Candace Buckner

WASHINGTON – Few can deny that the Indiana Pacers have played hard through the early season. Neither can anyone refute their scrappiness and toughness – or any other words used to label an undermanned and lesser talented competitor. It's why the Pacers, minus five injured players, have made contests out of their opening five matchups this year and how they took the Washington Wizards to overtime after recovering from a double-digit second half deficit but ultimately lost 96-94.

So, yes, they played hard, however…

Scrappy doesn't equate to experience and toughness can't fulfill the void where execution must live.

The Indiana Pacers are now 1-4 because the combinations remaining among the bandaged-up roster have either played little or little together. And their unfamiliarity with the situation, or with each other, has been the common variable in the four straight losses.

"It's a challenge but we've got guys who are capable of making basketball plays," said Pacers coach Frank Vogel in a weary voice. "They've got to come together as a group."

On Wednesday night, Donald Sloan scored a career-high 31 points. Also, Sloan led the Pacers with 42 minutes and 32 seconds on the floor. He hadn't played that much in more than two years and yet he was the engineer on the final play in overtime that veered into a baffling mess where 7-2 center Roy Hibbert, who hadn't attempted a 3-pointer since April 19 last season in the playoffs, shot the potential game-winning three.

Repeat: the rim protector for three.

"Go for the win doesn't mean Roy go for the win," Vogel said, "but you got to play the game. We did say in the timeout that we wanted to go for the win. You got to let your basketball instincts pay off."

The play had a chance. The action was designed for the one 3-point specialist on the court, Chris Copeland, but he has a similar background to Sloan. This season, Copeland has already played 153 minutes, 57 percent of what he had all of last year for the Pacers and yet he was the target for the game-winner. Instead, after the screen set by Hibbert, Copeland found himself moving towards the basket when he should have been freed and ready for the pass beyond the arc.

"Not sure what happened there," offered Sloan, who then said he thought he saw Copeland slip then draw a second defender. Neither event happened. Copeland remained on his feet and continued to run while his single defender, Garrett Temple, stayed with the play. After Hibbert missed his open shot from 27 feet away, Copeland grabbed the rebound but missed the put back.

"It's just one of those things, man," Copeland said. "One of those days."

The Pacers might have outrebounded the Wizards (4-1) by 14, defended for nine blocks, held Washington to a crummy 37.4 shooting percentage and lived up to their blue collar tenets, but their lack of savvy continues to show at the worst times. Especially on the offensive end.

Through the game, Sloan was the only starter to reach double figures and during that same stretch, Hibbert was an ineffective 0 for 7 and CJ Miles was off the mark, again, only making two of 10 shots. While Miles produced just six points through 27 minutes. Hibbert finished the game with two points off free throws – and yet, he took one step back beyond the arc after setting the screen and somehow the ball swung his way.

"It was not designed to go to me," Hibbert said. "It was in the corner of my eye and I saw the ball come to me so I had to shoot it. It's not my forte but we fought hard."

Let's pretend for a minute that the Pacers are whole again and that it's George Hill at the top running the play. And it's David West setting Paul George free for the weak-side flare behind the 3-point line. Imagine,for a moment. Now, snap back to present day.

This cruel fantasy may never happen in the 2014-15 season, however in a matter of weeks, the Pacers do hope to get their two starters back in Hill and West and return to near normal if C.J. Watson and Rodney Stuckey can get over their foot issues.

In the meantime, their replacements, though valiant in their attempts, still have much to learn.

"It's a team effort," Hibbert said. "We are down four to five guys. Tonight was not my night offensively but I'm trying to make an impact as much as I can whether it's passing or screening on the offensive end or rebounding and blocking shots on the defensive end. I am going to have some nights like this."

Hibbert also added: "I can't wait until everybody gets healthy."

Follow Star reporter Candace Buckner on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.