The announced sellout crowd (18,165) witnessed the Pacers tip-off the 2014-15 season.
The Pacers got off to a troubling start Wednesday as they ushered in a new season. In the first 10 minutes, they turned the ball over eight times and fell behind by double digits.
Then, checking in for the first time after seven seasons in Detroit was No. 2, Rodney Stuckey. The veteran keyed the Pacers’ 12-0 run to close the opening frame and move in front, 26-24.
“I’m just trying to get everyone settled down, get everyone in their positions, and just run the plays,” Stuckey said afterwards. “I felt like when I got in the game, we kind of did that, got the lead back and from there, we play all right basketball.”
There were nerves on the Pacers’ side from the tip. Roy Hibbert was the lone starter back and available for the Game No. 1. Paul George, George Hill, and David West were out with injuries. Lance Stephenson, of course, moved on to Charlotte in July.
Playing against a questionable roster consciously constructed by Philadelphia, the Pacers relaxed, hit shots, and outscored the 76ers by 15 points in the second half on way to an opening-night victory, 103-91 was the final.
“Overall, it was just a great team win,” said fifth-year head coach Frank Vogel. “Everybody contributed. It wasn’t perfect. It’s not going to perfect when you have this situation that we have but you just do whatever it takes to win.
“I think it’s important for our guys to feel what it’s like to win when you have the … unique injury situation we have. It’s going to be a work-in-progress, but we’ve got to win games no matter who’s out on the court.”
Quite a debut for Stuckey in a Pacers uniform.
Stuckey is one of the four new guys added to the roster, and he shined brightest. Going into the game, there were concerns that like the team’s leaders, he wouldn’t be out there because of an injury (sprained right foot). After sitting out for 10 days, he resumed practicing on Monday and played a limited role on Wednesday.
In those 16 minutes at backup point guard since C.J. Watson (sore right foot) is also out, Stuckey, who said he played without pain, was very efficient. He scored 16 points, recorded five assists, and nailed both of his long-range shots. He has an attacking mentality, and much of his game (but not style, certainly) resembles former Pacer Lance Stephenson.
“Whatever the defense gives me, I just take it,” Stuckey said.
Vogel and the medical staff are being smart with his minutes for the first few games, as they desperately need him as their backup point guard for now. Once one of the point guards returns, which is expected to be at least another two weeks, he’ll very likely slide to shooting guard.
Inside the paint, Hibbert, who now must lead more than ever, filled the stat sheet. He made his presence felt against a much weaker and inexperienced frontline.
He tallied a team-high 22 points (10-for-13 at the foul line), grabbed eight boards, and rejected seven shots. Going into the night, Hibbert dedicated his efforts to Lauren Hill. (Click here to read her story.)
“It’s the first game, I’m not going to get too excited about it,” Hibbert said. “But it’s good.”
He was really fired up when he 76ers’ Malcolm Thomas shoved him in the back. Hibbert didn’t take kindly to that and those two had to be separated. Vogel credited Hibbert for playing a “physical brand of basketball,” and for how well he worked for positioning in the post.
In all, six Pacers reached double figures and the 10 guys who played, as expected, were on the floor at least 15 minutes each.
The outside expectations of this team dropped when Paul George went down on August 1, and even further when teammates joined him in the injury corner. There’s no doubt about that. Their in the early 20s of most NBA power rankings. The team realizes they have quite a ton to overcome. Part of Indiana’s 18 turnovers tonight was because they were trying to perform so well and answer all the talk, numerous players admitted.
“I think nerves kind of hit a lot of us,” Donald Sloan, who posted 16 points and 10 rebounds, shared. “Me personally, I’m not used to seeing a lot minutes, especially in the regular season.”
In the second half, they weren’t so anxious and settled down.
“We just moved the ball,” Hibbert said. “Our second unit gave us a nice push, hitting some shots and getting some rebounds. They played real well. I’m just happy those guys had some success. They’re going to keep building confidence and keep developing.”
That’s what tonight was against a lackluster opponent. A win; a starting point; a confidence builder.
“I believe they have what it takes to get the job done on a nightly basis in this league,” Vogel said.
That remains to be seen. The story that is just unfolding continues against one of the finest teams in the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies, on Halloween night (Oct. 31, 7 p.m.).
