Pacers Links: Paul George can’t just let his game do the talking

Lotsa stuff going on at the Fieldhouse on Monday night and not much of it was good for the Pacers. Obviously, the 110-99 loss to the Clippers...not good.

Paul George put on an impressive show, particularly in the second half on the court, draining seven threes and scoring 36 points through some boos from his former fans at BLF. But of course, PG couldn’t just let his game do the talking.

After the game, PG did what he’s done so often at the Fieldhouse, talk without saying much nor aligning his words with reality. As Ohm Youngmisuk reported, PG feels the real story — check that, his story — about his departure would have Pacers fans booing someone else.

“You know, someday I’ll do a tell-all and tell the leading events of how I left Indiana,” George said. “And I promise you, I’m not the one to boo.”

”... I’m not gonna share the teaser,” George later added. “... I like being the villain. I’m here two nights out of the year. The people they should boo is here a lot longer than I am.”

Yawn. So PG didn’t inform the team he wasn’t signing another deal and wanted a trade? Does he not remember recently talking about trying to work his way from Indy to San Antonio?

Relitigating PG’s departure sounds about as fun as reviewing a new video angle of the brawl at The Palace. I’m good.

But back to wasn’t so good for the Pacers:

• 99 points on 96 shots highlights an inefficient offensive night for the Pacers. It wasn’t for lack of open shots, either. Myles Turner had 5 points on 9 shots and Domas Sabonis had 18 points on 18 shots. A slot start for Jeremy Lamb left him with 12 points on 12 shots.
• TJ Warren cooled off after catching an early case of PG disease, the deadly defense we saw inflict a young James Harden on several occasions. PG didn’t guard Warren the whole game but funkified TJW’s offense early.
• Justin Holiday has been fantastic of late but had his worst shooting night in over a month, making just 1 of 8 tries.
• Doug McDermott was the lone offensive bright spot and only play to make more than half his shots, draining 5 of 8 threes and 6 of 9 overall to add 17 points off the bench.
• Prior to the game, Nate McMillan said Edmond Sumner was available but he was going to stick with the Aaron Holiday and T.J. McConnell backcourt rotation since they have been working well. AHoliday also struggled shooting and looking for a spark, McMillan threw Sumner into the rotation in the second half. With a brace on his hand, Sumner only took and missed one shot in his six minutes on the court, but made his presence felt defensively along with a couple of assists. The score was 94-73 when he entered the game and 100-88 when he left.
• No doubt the Pacers appeared flat to begin the game and really didn’t add much juice to the effort until a too little, too late run late in the game. Going to have to be much more on point Wednesday to avoid a similar fate against the Celtics.

Check out the links:

Game Rewind: Pacers 99, Clippers 110 | Indiana Pacers

Pacers at a Loss to Explain Loss | Indiana Pacers

Pacers open toughest stretch getting pummeled by Paul George-led Clippers - Indy Star

Clips' Paul George hints at tell-all of Indiana exit -- 'I'm not the one to boo'

Victor Oladipo’s Return Could Turn the Pacers Into a Threat - The Ringer

The Relationship Between the Pacers' Offense and Myles Turner | The Fieldhouse

Clippers Nearly Give It Back Before Toppling Pacers, 110-99 - Clips Nation

Paul George denies fault in drama surrounding Pacers exit: 'I'm not the one to boo' - Indy Star

Paul George returns to Indianapolis as a member of the LA Clippers