Nate Taylor

IndyStar

Pacers at Thunder, 8 p.m. Friday, ESPN, FSI

A lot has happened for the Indiana Pacers this season. So, let’s recap it all.

Paul George was supposed to play the power forward position. Then, he never really did. The season started with three consecutive losses in October. In November, George soared and he brought the Pacers along for the ride with an impressive 11-2 record during that stretch. December was all about inconsistency. Coach Frank Vogel scrapped the small, spread lineup philosophy from last summer for smash-mouth basketball. Then came January, the team’s most disappointing month. And rookie Myles Turner looks to be an improving star in the making.

Yes, the Pacers have been on a roller coaster. Will the Pacers rise up the Eastern Conference standings in the second half of the season? Will they stay where they are now, in the sixth seed, when the playoffs begin? Could missing the postseason really be in play?

We’ll learn those answers in the course of the next 29 games. The second half starts Friday for the Pacers on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But for now, here is a look at the best and worst from the Pacers’ season so far:

Offensive MVP: Paul George

This was an easy one. George has been excellent at times at carrying the Pacers. He leads the team in points per game (23.3) and rebounds (7.1). He also averages four assists per game.

Yet what’s been most impressive is that George has played in all 53 games this season. One of his biggest goals was to play every game this season, which was quite an achievement to shoot for given the recovery from the broken leg he suffered in August 2014. Remember, George played just six games last season at a diminished level, both in terms of athleticism and confidence.

It will be interesting to see how his body holds up with each passing game and each passing minute during the second half of the season. If George can translate much of what he did in Sunday’s All-Star Game, when he scored 41 points on efficient shooting, then the Pacers will be competitive in the East. The biggest question is whether George can make the necessary plays in the final minutes to ensure that the Pacers win more close games.

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Defensive MVP: Ian Mahinmi

Whether it is the spread philosophy or the more traditional system, Mahinmi has been superb for much of the season on defense. He, more than any other player, has been instrumental in the Pacers being ranked eighth in opponent points per game.

When Mahinmi is on the floor, the Pacers are a strong defensive team. When he is not on the court, they have struggled to keep opposing teams from scoring more than 100 points. That's what happened when the team went 1-3 in a four-game Western road trip in January.

The Pacers have a chance to become an elite defensive team after the All-Star break if Mahinmi and Turner can continue to build chemistry and protect the rim effectively together.

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Best win: Los Angeles Clippers

Do you remember that game? The Pacers were in the middle of their first four-game road trip out West. Paul George scored 31 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers’ most impressive win on the road. The Clippers had all of their best players, too, including Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Sure, J.J. Redick sustained an injury early in the first quarter, but the Pacers controlled the game throughout with their spread lineup. Since then, the two teams have gone in opposite directions. The Clippers are 25-9 after that game. The Pacers are 16-20.

Worst loss: Charlotte Hornets

Well, Pacers fans saw this the last time the team was on the court. Sure, the Hornets made plenty of perimeter shots in last week’s game, but the Pacers were horrid on defense, both in transition and in rotating in the half court. The Pacers seemed to think it was a terrible loss, too. They had a players-only team meeting after the game led by Monta Ellis.

Unsung hero: Jordan Hill

The Pacers have plenty of candidates for this category. But Hill has been impressive since he joined the Pacers in the offseason. He has played in 49 games, a good amount for a frontcourt player. He averages 9.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and has been a valuable asset off the bench for Vogel.

Hill is shooting 51.9 percent and is aggressive at collecting offensive rebounds. He doesn't say much and doesn't make highlight plays in most games. But Hill can start, come off the bench and play both frontcourt positions. Regardless of the need, Hill is consistent in what he is capable of, which is key for the Pacers.

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

Ride along as we travel with the Pacers via the IndyStar Pacers XTRA app: http://bit.ly/1BR4fDs

Pacers at Thunder, 8 p.m. Friday, ESPN, FSI