The Good: Indiana shot 42.5% from the field, made only three threes, turned the ball over 22 times, and still found a way to win. It’s not comforting to see them play like this, but it’s nice to see them grind out a win on a night that they didn’t have their best game.
The Bad: The bench unit went 4-18 from the field, which according to league sources, is not very good. Don’t worry, Andrew Bynum is on the way. (Translation: get the whiskey.)
MVP: Hibbert was very good on both ends of the floor. This will happen when you have Reggie Evans and Mason Plumlee guarding you.
LVP: Yikes, Danny Granger. 1-7 with two turnovers in limited time off the bench. He got to the line seven times, although a few of the calls he got were very questionable.
X-Factor: Shaun Livingston had one of those nights that makes you wonder how good he could have been if he never caught the injury bug. He provides the Nets with a unique look in the starting lineup, and he was the team’s leading scorer. You have to root for a guy like Livingston.
Defining Moment: Lance Stephenson dunked on a ref, probably because Joe Johnson made the All Star team over him, or something.
| David West, PF 32 MIN | 5-7 FG | 7-8 FT | 7 REB | 7 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 17 PTS | -2 |
Pierce is a tough matchup for West, but he did well tonight regardless. West did enough defensively not to force Vogel’s hand with a smaller lineup, and picked his spots offensively.
Paul George, SF
39 MIN | 7-19 FG | 4-4 FT | 8 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 20 PTS | +2
Didn’t shoot well from the field, and Joe Johnson had his way with George at times in the post. 15 missed shots and four turnovers screams sloppy, and this certainly wasn’t his best game.
Roy Hibbert, C
34 MIN | 7-13 FG | 6-6 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 3 BLK | 5 TO | 20 PTS | +6
Very good on both ends. His rim protection was excellent, and he took advantage of his size when he had the opportunity.
George Hill, PG
34 MIN | 3-8 FG | 3-4 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | +2
Hill and Deron Williams had rough box score numbers. Still, when you can cancel out Deron Williams with a guy like Hill, it’s a win for the Pacers. He neutralized a much more talented matchup opponent.
Lance Stephenson, SG
35 MIN | 5-8 FG | 4-4 FT | 7 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 14 PTS | -1
Did a little bit of everything, as usual. He dunked on a ref, which gave me endless laughter.This grade is for dunking on a ref.
Luis Scola, PF
16 MIN | 1-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 5 TO | 2 PTS | +5
Scola helped clean up on the glass, but that was about it.
Danny Granger, SF
18 MIN | 1-7 FG | 6-7 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 8 PTS | -3
Not his night. Without some bailouts that helped him get to the line, his night would have been even worse.
Ian Mahinmi, C
13 MIN | 1-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PTS | -5
There were a few times that Mahinmi’s lack of coordination killed some Indiana possessions. It’s plays like that where you can’t help but wonder if someone like Bynum would be an upgrade, but then you remember that we’re talking about Andrew Bynum.
C.J. Watson, PG
19 MIN | 1-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 3 PTS | +1
Hey, at least he didn’t turn the ball over!
Frank Vogel
With KG on the bench for half of the first quarter, did Hibbert need to play the entire 12 minutes? Vogel was hit with a technical foul in the fourth when the Pacers were only up six points, which could have been costly.