Post-Game Grades: Lifeless Indiana Pacers Lose to Memphis Grizzlies
By Jay Neal
211. 97. 100. Final. 110
The Indiana Pacers get embarrassed on the road to fall under .500 for the first time since New Year’s Day.
The Good: The news of the day: The Pacers reportedly signed Lance Stephenson after waiving Rodney Stuckey.
The Bad: Everything that happened after the news of the day.
Indiana’s starters didn’t show up to play and Memphis jumped on them immediately, leading by as much as 20 points in the first quarter. The defense was terrible regardless of who was on the floor. The Pacers trailed the entire game and are now 0-8 on the second night of back-to-backs on the road.
Keep in mind, Memphis was without Marc Gasol. Just a terrible performance after Paul George called out the team after last night’s loss to lottery-bound Minnesota.
MVP: Mike Conley. He owned the matchup of Indianapolis-bred starting point guards over Jeff Teague, scoring 22 of his 36 points in the first half. When he wasn’t knocking down a career-high 7 three-pointers, he was running circles around the Pacers to get into the paint to score or find open teammates. He was great.
LVP: The Pacers’ starting backcourt. It’s not hard to overstate just how bad Teague and Monta Ellis were in this game. Neither had any fight in them. They were awful.
X-Factor: Vince Carter. He’s 40 years old and is giving people buckets. He scored 21 points and hit 4 three-pointers. Half Man, Still Amazing.
Didn’t play well in first half, but tried to get the team back in it in the 3rd quarter by scoring 14 of his 22 points. Again, he had limited assistance.. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. PAUL GEORGE. B
He didn’t show up to play tonight and Mike Conley ate him alive. He was totally passive offensively and looked disinterested.. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. JEFF TEAGUE. F
C-. Played below average against a backup center and had little impact on the game. Finished with 9 points and 5 rebounds. The team needs more than that.. Center. Indiana Pacers. MYLES TURNER
Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. THADDEUS YOUNG. B. A double-double (16 & 13) for Thad in his hometown. One of the few Pacers to show up tonight.
MONTA ELLIS. F. Much like Teague, he was invisible all night. 2 points on 1-of-5 from the field. Yuck.. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers
B-. Seemed to get some of his shooting touch back after struggling recently. Scored 15 points while hitting three times from range.. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. C.J. MILES
B. One of his best games as a Pacer. Scored 18 points and hit four 3-pointers.. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. AARON BROOKS
RAKEEM CHRISTMAS. C-. He’s not asked to do much and didn’t do much… 3 points, 2 boards.. PF. Indiana Pacers
Has been great on the boards lately, but adds little else on most nights. Tonight was one of those nights.. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. LAVOY ALLEN. C+
Inc. Garbage Time. Center. Indiana Pacers. KEVIN SERAPHIN
Inc. Garbage Time. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. JOE YOUNG
Indiana Pacers. GEORGES NIANG. Inc. Garbage Time. Guard-Forward