Insider: Pacers latest issue is a lack of effort

The white towel covered Paul George’s face. Ian Mahinmi stared at the floor with the towel in his right fist. Monta Ellis looked to the heavens for answers. George Hill was already contemplating what he would say to his teammates.

That was the scene on the Indiana Pacers’ bench in the final minutes of an embarrassing 97-76 loss to the young Utah Jazz. This game, a third consecutive loss to start the season, was lost in the third quarter when the Pacers played putrid basketball.

They were sloppy. They were slow. They were lost.

So, more than analyze the issues of one game, the Pacers looked to find reasons they are 0-3. Almost every player on the team had the same answer: It’s not the offense, you see, it’s the defense.

“We’re giving teams 100-plus points, especially on our floor,” said George, who had 16 points. “I’ve been a part of great defensive teams. We don’t have that right now. It’s unacceptable to be losing those games.”

Hill gave a postgame speech to the Pacers after coach Frank Vogel. Hill told his teammates they have to be better on defense, and that will lead to wins, no matter how long it takes them to feel comfortable in the new, remodeled offense.

Hill said he had never started a season 0-3 in his life – high school, college or the NBA. So he said what has always been taught: Defense wins.

“We’ve been one of the best defensive teams ever since I’ve been here,” said Hill, who scored 17 points. “This year, we’re giving up too many points and too many easy buckets. And not playing the Indiana Pacers basketball that I’ve been accustomed to. I know we want to push the tempo and be a better offensive team, but I think with the guys we have in this locker room, offense is going to take care of itself. We have to give ourselves up on the defensive end and play together."

Sure, better defense will help the Pacers. And yes, they should improve on offense as the season progresses. But what was most alarming against the Jazz is that the Pacers lacked the effort, the energy and determination in the second half that was necessary to secure a victory.

For the small-ball approach to work, the Pacers, both on offense and defense, need to perfect the effort and focus to make sure teams do not have it easy.

The third quarter Saturday was the prime example. After having a seven-point lead to start the second half, the Pacers played sloppily.

“We were careless with the basketball, which allowed them to get some easy opportunities, which allowed them to get a rhythm, which allowed them to go up big,” George said. “We get in striking distance and we turn the ball over. These were home run turnovers, not just regular turnovers. These were turnovers they were capitalizing on.”

The Pacers also settled for too many fadeaway jumpers. They did not compete hard enough for rebounds, as the Jazz had commanding a 47-34 advantage.

The Jazz, who awakened on the second game of a back-to-back with the rested Pacers’ help, scored 28 points and never trailed in the fourth quarter. The Pacers scored just 12 points in the third.

“They came out with a lot of intensity and picked up the defense,” Ellis said of the Jazz. He added of his team: “We have to start the second half better. That’s it. We just came out sluggish.”

Ellis, who continues to struggling shooing – he went 5-of-14 for 12 points – was the most calm after the game. As an 11-year veteran, he expects the Pacers to end their slump sooner rather than later.

“It’s still early,” he said. “We just have to stay together. It’s a long season and we still have enough time to turn it around.”

That is true. It is not time to panic, just time to adjust.

“We’ll play good for so long, and we just hit a wall,” George said. “That’s been the story of our three losses. We’ll be better.”

Mahinmi acknowledged the Pacers still do not have an identity after three games. He is confident the Pacers will have fewer letdowns on defense with a greater emphasis on that side of the court.

“Now, it’s a priority for us,” Mahinmi said. “But still, we’re in the business of winning games and to win every game you have to do step one, step two and step three. For the most part, we’re stuck on step one.”

Step one, after Saturday's game, appears to be effort. Hill did his best to change that in the locker room with his speech.

Pacers honor Daniels

Before the national anthem, the Indiana Pacers played a video tribute to Mel Daniels, the Hall of Famer player who died Friday at the age of 71. The video showed Daniels dunking and retired No. 34 jersey in the rafters. The team also held a moment of silence to honor Daniels.

A public memorial service will be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday afternoon with more details to be finalized.

“It’s a sad day for our organization,” Vogel said before the game. “I’m sorry and disappointed I didn’t get a chance to see him play because you hear the stories, you see the numbers, you see the championship banners. It’s clear he’s one of the best big men ever to play the game and he was ours.”

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

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