After losing Game 3 to the Toronto Raptors, Paul George said the Indiana Pacers need to respond in a pissed-off fashion in Game 4.
Game 3 did not go the Indiana Pacers’ way. Other than decent performances by Paul George, Myles Turner, and George Hill, there wasn’t much to celebrate after their 101-85 loss.
In the post-game press conference, Paul George summed up what Indiana’s attitude needs to be in Game 4.
"“Hopefully, as a group, we respond pissed-off,” George said. “That’s the only way to overcome a loss like this. We missed a great opportunity. Simple as that. The only way to respond for Game 4 is to be pissed off. Do everything a lot tougher, play a lot harder. We’ve got to be the first team to be on the floor, diving for loose balls, getting to loose balls. We have to be that team.”"
Paul George has earned the right to say as much as he’s averaging 28.7 points, 6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2 steals a game, all of which lead the team in the playoffs.
Playing pissed off doesn’t mean just picking up technical fouls as Indiana had 3 of them in Game 3. The Indiana Pacers need to stop the Raptors from doing some of the things they’ve been doing so well this series.
Tell us what you really think of the #Pacers' performance, PG. https://t.co/VJRWcxkWZZ pic.twitter.com/bWNSbwCLyD
— Scott Horner (@ScottEHorner) April 22, 2016
The Pacers lacked aggressiveness on the glass all series long as they’ve been beaten by on the boards by 47 rebounds a game for the Raptors to Indiana’s 36.3 a game. Jonas Valanciunas alone is averaging 14 rebounds a game while George and Turner lead Indiana in rebounding with 6 and 5 a game, respectively. Controlling the glass is just one of the ways that Toronto has set the tempo in the series and controlled the action. It isn’t helping Indiana’s chances when they’re standing around and watching the Raptors average 15.7 offensive rebounds a game.
Game Stats and Shooting Percentages in Previous Indiana Pacers Game | PointAfter
Indiana isn’t getting to the rim and finishing like they did in the regular season either. So far in this series from 8 feet or closer the Pacers shooting average has dropped from 58.1% to 43.4%. The Pacers are scoring just over 9 fewer points a game in the paint.
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There are a number of adjustments the Indiana Pacers should consider for Game 4, but being more aggressive and playing ‘pissed off’ is one way they might be able to tilt things in their favor.