Grade the Game: 2 Duds, 1 stud from Indiana Pacers' embarrassing loss to Miami Heat
By Jack Simone
Dud - Anyone and everyone who guarded Jaime Jaquez Jr.
For the first time in studs and duds history, the list is not made up of three individual players. Instead, this list needs a special addition, as Jaime Jaquez Jr. absolutely torched the Indiana Pacers.
Guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jerami Grant have given the Pacers buckets in the past, but those guys are known for their scoring. This was different.
Jaquez Jr. has been having a great rookie season for the Heat, and this is by no means meant to disrespect his play. He was amazing against Indiana. But the way the Pacers defended him was laughable.
He was scoring in transition with ease, stomping through the Pacers' defense, and at its worst, he was simply cutting behind the unknowing Indiana defense for easy buckets.
The UCLA product ended the night with 24 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal while shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 1-of-3 from deep.
However, Jaquez Jr. did most of his damage in the fourth quarter. In the final period, he put up 14 points, four rebounds, and one assist while shooting 5-of-7 from the field. No threes. Just buckets.
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Jaquez Jr. deserves all the credit in the world for his impressive performance, leading the Heat to a comeback win. But for all the credit he gets, the Pacers should get an equal amount of flack for how poorly they defended him.
GRADE: E(mbarrassing)
GRADE for Jaime Jaquez Jr.: T(oo easy)