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Post-Game Grades: Pacers Cough Up Game to the Terrible Horrible No-Good Very-Bad Nets

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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IndianaPacers94

BrooklynNets103

In an unacceptable loss, the Indiana Pacers got out-scored 31-15 in the fourth quarter to cough one up to the lowly Brooklyn Nets.

The Good: Thaddeus Young was as super-efficient demon, particularly early on, and Myles Turner now has two double-doubles in two games. C.J. Miles was spicy off the bench. That … is all.

The Bad: Mostly everyone else — including a horror-show night from Jeff Teague — and worse still Rodney Stuckey left the game in the first quarter with an apparent hamstring problem. Those don’t heal quickly and Stuckey often stays hobbled, so a bench that has so far been lacking this season (and is still missing Aaron Brooks) might have just gotten thinner. And, oh yeah, a team with dreams of being a two- or three-seed just lost to the Brooklyn Nets. The defense was an embarrassment and even if Sean Kilpatrick was hitting a few tough shots, there is still no excuse for letting him remain  so comfortable and snowball his confidence with bucket after bucket.

MVP: Mr. Kilpatrick. He took over late — scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Nets outscored Indiana 31-15 over the final 12 minutes. The largely unknown reserve finished with 18 points on 11 shots.

LVP: The Pacers newcomers other than Thad Young. Combined, Teague and Al Jefferson scored 3 points on 3-of-18 shots in the game. They put in 0 points on 0-for-7 shooting in the fourth quarter. (Teague did have 7 assists in 29 minutes.)

X-Factor: Justin Hamilton. He was feisty while recording 8 points and 7 boards — plus a parent-disappointing fourth-quarter block on Myles Turner.

Paul George

Small Forward, Indiana Pacers

CGood but inefficient and didn’t really look like General Patton leading his troops into battle during the fourth quarter.

Monta Ellis

Shooting Guard, Indiana Pacers

TEAGUE

Myles Turner

Center, Indiana Pacers

B+13 and 11 with 3 blocks will do. Some miscues.

Thaddeus Young

Power Forward, Indiana Pacers

AGets the Pacers game ball. Those who haven’t seen him play much (which is most people given the bad, far-flung teams he’s played for) should have been very impressed. And will continue to love his slashing, blue-collar, workman-like approach to getting buckets. He finished well and was the key cog in the first half.

Rodney Stuckey

Point Guard, Indiana Pacers

CNate McMillan inserted him early as the backup point guard to run with the starters as Teague rested. That was notable in that Joe Young doesn’t seem to have much trust after a woeful showing in the opener. But Stuckey got hurt during that stint and didn’t return (which along with Aaron Brooks still being unavailable got Young some, bad, minutes anyway).

C.J. Miles

Shooting Guard, Indiana Pacers

BLooking good. Looking healthy.

Al Jefferson

Center, Indiana Pacers

FNowhere to go but up from this outing.

Lavoy Allen

Power Forward, Indiana Pacers

C-As limited as ever.

Joe Young

Point Guard, Indiana Pacers

C+He’s so small and didn’t show much feel for the game. Hit a 3, but looked out-matched otherwise. Scoring 6 points in 13 minutes seems necessary if he’s going to not have a big net-negative on the team given his inability to contribute elsewhere.

Glenn Robinson III

Small Forward, Indiana Pacers

DDidn’t look like an NBA rotation player.

Kevin Seraphin

Center, Indiana Pacers

CGot into a game for the first time. But only for a very short time. Wasn’t on the court long enough to actually assess his performance.

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