Pacers still learning to close out games

Alabama football’s theme for this past year, a championship season: Finish.

That’s just what the Pacers (21-16) have had a hard time doing. It has been an issue all season, but never more obvious than over the last three weeks.

Since Dec. 19, after the Pacers had strung three wins together, they are 5-7. Their last five losses have come by a combined 15 points (4, 3, 4, 2, 2). Three of those losses were in an extra session.

Monta Ellis is third on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game. [Photo: Frank McGrath/PS&E]

“There’s no consolation prize for losing a close game,” head coach Frank Vogel said Sunday night following the team’s 107-103 overtime loss in Houston. “We got to figure out how to finish.”

Sunday’s game was difficult to watch for several reasons. 1) They had a 13-point through three quarters, 2) were up by five with under two minutes to go, 3) had the ball for the final 17.3 seconds of regulation, 4) led during the majority of overtime.

Execution is the first issue. Then, it’s fair to say inexperience together in similar situations is partly responsible. There are seven new players on the Pacers’ roster, with Monta Ellis being one. He was the team’s big offseason signee (four years, $44 million), brought in to be a productive scorer — especially during winning time.

Instead of the Vogel weave or 1-4 action no longer an option with George Hill and David West, Ellis pounded the ball between the circles as regulation came to close. With just seconds left, he pulled up for a 20-foot jumper. Miss.

I mean, that’s the best shot this team can get? Definitely not.

That team recorded a season-high 33 assists on 43 field goals Sunday night. Ellis accounted for 13 of them, a new season-high for him as well. Especially coming out of a 20-second timeout, the Pacers – well, any team for that matter — are best when they play together. I would have loved to see Ellis or Hill attack, and then dump it off inside or kick it out to an open wing.

[Pacers radio play-by-play man Mark Boyle voted Indiana Sportscaster of the Year]

The Pacers, who have 21 wins, are 18-3 when leading after three quarters. When trailing: 3-12. They might have enough to muster up a comeback but then have fallen short.

The Pacers had no business losing on the front and back end of a four-game roadie they just completed. They needed a defensive stop in Chicago with just seconds on the clock but gave up a game-tying basket, and then in Houston they settled for a mediocre straight-on jumper that Ellis has made just 32 percent of the time this season.

The Pacers now have a good opportunity in front of them to pile up some wins.

They’re home for two of their next three games, hosting Phoenix on Tuesday and Washington on Friday. Then, it’s out west for another four-game trip. Over these next seven games, only Boston and Golden State have winning records.

There’s no simple remedy to solving their issues down the strength. More time together will certainly help, more experience going through these late-game situations. (Their chemistry is ahead of where I thought it would be at this time.) Part of it is sticking to their principles late in games, and forcing the issue. Coach Vogel is an analytics guy and plays the percentages.

The Pacers’ winning percentage is most important of all, and a big opportunity to move up into second in the East slipped by the team due to their struggles to close out games.

But they can now redeem themselves. If they finish.