Who is the Pacers’ leader?

Who will lead this team? Who will be there to keep them grounded through successful and give ’em a nice kick in the rear as needed? Who will be the the one to pull a guy aside to explain how he could handle a situation better, or simply to point something out he didn’t do exactly right?

Every team needs one.

Not every team has one.

The Indiana Pacers, who’ve lost three of their last four games, are lacking in that area.

For the last four seasons, the team always had David West. That role weighed on him, he admitted after opting out of the final year of his contract with the team and signing a veteran minimum deal in San Antonio … passing up approximately $11.2 million to do so.

Last July, after West and Roy Hibbert were gone, Paul George wrote “And THIS moment is my opportunity to help lead this team!” in an Instagram post.

George is a likable guy but like his mentor before him, Danny Granger, leadership qualities are not abundantly clear. He talked about how this team has “no toughness” at the end of February, but that was the end of it. Nothing was done about it. The problem still exists.

Larry Bird, the Pacers President of Basketball Operations expressed concern for leadership then — nine months ago!

“Well, Paul always wanted to be [the leader] but you just can’t come out and say you’re going to be a leader,” Bird said in July. “You got to do it by example and you got to go out everyday and put the time in and the effort and see if the guys will follow you. I worry about it.”

It was strange recently when George noted how they missed West’s guidance after a loss. It came out of nowhere.

See Also: Pacers not looking like a playing team

This Pacers team is reeling and it’s unclear where leadership will — or can — come from. Monta Ellis is in his first year with the team and is the alpha male. But he’s also the first player out of the locker room after games. He has tried to lead at times, calling player meetings.

George Hill has great experience, beginning his career in San Antonio and then learning from West. But he’s quiet by nature and it’s tough to imagine him showing tough love to his teammates.

C.J. Miles is the most outgoing, loves the game and his team but it’s hard for a non-starter to take the lead.

It’s often best when the star of the team is its leader, but that’s not always the case. (See the Warriors’ dynamic (Draymond Green/Steph Curry. Or the Spurs, the rare instance where it may be by committee.) The star leading just makes it easier and is a more natural fit.

After the Pacers’ second consecutive loss this week, on Thursday to the Orlando Magic, who have already been knocked out of postseason contention, George was asked if he’ll take it upon himself to lead during this oh-so-critical time. I mean, not missing out on the playoffs for the second year in a row depends on them coming together.

“Our leaders will do it together,” George replied. “Myself, Monta, George, Ian (Mahinmi).”

Then, the question was asked to C.J. Is anyone taking on a larger role right now?

“I mean the usual suspects,” he said, moving his head to the left where Ellis’ locker is. “The guys you’d assume. There’s been leaders, guys that know what we need to do. The biggest thing is that we got to continue to do it.”

For George, maybe it’ll just take time. This is the first season he doesn’t have West and a big share, among so many things, is on him.

I was curious what fans thought, so on Friday I sent out a poll on Twitter. George received the most votes, but I thought it was telling, very telling that no player received more than half the votes. Several fans tweeted me something similar to “Other: No leader.”

POLL: Who do you think is the Pacers' leader?

— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) April 1, 2016

“Is this a trick question,” one fan asked. “They don’t have one. Larry [Bird]?”

“David West is without question……oh wait, I’m still living in the past,” wrote another.

This is a good basketball team. They should be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. At 39-36, they are on track to finish right where we thought they would in training camp — in the playoffs with 43-46 wins.

Just seven games left, only two against playoff teams. Will someone step up and help get this ship pointed the right way … or will it remain lost at sea?