Post-Game Grades: Indiana Pacers Slog Past Brooklyn Nets
By Tim Donahue
147. 104. 100. Final. 97
The Indiana Pacers slog their way to third straight win behind big fourth quarter led by Jordan Hill.
The Good: The Bench and the defense in the first and fourth quarters were key as the Pacers picked up a much-needed win before heading out for two tough games at Memphis and at San Antonio. The defense was excellent in the first (18 points allowed) and the fourth quarter (20 points). With the Pacers in trouble – trailing by as many as seven points – Jordan Hill scored 10 points in the final period to help get the Pacers home.
The Bad: The Pacers were outscored 59-49 over the middle two periods. The Nets – who entered the team with the third worst offensive efficiency in the league – scored 121 points per hundred and generally looked to be the aggressor.
MVP: Jordan Hill scored 10 of his 14 points in a fourth quarter that the Pacers won 32-20. Provided some “ahhhhhs” with a killer dunk over Bojan Bogdanovic.
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- Should Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?
LVP: Monta Ellis was only 1-for-8 on the night and was generally a non-factor.
X-Factor: It’s difficult to tell whether this had much effect tonight, but the continuing issue the Pacers, in general – and Paul George, specifically – are having with the officials is a problem. That their complaints are occasionally valid is totally washed away by their constant and indiscriminate nature. George is tied for the league league in Technical Fouls and likely picked up a second fine for some comments he made on the postgame show.
This has been discussed before. Over the last few years, Indiana has developed a reputation throughout the league of whining. At best, this does them no good. At worst, it hurts them, because they are always crying wolf.
B. <p>A lot of good and some bad tonight. Paul is now being graded on a steeper curve, so the seven turnovers are going to hurt more than the 10 rebounds help. Also, the officiating thing.</p>. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. PAUL GEORGE
D+. <p>Monta couldn’t get anything going, finishing as one of only two Pacers with a negative +/- rating. He had five assists and two steals, so he wasn’t completely disengaged. He doesn’t have to score the way he did in the past, but two points just isn’t going to be good enough.</p><p><span style=. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. MONTA ELLIS
GEORGE HILL. B-. <p>George hit some important threes, but looked to be dragging a little bit tonight – solid, if unspectacular.</p>. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers
<p>Not a great shooting night, and generally got worked by Thaddeus Young on the glass, but…still got 15, got to the line five times, and did at least force Thad to miss a lot of his putbacks.</p>. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. C.J. MILES. B
B. <p>Great personal line – 10 points, nine boards – but the Pacers played better with him on the bench. This certainly has less to do with Ian than with the way that the bench played, but it does put a ceiling on his grade.</p>. Center. Indiana Pacers. IAN MAHINMI
B+. <p>Fifteen points and seven boards, but the most important part was his key role in the Pacers’ fourth. The team had been lethargic for two quarters, and Stuckey did what bench players need to do – injected some energy.</p>. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. RODNEY STUCKEY
A. <p>Pivotal during the stretch where the Pacers took control of the game, posting his fifth double-double of the season.</p>. Center. Indiana Pacers. JORDAN HILL
Indiana Pacers. LAVOY ALLEN. B-. <p>Helpful, but not a very big presence tonight.</p>. Power Forward
C-. <p>Non-factor</p>. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. CHASE BUDINGER