Pacers Wizards NBA Playoffs 2014

By Marcus Shockley

For the life of me, I can’t figure out what has happened – and, continues to happen – to the Indiana Pacers.

By all rights the Pacers should have already won a title. Over the past two seasons, they consistently outplayed the Miami Heat, but just couldn’t close the deal when it was in their grasp. This is not to take anything away from the Heat; they got the job done when it mattered and the Pacers didn’t. But that’s all history, anyway.

Let’s talk about right now.

The Pacers have a team that is deep, physical, and built to win in the grueling postseason. Everyone is well aware that they stumbled down the home stretch of the regular season, and had to fight to keep their number one seed in the playoffs.

In the first round, the Atlanta Hawks – the eighth seed – pushed the Pacers to brink of elimination, and frankly, looked better than the Pacers for most of the series. Only via a gutty fourth quarter performance by David West in game seven are the Pacers in the second round. After their poor performance in the first round, no one would be surprised if they were eliminated in the second, as they take on the Wizards. The Wizards are not really young, but they do have two very young elite talents in the backcourt.

The first game looked like what most of us would expect, given what we’ve seen so far from both of these teams. The Wizards looked better than the Pacers, even playing on Indiana’s home court. John Wall and Bradley Beal looked unstoppable, especially Beal, and the Pacers look like they don’t even want to be there. Pacers fans have to be discouraged and in a bit of shock of what they are seeing unfold right in front of them.

To be clear, the Wizards have some talent, but it’s not the kind of team you would expect to look like they clearly outmatch the number one seed. One the surface, they have elite wings in Wall and Beal. Nene is a top center and they have depth in the post with Gortat and Drew Gooden. Trevor Ariza has done some nice things. But no one would expect that they (or, frankly, the Hawks) would be making the Pacers look like they shouldn’t have even have made the playoffs.

In an NBA playoff year that been one of the best in some time, the Pacers no longer look like the dark horse. It’s somewhat baffling – is it locker room issues? Has the roster aged to a point where it looks better on paper than in reality?

Will Frank Vogel, who up until a month ago, was being heralded as one of the brightest coaching lights in the NBA, be able to keep his job if the Pacers can’t suddenly start looking like, well, the Pacers?

One thing is certain: as of this moment the Pacers cannot be considered a serious title contender and, while the Heat are the number two seed, they clearly look like the East’s strongest candidate thus far. The Pacers may be on the brink of becoming yet another team that was built for success but could never get over the hump. As a basketball fan, I’m much more excited by what Washington is doing than Indiana, and I would wager most NBA fans feel the same.

For more basketball nonsense, you can follow Marcus Shockley on Twitter, right now.

Paul George, the top pick of the Indiana Pacers in the 2010 NBA draft, talks about his first NBA action and his response to people who said he was a “risky” draft pick for the Pacers.

George is a player who had a pretty strong summer league showing and is another reason that Pacer fans are hopeful for the future.

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Lance Stephenson has been a known basketball phenom for many years, despite having his detractors. Drafted in the second round by the Indiana Pacers in this year’s NBA draft, he’s working to make the Pacers roster and had a solid summer league playing in front of Larry Bird in Orlando. Here’s some exclusive video of the Lance’s thoughts about playing in front of a legend, and the difference between playing in college and playing in the NBA:

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By James Blackburn

James scouted every game of the 2010 NBA Summer League in Orlando, Florida, where many rookies try to start their NBA careers off on the right foot and many young players with a year or two of experience try to get more court time. After an exhausting week of scouting games, getting interviews and flagging down General Managers, James wraps up with this scouting report of the Pacers versus the Jazz.

Utah (1-2) vs. Indiana (2-1)
Pacers win 83-74
Box Score

GAME NOTES

• How many illegal screens have we seen this week? This is crazy.

• Pacers getting out in transition; off and running.

• Poor defense for Jazz. Pacers are getting way too many easy buckets.

• Pacers were up by 20 for over 2 quarters. Jazz came back in late 3rd and 4th and made it a game.

SCOUTING REPORTS

Utah

Gordon Hayward (24 min,1-5 FG, 0-2 3 pt, 5-5 FT,2 reb, 2 st, 1 blk, 7 tp) – Matched up with Paul George most of the game. Was not quick/athletic enough to guard him. Looked like he was rushing his jump shot- jumper was off the mark. Looked frustrated this game. Had a nice steal and finished with a two-handed dunk and the foul.

Jeremy Evans (13 min, 1-2 FG, 2-3 FT, 3 reb, 1 ass, 4 tp) Helped bring Utah back into the game. Hustles every play; great second round pick for Utah. I like this guy a lot; will be a solid player. Needs to get quicker feet on defense. McRoberts blew by him a couple of times. Very long, great shot blocker, needs to get stronger. Grabs rebounds at rim level. Very athletic, had a huge dunk from way outside the lane, and got fouled.

Tyrese Rice (11 min, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3 pt, 5 tp) Has a nice looking wrap around pass. Can shoot the ball well. Will be a career D-Leaguer.

Kosta Koufos (29 min, 7-10 FG, 5-10 FT, 7 reb, 1 blk, 19 tp) Big game for second year player from Ohio State. Has a nice spin move on baseline that he finished with two handed dunk. Strong finisher near rim, keeps ball high on rebound. Has a nice sweeping hook. Had a nice block on the more agile McRoberts. Has a decent 18’ jumper. Solid rebounder; secures the ball.

