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This week in The Shredder.
101-93.
That was the final score Tuesday night in downtown Indianapolis, but it really should have been worse, as Indiana trailed by as many as twenty in the fourth quarter.
Horrible... just horrible.
Too many offensive possessions turned into the ever-so-stagnating, dribble down the floor, turn your back to the basket, play 1 on 1, and only 42% of the time, get up a decent shot.
Paul George and Lance Stephenson were straight up ball hogs all night long, likely trying to put the struggling team on their backs. Even though they finished with a combined 43 points and George had yet another double-double, they have to share the rock. This team needs more ball movement like they had earlier in the year. None of this turn your back to the basket and play 1 on 1 crap. It's unacceptable for a team with this much talent to struggle against a 38-win eight-seed at this point in the season.
There were some bright things that came out Saturday's loss. Roy Hibbert played much better than I had really expected. In the 30 minutes he played, he shot 4-9 from the field and including a failed three-point attempt, grabbed 8 rebounds and finished the night with 8 points. I think he's finally getting back into the All-Star caliber groove he was earlier in the year; or at least he's getting more shots to fall.
You're losing them Frank. I understand you lost a leader like Danny Granger and a fan favorite like Orlando Johnson, but you have to find ways to get around that. There is an issue in that locker room. I'm not sure what it is. Attitude? Hustle? Motivation? Motivation, we talkin' about motivation? Why should a guy like George Hill who's making 8 Million buckeroos a year need motivation to win? How is that not motivation on it's own? Much less the national attention; the amazing commodities that being a starting point guard in the NBA comes with. Playing the game you love, at the highest possible level, just puts the cherry on top of the milkshake. This team SHOULD be the best team in NBA, they certainly played like it before the All-Star break. Come on Indiana, you're so much better than this.
-Ryan Kent Jr.
The Pacers play the Hawks in Game 2 tonight at BankersLife Fieldhouse. Tickets are still available at Pacers.com. The game will air on TNT, with tip-off at 7 PM.
(Photo from Pacers.com and NBA GETTY IMAGES)