Candace Buckner

IndyStar

A new (video) star has emerged in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

His name is Jhared Simpson and if you listened closely to Paul George’s press conference after his dominating performance in Game 1 on Saturday afternoon, you heard the special shout-out.

I asked George what changed after halftime when he started the game 2-for-9 for six points but finished with 33, and he said: “I was able to watch film... I watched a separate set of clips. Jhared Simpson had it for me.”

Since the 2012-13 season Simpson’s official title has been “Pacers’ assistant video coordinator,” but as far as I can remember it’s the first time a player had dropped his name in the media. However George must have felt compelled because it was also the first time he ever asked a special favor from Simpson.

Normally during halftimes, Pacers coach Frank Vogel shares his thoughts, then assistant coach Dan Burke addresses the team about defense, driving his points home with video clips from the first half. However on Saturday, instead of rushing back on the court, George stayed inside studying the television.

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Simpson has once said that he goes by Slash for all the various responsibilities he does for the team. After George’s dismal Game 1 first half though, Simpson played the role of Halftime Adjustment Specialist.

“Paul had talked to me prior saying he might want to look at some separate clips,” Simpson said. “So as the game was going on I pulled some that (were) going to be of some use going into the second half. He wanted to see it and see how they were guarding him and see how he could attack and capitalize on some of the stuff they were doing.”

So as the first half played on, Simpson remained back in the Air Canada Centre visitors’ locker room editing clips.

Then after players retreated to the locker room and Burke wrapped up his section with about six minutes on the clock, Simpson went to work, showing George footage of the nine shots he had taken and the scoring opportunities he had missed. The impromptu video session lasted “almost too long,” Simpson recalled, because “Coach Vogel was yelling at (George) that he had to get out there.”

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George finished his study with about a minute and a half to go until the start of the second half, then took his time devastating the Toronto Raptors. George made 10-of-13 shots, including all four from beyond the 3-point arc, and scored 27 points in less than 20 minutes as the Pacers won 100-90. Even Larry Bird would later say George “played as well as anybody I’ve seen in a long time.”

Though Simpson appreciated the public praise, he deferred the credit.

“A few (clips) that he saw were a little more important than what I saw, but he did a great job. It wasn’t (much) I had to do,” Simpson said. “It was him doing all the hard work, putting it into use and being the Paul George.”

Follow IndyStar Pacers Insider Candace Buckner on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.

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