The Indiana Pacers had another winning week in week 10, going 2-1. The Blue and Gold lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Chicago Bulls at home, 92-90, after mounting a huge comeback in the 2nd half. Coach Frank Vogel rode the bench, who spurred the comeback, to the bitter end, but it just wasn’t enough.
They followed that loss by defeating the Miami Heat at home 106-95 and the Milwaukee Bucks on the road, 94-91.
The Pacers saw some inspired play, had their second straight winning week, and yes, suffered additional injuries during week 10; let’s take a look at what we know.
Chris Copeland Doesn’t Care Who’s Guarding Him
Chris Copeland, once again lost to the Pacers rotation, played in all three games in week 10, putting up a total of +32 in +/- for the week. Cope averaged eight points per contest, but that undersells the work he did against Chicago.
The Indiana Pacers were down 21 towards the end of the third quarter against the Bulls when Cope and the rest of the bench unit went to work. Led by Copeland, the bench went on a 23-2 run, and eventually retook the lead. Vogel left Cope and the backups in to try to finish the game out, and despite Cope just taking it to Jimmy Butler in the post (13 of his 17 points in the 4th), the Pacers weren’t able to hang on, and Cope had multiple bad turnovers at the end.
Copeland continues to grow as a player (that was more post game than he’s probably shown since he got here), but also continues to show much of the same infuriating inconsistency; brutalizing all world defender Jimmy Butler in the post repeatedly, followed by passing the ball into the stands on a fast break where the Pacers had numbers. Cope gonna Cope.
The Hometown Hero is Gone Again
It seems like just last week, I had a section dedicated to George Hill being back, and already he’s out again. Hill suffered a groin strain during the Indiana Pacers win against the Miami Heat, and has already missed a game and been ruled out for 3 more.
Hill had a massive impact on the Pacers in his return, spurring both the offense and defense in the right direction, and will be missed.
The hope is this injury isn’t as serious as the quad tear/knee contusion that cost him the first 29 games of the season, and he could be back in the next week or so.
C.J. Miles Deserves To Be Starting …
But might be better suited to continue to come off the bench. When he starts, Miles averages 8 points on 24% shooting, with an average +/- of -16.6. Coming off the bench, Miles becomes a wholly different player, averaging 13 points, shooting 40% (and 38% from behind the arc), and posting a +8.6 on the +/- measurement. His 7 highest scoring games have come off the bench. Miles is playing like a starter, but it appears, at least for now, that his role is better off coming off the bench.
Luis Scola Is Coming Alive
The trade to acquire Luis Scola has been widely panned since Larry Bird made it last year; in case you’ve forgotten (or blocked it from your memory), the Indiana Pacers traded Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee, and a first round pick for the rights to Luis Scola.
Green had been a disaster with the blue and gold, Plumlee had been buried on the bench, and the first round pick was the price to pay for the Phoenix Suns taking the Pacers flotsam and giving up a useful player, right? As it turned out, Green went on to have an outstanding year in the Suns up-tempo offense, Plumlee blossomed into a borderline starter, and Scola often looked out of place on this Pacers squad.
However, Luis has come alive this season after a rough start, and week 10 wasn’t a big exception to the rule statistically; just under 10 ppg on 54% shooting with 5.3 rebounds per contest backing up David West. However, Scola’s defense looked unusually frisky; on several occasions, he pressured ballhandlers out towards mid court, causing deflections and generally mucking up the other team’s offense.
He will never be a great one on one defender, especially against the bigger, bulkier power forwards of the NBA, but his commitment to team defense and maybe his understand of Vogel’s defensive schemes is showing, and his effort level has been fantastic.
David West Needs More Shots
David West’s shooting numbers from last week are as follows: 3-of-8, 5-of-8, 4-of-7. West averaged less than 8 attempts from the field last week, and took exactly 1 free throw. West is a cornerstone for this team when it’s operating at full capacity, and the Pacers need to find a way to get him the ball more in scoring positions.
The Indiana Pacers Week Ahead
Games: At Los Angeles Lakers (Sunday), at Utah Jazz (Monday), at Golden State Warriors (Wednesday), vs Boston Celtics (Friday).
Prediction: Pacers go 2-2, beating the Lakers and Celtics, but falling to the Jazz and Warriors in between
Last Week’s Prediction Results: 3-0
Season Long Prediction Results: 18-13
What to Watch For: The Donfather Donald Sloan, going from DNP-CD to 38 minute games… Rodney Stuckey and Solomon Hill, trying to figure out who brings the ball up the court when Sloan sits… Luis Scola, pushing/pulling/diving/hedging/taking charges and generally getting under the opposition’s skin before raining silky 18 footers… David West, playing a ton of minutes… Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hibbert making it impossible to forecast game to game what Pacers team we’ll see… Damo Rudez, looking to earn some minutes back… Lavoy Allen: The Rebounder of Destruction… Solomon Hill, continuing to start and seemingly shooting 3-8 for 10 points every single game… Rodney Stuckey looking to find his offense… A very possible “Only one of Miles and Stuckey can play well at the same time” conundrum… Rodney Stuckey’s patented “lean in, take contact to shoulder, make fading bank floater with And 1”… Roy Hibbert, throwing hooks with both hands from beyond his assumed range…