Indiana

Paul George (29 min, 5-9 FG,1-2 3 pt, 4-5 FT, 9 reb, 3 ass, 1 st, 15 tp) Very good rebounder and slasher. Lamar Odom type; can rebound the ball, dribble it up and court, stop and shoot the 3 or take it to the rim. Is a good passer. Sometimes over dribbles and tries to do to much, gets him in trouble. Is a good shooter; has a nice step back J.

Josh McRoberts (31 min, 5-6 FG, 1-1 3 pt, 10-10 FT,3 reb, 4 ass, 1 blk, 21 tp) Best performance yet this week. Was connecting on his jump shot this game. Is playing very well, active on boards, is a good passer and plays good D. Gets to the line and makes his FT’s. Had a couple of very athletic finishes.

Lance Stephenson (28 min, 6-8 FG, 7-10 FT,2 reb, 1 blk,19 tp) Should have had several assist, but recipients couldn’t finish. Is a good passer; good vision. Loves the no-look pass. Gets in trouble sometimes by getting airborne when making passes. Very creative with the ball. Uses his body well to shield defenders. Has good body control in air. Moves his feet well on defense; always displays hand in face of shooter. Jumper looks solid, displays good form and good ball rotation and is hitting jumpers nothing but net. Makes the defense pay when defender reaches. High energy guy. Can post up smaller defenders and finish strong. More athletic than once thought, finishing above the rim several times. Has big hands and is a beast down low. Lance does a good job taking command of the game and is a good FT shooter. One negative is that he sometimes gets ahead of himself and gets in a hurry and turns the ball over. Lance continues to impress and surprise.

Magnum Rolle (29 min, 4-5 FG, 2-2 FT,8 reb, 4 blks, 10 tp) Very athletic player who was a second rounder out of Louisiana Tech. Finishes over the rim and is a big time shot blocker. Great defensive player who can be a presence in the paint; comes out of no where to block shots. High extension of Left handed hook. Under the radar player, has a chance to be pretty good. Has a nice looking 18’ jumper off screens. Good passer. Made a rookie mistake when a committed a moving screen at very end of game; stupid mistake.

By James Blackburn

James continues his scouting of the NBA summer league games in Orlando, where many rookies are getting their first chance to prove themselves in the NBA.

Game 4 – 7:00 game
Pacers (1-1) vs. Nets (1-1)
Nets win 80-69
Box Score

GAME NOTES
• Both teams are running in transition.

• A lot of high light real plays/dunks in this exciting game.


Image Source: AP

Scouting Reports
Nets

Terrence Williams (34 min, 8-18 FG, 1-2 3 pt, 7-9 FT, 7 reb, 7 ass, 9 TO, 24 tp)- Again Williams led the Nets in points, but this game he had some help. He is really good at creating contact and drawing fouls. When he goes left he looks to pass, or he picks dribble up- loves to go right. Nice looking jumper and turn around jumper- with good elevation. Had a tough time handling the ball today and looked flustered under pressure- with 9 TO.

Derrick Favors (28 min, 5-8 FG, 2-4 FT, 3 reb, 6 fls, 12 tp)- Was in foul trouble again, but was able to stay on the floor longer than yesterday. The Nets played him at PF most of the game with Zoubek at Center. This is a good move because although Favors can play center ( position played at GT in college)- he needs to learn how to play high post because the Nets have Lopez a great player at center already. He does not look comfortable this game- looks tired. Should have had more rebounds, did not pursue the ball as much as he should have- lack of energy/effort. He looked out of his element playing PF and high post. Has a nice hook shot- can shoot it with either hand with same consistency.

Damion James (35 min, 8-20 FG, 1- 4 3 pt, 4-13 FT,11 reb, 21 tp)- Is not afraid to shoot the ball, takes a lot of shots- but settles for tough shots- when he can/should go to rim. Is not a bad shooter, has good form, gets square to rim. Has a nice turn around jumper where he fades over his right shoulder- very KG like- impossible to block. Poor FT shooter, considering he is a good jump shooter.

Pacers

Paul George (31 min, 5-15 FG, 0-7 3pt, 8 reb, 3 ass, 7 st, 10 tp)- Good rebounder, great defender- long arms helps him play passing lanes well. Loves to get out in transition and run, where he is most effective- in open court. Is very athletic- highlight reel machine. Needs to improve jumper, settles for outside jumper way to much. Needs to get his dribble tighter and improve his range. He turns his body in the air when shooting-not square to rim. He is able to finish with contact- but needs to get stronger.

Lance Stephenson (25 min, 7-10 FG, 1-1 FT, 3 reb, 3 ass, 15 tp)- Good productive game offensively. Is a very crafty and good passer. Is very fast/stealth in open court- where he is creative with ball. Very effective ball fakes that can throw defender off balance. Is a good rebounder- uses body well- big/strong. Loves spin move on baseline. Jumps in the air a lot when he passes- sometimes he gets in trouble- needs to stay down. Good finisher at the rim with good crafty moves to put ball in basket with contact. Good defense on Williams- forced him left.

Thomas Heurtel (14 min, 2-6 FG, 1-3 3 pt, 2 reb, 2 ass, 5 tp)- Is a solid PG, you know what you are getting with Heurtel. Is a good passer- threw a nice overhead pass in transition. Has a quick release- good shooter. Has nice right to left crossover- very quick- has nice floater- good defense- stays glued to his man.

Magnum Rolle (30 min, 3-6 FG, 3-5 FT, 3 reb, 3 blks, 9 tp)- Very athletic player- put T. Williams on a poster with a huge 2 handed dunk- where he had both elbows over the rim. Has excellent timing with weak side blocks. Is active on the glass. Nice second round pick.