Ian Mahinmi began keeping a journal nearly a decade ago, when he entered the league as a teenager from France.
“It’s kind of a secret,” he’s explaining to me after a game last month.
It’s clear that he’s hesitant to reveal anything about it. His teammates know, and perhaps several others in the 15-man locker room also take time to write in a journal.
What’s unclear, however, is what’s documented inside.
Does he write how he’s feeling after a game? After all, that’s where I spotted it in the first place. Or maybe it contains details on his battle of the night, what worked and what didn’t. Or maybe he’s jotting down how he felt about his own play, positive and negative, on the court — a perfect thing to look back on during the offseason.
“It’s been helpful to me,” he added. “For my personal knowledge and for my personal improvement, it’s been great.”
Ian Mahinmi did not practice Wednesday, nor did he dress the part. Seen here with a sweatshirt and running shoes.
In a year where he’s dealt with a handful of minor injuries, he still managed to have best season to date. He’s averaging 9.3 rebounds and 7.1 rebounds per game in about seven more minutes per game than he played off the bench in each of the previous four seasons.
The Pacers need Mahinmi and the other bigs in their Round 1 series against the Toronto Raptors, surprisingly led by their 23-year-old Lithuanian center. He’s powering his way in the lane, grabbing rebounds, and creating extra possessions.
Just their third leading scorer during the regular season, in the playoffs Valancinuas has been their top scorer (17.5 points per game) and rebounder (17) through two games — up from 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game during the regular season.
“He has no ceiling,” former Pacer Luis Scola, who’s a starter for the Raptors, told the Toronto media on Tuesday. “He could be an All-Star; he could be an All-NBA player. He could be whatever he wants to be.”
[Game 3 scheduled to be a gold out at Bankers Life Fieldhouse]
The Pacers arrived home from Toronto just before 2:00 a.m. Tuesday. They took the day off from practice, though many guys were still in for treatment and work on their own. They then got back after it Wednesday afternoon at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, preparing for what is arguably the biggest game of the series.
Mahinmi, the team’s starting center, did not partake in practice. He only shot free throws in a Pacers sweatshirt and shorts following practice. Earlier this season, he sat out 10 games this season because of four different issues. (He also required stitches to his face during a game.)
His lower back, which he re-aggravated this series, (and some foul trouble) has limited his playing time to 38 minutes total in two games. In the second half of Game 2, he barely was on the court at the Air Canada Centre for five minutes.
“We got guys that got to step up,” Paul George said after practice. “In Game 1 and 2, Valanciunas had his way and we did a poor job of helping Ian and helping our guys. So there’s got to be even more emphasis with Ian being out, being limited at the 5-spot. But it’s going to take a group effort. We’ve done a good job of giving Kyle (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan) a tough time; now it’s about Valanciunas.”
(Sidenote: Paul has misspoke several times in his years with the Pacers, but I did take note of how he said “with Ian being out,” though there’s a chance he simply meant “if.”)
[Paul George needing backup as series moves to Indy]
Mahinmi explained how the pain in his lower back first started all the way back in November, early into the season.
“It’s probably not the last time that something like that is going to happen to me. It’s OK. It’s not too much of a big deal,” he said, attempting to downplay it. “… It’d be hard for me to explain exactly to you guys what it is, but it’s fixable.”
He said that offseason surgery was not necessary. There are other treatments that he expects to be effective.
Mahinmi also isn’t sure when exactly the pain and stiffness returned. From the tip of this series, he’s been tasked with battling the more physical Valanciunas in the paint. Maybe it was on a arm to the back or a hard fall. He declined to say if he had or plans to receive a Cortisone shot to relieve the tension and pain.
Mahinmi played in 71 of 82 regular season games this season.
“I wish I could help you on that question,” he said with a smile.
“I get a text from the training staff every other hour (asking) how I feel,” Mahinmi said. “I got exercises I do throughout the day and stuff like that. It’s really a day-to-day thing.”
From February: Ian Mahinmi opens up on his injuries: ‘It’s been one of the toughest years for me’
The Pacers are expected to make changes on the interior, surely in how the five on the court are defending and possibly in the lineups used. The Raptors, who won a franchise-best 56 regular-season games this season, have owned the paint.
They’ve scored nearly 47% percent (88) of their points in the paint — Valanciunas accounts for 35 — and have pulled down 25 more rebounds than the Pacers in the two games. Something has got to give.
[Quotable: Pacers and Raptors after Game 2]
“Certainly we’re pondering changes changes, yes,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel acknowledged. He wouldn’t provide any hints, saying several times with a grin, “We’ll see tomorrow night.”
As for whether Mahinmi, a free agent come July 1, will be available for Game 3, the team is optimistically hopeful — per usual.
“We’re approaching it hopeful that Ian plays,” Vogel said. “And if he doesn’t we’ll adjust accordingly. There are other moves we could make that could be impacted by that. But, we’re just factoring in everything.”
Mahinmi, who typically can walk through the tunnel to the locker room in peace after practice, was a popular man. He talked to a gang of reporters for five minutes.
His face showed concern and disappointment — that he’s not feeling too hot and that he was unable to practice when it is his position that is beating the Pacers up. It’s not entirely on him or the other bigs, of course, but so far into the series the Pacers have gotten whipped on the interior.
“It’s that time of year, it’s part of the deal,” Mahinmi said of his health. “You always hope to be 100 percent healthy but it rarely happens. It’s one of those things you play through.”
Makes you wonder if Mahinmi’s feelings on this experience will be inked on that journal of his. I guess we’ll never know.
(Monta Ellis was absent from practice Wednesday afternoon due to perusal reasons.)