Post-Game Grades: Pacers Cough Up Game to Lakers
By Jared Wade
The Good: The hot shooting early — though this was probably actually the worst thing that could happen. The Indiana Pacers hit a bunch of triples early and grew complacent. Had the game ended six minutes earlier, the laissez faire approach to actually trying to play good basketball would have yielded a win. But games are 48 minutes, and Indiana’s luck amid sloppy play ran out.
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The Bad: The collapse. The Indiana Pacers were in control for most of this one, but played more and more poorly down the stretch to cough up a game-long lead to the Los Angeles Lakers. Yes, the Lakers hit some tough shots down the stretch, but especially in the final few possessions — the last two were absolutely disgusting — the Pacers shot themselves in the lungs.
MVP: Kobe Bryant. You may have heard of him. He hit a huge 3 and then the go-ahead game winner in quick succession. Mamba was also fantastic to start the game.
LVP:: Solomon Hill continues to disappoint.
X-Factor: Free throws. Pacers missed too many and the Lakers made 28-of-30. Nick Young earned many of those since Indiana’s defenders couldn’t stop fouling him on jumpers, and Mr. P hit 12-for-12 from the line.
 | David West, PF 32 MIN | 5-13 FG | 1-1 FT | 8 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 5 TO | 11 PTS | +6 |
Really bad in the first half, showing no energy or, to be honest, much coordination. Took off in the third quarter though, scoring all 11 of his points. But he also played all 12 minutes and looked out of energy late when the team needed someone to steady some awful offense.
Solomon Hill, SF 36 MIN | 3-11 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | +12If it wasn’t for the one (probably ill-advised) 3 he hit late this would have been a total disaster.
Roy Hibbert, C 29 MIN | 5-12 FG | 2-2 FT | 11 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 12 PTS | +1Some good, some yikes. Helluva block on Carlos and you gotta like the fire when he shoved the Boozer-est player in the NBA.
Rodney Stuckey, PG 28 MIN | 3-11 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | -7Line isn’t good, but thought he played a bit better than that.
Donald Sloan, PG 36 MIN | 6-14 FG | 3-4 FT | 7 REB | 9 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 16 PTS | +12Continues to be a revelation for a third-string point guard.
Luis Scola, PF 16 MIN | 2-5 FG | 1-2 FT | 8 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | -7Boards were nice.
Lavoy Allen, PF 19 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | +1Not producing anymore really.
Chris Copeland, SF 12 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-1 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | -16…
C.J. Miles, SG 32 MIN | 7-18 FG | 2-4 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 19 PTS | -7Continues to be the MVP.
