Candace Buckner

IndyStar

PHOENIX — Someone brought a football to the practice gym where the Indiana Pacers gathered Monday afternoon and a freelance game of catch broke out. In a rare display, the coaches jumped into drills, joining players in a full-court shooting contest while also trying not to pull a muscle.

Lively games of 1-on-1 concluded the practice — the current star wing, Paul George, putting the moves on his backup, Glenn Robinson III, and Myles Turner posting his big body and taking fellow rookie Joe Young to the rim. After practice, the bonding continued in a team outing as players went bowling.

In short, the Pacers sought to rediscover their joy.

“Practice was all about being together. Playing for each other,” said Jordan Hill, who started in place of injured center Ian Mahinmi during the Pacers’ 129-126 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. “We got a lot of work done but we also wanted to work on just togetherness because that’s what we’ve been lacking the last couple of games. ... We should be having fun. It just seemed like it’s been going away for a while, so we just tried to come out here and make it very spiritual, very together and just try to have fun and be there for each other.”

A day after describing his team’s defensive performance as “embarrassing,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel ran a “spirited” practice dedicated to that end of the floor.

George won't commit to Olympic team

The session was the proper response to the loss in Denver, where Indiana surrendered 45 points in the fourth quarter, the most points scored in the fourth quarter by an NBA team this season. Such a practice continued a trend in Vogel’s career: When in the midst of immense struggle, center the team with defense. Consider the Pacers’ response after a 120-116 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 31. The morning of the next game, Vogel switched up the routine and fixated on defense during the shootaround. So Monday, once again, the Pacers returned to the basics.

“I thought we had better focus,” George said. “We were definitely tied into the details of playing defense today, which we haven’t done in a lot of practices.”

George said this while still lathered in sweat. Like most of the remaining active players, George ended practice by rotating into games of 1-on-1. The matchup didn’t matter — a few times George faced up against the 6-11 rookie center, Turner — and the offensive player had to make his shot, or he had to move to the end of the line. Players who sat in folding chairs near the side of the wall — Chase Budinger, Monta Ellis and Lavoy Allen — stayed involved, surveying the games and piping in with encouragement. Call it a role reversal, because earlier in the afternoon, the coaches left their sideline view and got involved in the action. According to Hill, even general manager Kevin Pritchard jumped into the drills.

Download the IndyStar Mobile Apps

“That’s why it made everybody have fun. Everybody knows what the meaning of togetherness means, especially today,” said Hill, referencing the national holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day. “We were all working together, all cheering each other on, and that’s what we really need.”

“From Popeye (Jones) to Frank, they were in the drills today," George added. "We don’t have bodies in here, so we needed a little extra.”

Then, with the comedic touch, George brutally assessed the coaches’ ability: “They were all terrible.”

Following the practice, the Pacers continued the day of bonding. In a team function organized by Vice President of Player Relations Carl Nicks, who travels on road trips, several players went to a Phoenix-area bowling alley.

“We’ve been lacking (togetherness),” Hill said, “and we’re just trying to bring it back.”

INDIANA AT PHOENIX

Tipoff: 9 p.m. Tuesday.

TV: Fox Sports Indiana.

Radio: WFNI-AM (1070), -FM (93.5).

PACERS (22-19)

Pos;Player;PPG;Key stat

PG; Monta Ellis; 13.6 ppg; 5.0 apg

SG; Glenn Robinson III; 3.9 ppg; 1.6 rpg

SF; Paul George; 23.9 ppg; 7.4 rpg

PF; Lavoy Allen; 5.5 ppg; 5.2 rpg

C; Jordan Hill; 9.3 ppg; 7.1 rpg

6th; C.J. Miles; 13.4 ppg; 36.9 3-pt FG%

SUNS (13-29)

PG; Brandon Knight; 19.7 ppg; 5.1 apg

SG; Devin Booker; 8.0 ppg; 1.8 rpg

SF; P.J. Tucker; 6.5 ppg; 5.6 rpg

PF; Markieff Morris; 10.6 ppg; 4.9 rpg

C; Tyson Chandler; 5.4 ppg; 7.2 rpg

6th; Mirza Teletovic; 9.9 ppg; 3.2 rpg

STORYLINES

GEORGE HILL UPDATE: On Monday, starting point guard George Hill remained in Indianapolis on a personal matter. According to coach Frank Vogel, Hill is “questionable” to play against the Suns. However if Hill does arrive in Phoenix on time, then he will return to the starting lineup. This season, Hill has averaged 12.8 points and leads the team in 3-point shooting percentage (.428). Ian Mahinmi (left heel) participated in some of the less intense moments of Monday’s practice and also is listed as “questionable” against the Suns.

HE SAID WHAT?!: “As long as there’s food there, I’m there.” — Lavoy Allen joking about the secret to getting him to show up to a team function. After practice, several Pacers went bowling together.

PREDICTION: Things can always get worse. If the Sunday night defensive debacle in Denver was bad, then a loss to the lowly Suns would mean red-alert time. Phoenix has lost nine of 10 games and ranks second to last in points allowed per game (106.9). This is a team the Pacers should and must defeat to stop an early skid on this four-game road trip. If not, find the panic button and press hard. Indiana wins 107-92.

Follow IndyStar reporter Candace Buckner on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.

Larry Bird not satisfied with Pacers as team nears midseason point