Insider: Pacers lacking rhythm in third straight loss

CHICAGO – Rhythm, that fragile and fleeting gift possessed only a week ago, has walked out on the Indiana Pacers.

It has abandoned the team at the worst times on the defensive end, and went dark where it once created an on-fire offensive flow.

For the past three games, the Pacers have looked like a different team than the one that escalated from near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The primary reason why – as the Pacers see it – they've lost their rhythm. And they couldn't find it inside the United Center on Wednesday night during a 103-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

"We're being outplayed right now on both ends of the floor, offensively and defensively," George Hill suggested. "I feel like the last couple games we've been out of sync and as a little bit as the point guard, it's my fault on the offensive end where I need to get guys into better rhythms and things like that. I just got to get us back in sync. That's going to be our biggest thing."

BOX SCORE:

Bulls 103, Pacers 86

Hill echoed the post-game comments from several other Pacers, including coach Frank Vogel. Inside the locker room, they're talking about rhythm, but just haven't been able to recapture it after enjoying a season-high seven-game winning streak.

Over the last three straight losses, the Pacers (30-37) have shot only 40 percent, 43 percent and 39 percent from the floor. During that successive seven-game stretch, the Pacers also held the same amount of opponents to 40 percent or less shooting, a franchise record. Now, defensively out of sorts, the Pacers have allowed an average of 104.3 points over the last three.

On Wednesday, Mike Dunleavy and Nikola Mirotić took turns stomping on the Pacers' defensive reputation as the pair combined for 46 points on 15-of-29 shooting (51.7 percent). Led by Dunleavy's five makes behind the 3-point arc, Chicago connected on 10 of 24.

"We just had some mental lapses early," Vogel said, then repeated a sentiment from Monday when his Pacers surrendered 12 3-pointers in a blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors. "We left 3-point shooters and let them get going. We also have some guys who are out of sync offensively. We just have to figure it out."

Hill believes he should take responsibility for some of the offensive problems. However, something has affected his own rhythm.

On Saturday night in a loss to the Boston Celtics, Hill scored a season-high 30 points but also took a hard spill to the floor. The pain has lingered and over the last two games, Hill could be seen rubbing at the sore spot.

After playing 30 minutes against the Bulls, Hill sported a large red mark across his lower back, where he said he has tried to work out the spasms. Though Hill has played on, any mention of an agitated back should be followed with crossed fingers around the fan base.

Once Hill, who had missed 39 games this season, returned to the lineup in early February, the Pacers started on their roll. With Hill, Indiana had won five straight games over Central Division opponents – until Wednesday – and he has averaged a team-best 14.9 points. But now, the pain has disrupted his progress.

"I feel like every time I find the rhythm, something else happens, pushes you behind the 8-ball again," Hill said. "I actually got into that rhythm where everything's starting to click and feel right, then boom! Another thing."

Also, backup center Ian Mahinmi needed a concussion test after he took a hit while going for an offensive rebound. Vogel described Mahinmi's ailment as "a little bit of a stinger on the neck," which does not sound alarming as the Pacers prepare for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. Even so, the Pacers have enough concerns, starting with the search for the missing rhythm.

"It's not like a light switch, you can't turn on and turn off. You've got to play that way all the time for it to be consistent. We've got to figure it out," Hill said. "We were playing at a high level defensively and a high level offensively but like I said, it's something you can't flip on one game and flip off the next game. You've got to play that way consistently."

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.