Well, that's one way to avoid losing a close game.

The Pacers took their season to new depths Thursday, losing to a non-playoff team from Orlando in a game they badly needed but were badly in need of a transfusion. Of what? Everything, really, from strategy to spirit. By the time the 114-94 defeat was four minutes from its merciful completion, many of the fans in Bankers Life Fieldhouse were either booing or leaving, either of which qualified as an appropriate response.

Chicago's victory in Houston left the Pacers just one game ahead of the Bulls in the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. So, the conversation has shifted from moving up to hanging on, and some things obviously will have to change if the Pacers are to do that.

The final chapter of their schedule that offered so much hope – 11 of 16 games at home, with four of the five road games against losing teams – has not gone well. They're 4-5 since then, with their last three losses coming to losing teams – Brooklyn, which scored 120 points, Chicago, which had lost four consecutive games, and Orlando, which had played well in winning its two previous games.

"We've got to do everything better," coach Frank Vogel said.

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To accomplish that, Vogel said he'll make lineup changes to improve his team's on-court chemistry and figure a way to deal with the spread teams such as the Magic that are turning the Pacers' defense into cheesecloth. The hope is that changes to the starting lineup or rotation will improve the execution and prevent the frustration that leads to sagging effort.

Asked if he was angry, frustrated or confused, Vogel chose another emotion.

"I'm motivated," he said.

"We have aspirations to have a strong finish with this club, and what we're doing right now isn't good enough in any way, so I'm motivated to move the pieces around, keep them inspired, keep them believing, and make this work.

"There's a lot of different ways we can go. We have to guard better, we have to run better, we have to take care of the ball better, and we have to play together better. I think we have decent chemistry in the locker room, and not so much on the court at all times. It feels like some guys aren't playing well together and we've got to figure out if we can adjust that."

Would he consider changing the starting lineup and going back to the small-ball lineup that opened the season?

"I'm considering everything," he said.

"We're still in position to make some subtle moves, or big moves, to right the ship, and that's what I intend to do," he added.

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While Vogel studies film and mulls over how to approach the season's final seven games, the players have plenty to think about as well. Regardless of the frustration they experienced trying to defend Orlando's spread lineup, lack of effort and chemistry was blatantly obvious at times.

There was the time, for example, in the second quarter when Orlando missed two shots, but three Pacers stood around the basket and watched as Jason Smith picked the ball up off the floor and converted a layup.

Vogel called timeout, appeared to rip into his team in the huddle and yanked two of the guilty parties, Jordan Hill and Myles Turner, from the game.

It didn't matter. The Magic went on to build a 12-point lead before the Pacers closed the half with an 8-2 run to get within six points.

Paul George's flurry got the Pacers a tie in the middle of the third quarter, but the Magic gradually pulled away again to a double-figure lead. The final four seconds were telling. George scored six consecutive points to get the Pacers within eight, and had a chance to shrink the lead further on the quarter's final possession. He dribbled the clock down, then went one-on-one, but lost control of the ball with 3.9 seconds left, which was enough time for Brandon Jennings to hit a mid-range jumper at the buzzer to return the lead to 10.

The Pacers have lost 20 games this season after leading in the fourth quarter, but didn't have that concern this time. They made no move to get back in the game in the final period. They scored just 15 points, after scoring 12 in the final quarter against Chicago two nights earlier. Orlando, in fact, won every quarter, looking like the team making a run for the playoffs rather than one hopelessly out of the race.

"You have to give Orlando credit," George Hill said. "(Coach) Scott Skiles has been doing a heckuva job (and they're) moving the ball, nonstop movement. They're hitting the open man and they made some great shots."

The Pacers need to regain their confidence before it's too late. They won 12 of 14 games after dropping their first three of the season and have enough signature wins to make a case for being able to compete with any team in the league. But they've lost their way. Lineup and strategic changes might help, but the players will have to find something within themselves to make those changes work.

On the radio, former Pacers coach Slick Leonard said it's time for the players to look in the mirror. On television, former NBA guard Quinn Buckner said it's time for soul-searching. Some of the players agreed.

"We've got guys not playing hard enough," said C.J. Miles. "We don't look like a team that don't want to go home early. That don't want to have a long summer."

Miles tried to identify issues, but struggled to find the right words.

"I feel like I'm talking in circles," he said. "The biggest thing is, we have to act like we want to be in the playoffs. Plain and simple. We want to be in the playoffs? Play like we want to be in the playoffs. Play like we're in the playoffs right now."

Miles doesn't necessarily see a need to change the starting lineup to match up with spread teams.

"Just go with the feel of the game," he said. "If they're hurting us, you've got a guy who's perfect for defending it. It's proven. He's got two 4's in his number."

That would be Solomon Hill, who played barely more than two minutes at the end of Thursday's game.

"He's done it well," Miles said. "So you throw him out there and let him do what he does. Just go by the feel of the game, and make a change when you've got to. We've proven we can do it. We've had games where we guarded it. Then there's some games it's like we've never seen it before."

George acknowledged the Pacers aren't "giving that extra effort at times." As the team's best player, its only All-Star, he plans to set an example. The third quarter, in which he hit 6-of-9 shots, took just one 3-pointer, got to the line for four free throws and picked off two steals, was the template.

"It's about being confident with myself," he said. "I've worked hard enough and I know who I am offensively. I have to remember to be myself. And that's what I'm forgetting. It's just to be aggressive and score the ball like I know I can score it. And not let anything dictate how I play."

In other words, play more like he did at the start of the season, when he averaged nearly 30 points and was voted the conference's Player of the Month for October/November.

"Exactly," he said.

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