \| -8 You know you’re struggling when a 6-for-15 feels like manna from heaven, but Hill’s 15 point, 5 rebound, 4 steal performance showed much-needed signs that his game is coming around. He looked best when attacking the rim, showing quickness perhaps unmatched even by Collison. But he struggled running the offense.
TYLER HANSBROUGH 4/14 FG \| 11 PTS \| 12 REB \| -6 When he got his double double, I was thinking he should get a good grade, but his game was just so messy. That’s when I realized: he’s Keith Moon. They used to refer to him as “the one with the sloppy drums.”
DAHNTAY JONES 1/4 FG \| 4 PTS \| 2 BA \| -3 Jones was back to his ball-dominant self but wasn’t effective at it. Synergy shows two failed isolations, but there was also a PnR where he ignored the screen for a foray down the baseline that led to a turnover. It’s good he tries to make things happen. He just needs to be less dribble-y about it.
LANCE STEPHENSON 0/2 FG \| 0 PT \| 1 AST \| 1 TO \| +1 I’m grading on a curve for basically the only real rookie on the team this year. Lance made two nice plays and had one turnover that showed how inexperienced he really is. However, he looked more comfortable with the ball in his hands, and the offense ran more smoothly with him at the top than it did with George Hill.
LOU AMUNDSON 2/2 FT \| 2 PT \| 2 REB \| 4 PF \| +0 Lou more or less did what he does: hustle, foul, provide big-body minutes. Hard to either credit him with too much or ding him too badly for being who he is.