Post-Game Grades: Pacers Beaten, Eliminated from Playoffs in Memphis
By Jared Wade
The Good: The Indiana Pacers started off the game well, shooting good and keeping the Memphis Grizzlies in check despite some high-level play from Marc Gasol. Considering they tendency to begin games poorly, it was very encouraging that they led 24-22 after the first quarter.
The Bad: Pretty much the whole second quarter. They turned the ball over 5 times in the period and allowed 7 fast-break points in 12 minutes to a team that averages less than 12 per game. Indiana was outscored by 15 in the second and the hole they dug for themselves was just too big too dig out of — on the road, against a good team, on the second night of a back-to-back after a double-overtime game the night before. It’s a shame — the Pacers had gotten their turnover issues under control, by and large, since February, and a lot these just looked like sloppiness by a mentally fatigued team that had played too many minutes and was facing too much pressure.
MVP: Marc Gasol. He is the best center in the NBA and this was a banner outing even for him. Gasol shot 13-for-19 in the game, and either he or Zach Randolph seemed to get another bucket every time the Pacers started to get some confidence back. He was brilliant to start and never let up. On their best day, the Pacers may have been able to withstand a game-owning performance like this — they did on Sunday against Russell Westbrook — but this wasn’t the best day for a tired Pacers squad that just didn’t look able to make anything happen after last night’s double-OT thriller.
LVP: David West. He sprained his ankle in the opening minutes, so you feel bad being harsh. But he was utterly unhelpful throughout his 28 minutes. And a no-show by him and Rodney Stuckey couldn’t be overcome.
X-Factor: Free throws. The Grizzlies made 21-of-26 while Indiana only managed 11-for-15. The Pacers starters were particularly bad at getting to the line, with just 5 attempts combined. By contrast, Marc Gasol was aggressive and crafty all night and got to the line 9 times himself.
 | David West, PF 28 MIN | 1-6 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTS | -10 +/- |
Nobody played …
Solomon Hill, SF 21 MIN | 0-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +10 +/-… well tonight …
Roy Hibbert, C 25 MIN | 3-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 7 PTS | +4 +/-… aside from …
George Hill, PG 38 MIN | 9-16 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 20 PTS | -8 +/-… C.J. Miles …
C.J. Miles, SG 33 MIN | 10-22 FG | 1-1 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 26 PTS | -11 +/-… and George Hill.
Luis Scola, PF 19 MIN | 2-4 FG | 3-6 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 7 PTS | -4 +/-But this …
Lavoy Allen, PF 5 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | -14 +/-… was a team-wide …
Paul George, SF 15 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | -1 +/-… failing by a squad …
Damjan Rudez, SF 1 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +1 +/-… that gave away …
Ian Mahinmi, C 17 MIN | 3-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -2 +/-… altogether too many …
Donald Sloan, PG 8 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 0 PTS | -6 +/-… winnable games earlier …
Rodney Stuckey, PG 28 MIN | 3-13 FG | 4-4 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | -19 +/-… this season. It was a good effort to win six of the last seven and nearly sneak in the playoffs, but they made their bed earlier by losing so many close games and especially by inexplicably dropping 9 of 11 recently. Those are the losses these guys should regret — not losing to one of the best teams in the NBA away from home after playing a double-OT game and flying the night before.
Maybe next year.