Sloan Settles In
Donald was thrusted into the starting lineup due to injuries, and he’s going to need to keep the ship sailing for at least a few weeks. He turned it over four times and got beat on defense numerous times, but he did enough. After all, it’s just the first game.
Sloan couldn’t remember the last time he played over 34 minutes. “Since summer league,” he later added.
For a player that’s been in the league for four years, some would be embarrassed or annoyed to have to play in the NBA’s Summer League, which is typically reserved for first- and second-year guys, and players efforting to make a roster. He had a contract with the Pacers, and with Solomon Hill nursing a sore ankle, he had to do more for that team.
“In summer league, I had the ball in my hands the whole time,” he said. “It was like built around me since Solo [Hill] didn’t play.”
But through his time observing Hill and Watson last season, and while at the Orlando Summer League the past few years, he’s gained confidence that a seldom-used player really needs.
“That’s a confidence builder,” he said of summer league, with a big grin. “… Coming into the season, if needed, which I am now, it feels good to know that I had a good summer.”
12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and zero turnovers in the second half for Sloan.
“He had a strong second half,” Vogel said. “… Really made some big-time plays in the second half, attacking the basket, finding shooters.
“He’s going to need to perform like that for us over the next couple of weeks.”
Damo Debuts
Damjan Rudež stepped onto the floor for his first regular season game and felt the intensity noticeably raised. He missed both of his shots (inside the arc) and committed a foul in nearly 15 minutes of play. It’s going to take time and there is a learning curve for the Croatian. He knows that, but was thrilled that they were able to begin the season 1-0.
Rudež gets a win in his first NBA game.
Below is a Q & A with him postgame.
With your first NBA game in the books, what differences did you notice about the game?
You could notice the higher intensity than in the preseason. Guys were really running hard and I’m thrilled and delighted with our first victory. I think we made a great team effort in the fourth quarter. We started the great pretty bad but Roy [Hibbert] was really tremendous today, locking down the paint and grabbing all the boards so we managed to pull a very important victory.
What has been the biggest learning curve for you thus far?
The usual things. Those are the things that come to mind first, just speed of the game and the 3-point line, which is something I notice because of my position, my style of play, and my role on the team. It’s still like a learning process for me. I’m looking at it as a marathon, not a race. I’m really trying to focus on the quality of my shots; just stepping into every shot. Just trying to keep it simple and use my court time the best way possible.
Numerous players in this locker room have worked with someone. Do you, or have you had a shooting coach?
No. Always by myself. My recipe is very simple. Just shoot, shoot, shoot. Lot of practicing and repetitions. That’s pretty much it.
What did you guys learn about each other in this first game that truly matters?
Managing to stay together and to believe in the victory the whole time even though we had periods of the game where we really didn’t look as good as we wanted to. We have guys playing out of their positions, we have a lot of new faces, a lot of injuries, so it was really important for us to stick together out there on the court, and to bring positive energy, and to believe in the victory and to manage to pull it off.
Gotcha, Rook!
As the players made their way from the locker room to the floor, they stopped in the hallway just before. They broke it down, and they Shayne Whittington heard, “Lead us out, rook. Lead us out!”
“Alright, yeah,” he responded, not thinking much about anything other than suiting up for his first regular season NBA game. The team got him good, as you can see below (via the Pacers on Instagram).
“I didn’t even realize it was happening until I looked back and I was the only one out there,” Whittington recalled. “I was like, ‘Hmmm. Thanks guys. I appreciate that.’ I went up to Roy and was like, ‘You are …….. not a very nice person.’ He just laughed at me and said they did the same thing.”
So far, the Western Michigan product has handled rookie duties just fine.
“Just typical stuff,” he said. “It really hasn’t been that bad. Their being pretty nice right now.”
This may have been embarrassing, but having to sing at FanJam was nerve-wracking enough for him.
Overall, Whittington says the entire locker room has been helpful and individuals have pulled him aside when they can be of assistance.”
“Everybody has [been helpful], honestly. Literally one through 14. It’s everybody.”
PG — “TESTING 1-2-3”
Pacers swingman Paul George, who’s rehabbing from his horrible leg injury, took the microphone pregame to thank fans and encourage their support of whomever is on the floor.
His message can be seen below:
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