Pacers look to avoid turnovers, referees after 0-3 start

An up-tempo offense is designed to create more opportunities — to score, to run in transition and to put pressure on the opposition. With more chances, though, also comes more opportunities for the wrong thing to happen.

The Pacers, through a disappointing 0-3 start, have learned the downside of pushing for more in an offense they still are trying to learn.

They are not panicking this early in the season. They did, however, acknowledge Monday one of the troubling signs of their losses: They are committing far too many turnovers, even for this offense. The Pacers average 19 turnovers a game, tied with the Toronto Raptors for fourth most in the league entering Monday.

In a grim film study, the Pacers on Sunday watched the entirety of Saturday's loss to the Utah Jazz. The tape showed them turning the ball over 24 times with 15 coming in the second half. Many of them allowed the Jazz to score easy points.

“We just didn’t take care of the ball,” George Hill said. “If you’re playing faster, of course you’re going to have more turnovers because you’re speeding everything up. It’s kind of weird. I think a lot of our turnovers are just a lot of mess ups, you know — moving screens, charges — and just not holding onto the ball. We’ve normally been a solid team taking care of the ball, not just as of late.”

Paul George knew the Pacers would have their struggles early when he learned of the new offense this summer from coach Frank Vogel. George said the offense has to be built on patience.

That, of course, includes him. In particular, he had to control his emotions on the court. When George was asked why turnovers have been an issue, he said the Pacers have to stop worrying about the referees.

“I think we just have to go out and play basketball, including myself,” he said. “I think we’re relying too much on officials to help us through games. We’re trying to create that contact. We’re trying to get calls, and I think that makes us frustrated or making the situation frustrating. You just have to go out there and play the game.”

George, in detail, explained how some officials are willing to provide feedback on why a call was or was not made. He also said some do not talk to him.

George, though, said he understands he needs to approach the referees in a better manner. He has been called for two technical fouls for arguing with referees and was fined $10,000 by the NBA for criticizing the officials after the Pacers’ season-opening loss to the Raptors.

“There are some that think they’re bigger than the game,” George said. “They always think they’re right. You’re never going to get your point across. You’re never going to know the right reason. We can’t put anything in their control.”

Vogel has preached to his team since Saturday that they cannot let a turnover — whether it is their fault or the referees — change how they perform on the next play. He wants them to move on and hopes they show the proper amount of urgency Wednesday night when they go after their first victory in Detroit against the Pistons (7:30 p.m., FSI).

In order to accomplish their mission, Monta Ellis said he and his teammates have to limit their mistakes and react the correct way when they do.

“The biggest thing is turnovers are a part of the game,” Ellis said. “So are runs and all of the other mishaps that come with it. The biggest thing is keep your head up and keep going. It’s all mental. If you have the mental part down, the basketball part is going to come because you’ve been doing that all your life.”

Pacers decline S. Hill’s option

The Pacers declined the fourth-year option on Solomon Hill’s contract, worth $2.3 million on the final year of his rookie deal. That decision will make Hill, who as the Pacers’ first-round pick in 2013, a free agent after this season. Although he was a starter last season, he is not in Vogel’s rotation through three games this year. He has played just two minutes this season.

Whittington, Christmas assigned

The Pacers assigned Shayne Whittington and rookie Rakeem Christmas to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team’s NBA Development League affiliate. The two players will join Terran Petteway, Kadeem Jack and C.J. Fair, whom were all invited to the Pacers’ training camp.

Robinson III almost healthy

Glenn Robinson could make his Pacers debut this week after participating in the team’s last two practices. Vogel said Robinson III still has some soreness in his right shoulder. Vogel also said it is unclear when he will play Robinson III given Chase Budinger stellar performance in a similar role off the bench.

“He looked pretty good; we’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Vogel said of Robinson III. “I am eager to see him out there playing meaningful minutes. I think that’s going to happen at some point real soon. I think he’s going to produce.”

Call Star reporter Nate Taylor at (317) 444-6484. Follow him on Twitter: @ByNateTaylor.

INDIANA vs DETROIT

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, The Palace of Auburn Hills

TV: FSI

Radio: 1070 AM, 93.5 FM

Pacers

George Hill: 18.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg

Monta Ellis: 13.7 ppg, 2.0 spg

C.J. Miles: 13.7 ppg, 40.0 3pt%

Paul George: 17.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg

Ian Mahinmi: 9.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg

6th: Rodney Stuckey: 9.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Pistons

Reggie Jackson: 18.7 ppg, 5.3 apg

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 14.3 ppg, 1.0 spg

Ersan Ilyasova: 8.7 ppg, 43.5 FG%

Marcus Morris: 19.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg

Andre Drummond: 18.7 ppg, 16.3 rpg

6th: Stanley Johnson: 8.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Pacers at Pistons, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, FSI