The Pacers' unpredictable nature has become predictable, last week being a tidy summary of it.
A win over a good Charlotte team on Monday was followed by losses to two teams with poor records – Miami and New Orleans – followed by an impressive victory over a decent Detroit team to wrap up a three-game road trip.
They've gone back and forth like that all season, rebounding from poor performances but then failing to build momentum off the better wins, stutter-stepping their way to a 14-14 record. They have yet to win or lose more than two consecutive games, which means just about anything could happen when they meet Washington at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday.
They were a cheerful bunch coming off the practice court on Sunday, and said they're confident they're headed in the right direction. But they've felt that way before this season, only to lose to a team such as Miami, or Dallas, or Philadelphia or Brooklyn.
How to become consistent? It starts with consistent energy, they all seem to agree. More specifically, it starts with energetic defense. Most specifically, it starts with their best player and best defender, Paul George, playing energetic defense.
"I notice whenever I step forth with that mindset, we're a lot better off," George said. "That's what I've got to do."
George is going through a metamorphosis this season. He's no longer a little brother, with older teammates to carry the leadership responsibilities. Danny Granger, David West, George Hill, Ian Mahinmi … they're all gone, leaving George as the most veteran and most decorated Pacers player.
"It's been different for me," he said. "I've been used to having (more established teammates). They always had a level of play they've always been at, so it was easy to feed
off them. Now guys are feeding off me. I have to be the first one to step forth on that."
George is averaging 21.8 points this season, slightly down from last season's career-best 23.8 average. His shooting percentages are up across the board, however – 45 percent from the field, 39 percent from the 3-point line and 92 percent from the foul line. He's won some games nearly by himself, hitting the biggest shots down the stretch with one-on-one moves, a steady foundation for a new and unproven structure.
Saturday's victory in Detroit was one of those games, as he scored 26 points and led perhaps the best defensive effort of the season.
"Last night you could see it in his face, he was ready to go, he wasn't going to let us lose that game," coach Nate McMillan said. "He played at both ends of the floor and his teammates fed off that.
"We need that. His teammates feed off of that when they see Paul setting the example of how we're going to play at both ends of the floor."
George isn't outspoken by nature, so he's more likely to lead by example than words. That also was true of Reggie Miller, although Miller had more natural energy and a cocky flair that rubbed off on teammates. George is confident, but not the type to instigate "trouble" or love being the enemy.
"He's not a rah-rah guy," McMillan said. "He does talk to the team, and when he speaks, because he doesn't talk a lot, everybody listens. We definitely need his voice vocally, but establishing that and setting an example is normally what teams follow. You don't have to be a big talker if you bring that to the court every day."
George is getting help in the departments of energy and defense from an unlikely source, Glenn Robinson III. The 22-year-old started five games for George earlier this season and has started the past four for Monta Ellis, who is expected to miss this week's three games as well. He's proven to be a versatile insert into the starting lineup, providing whatever has been needed. He averaged 15.2 points while filling in for George, but with George back in the lineup he's averaged just 5.8 points in place of Ellis.
That's fine with McMillan, because Robinson has excelled as a defender and rebounder while not forcing shots or committing many turnovers. He had 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds at Detroit, and his primary defensive assignment, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, hit just 6-of-18 shots. He's tall enough that he can George can switch for one another on screens, and he can take the other team's hot hand at times to give George a break. He's also been talkative on the court, ramping up the energy level for everyone.
"We're fully allowing him to play his game," George said. "He's going to help us big-time. He takes a lot of pressure off me defensively. Offensively we want him to play his game. He's so good in the open court."
"I just love his energy," McMillan added. "He's playing hard."
Robinson is helping alter the Pacers' defensive demeanor, bringing more size and strength to the backcourt to go along with his energy level. McMillan loves that, too, seeing that as the key to bringing about winning streaks longer than two.
"Some of it is changing the mindset of players, getting them to focus on the defensive end of the floor," McMillan said. "A lot of guys are offensive-minded, and when their offense is not going or they're not getting touches they take it to the defensive end of the floor. You can always play defense. You always should play defense. We're trying to change that mindset."
McMillan faces a potential quandary when Ellis returns. Does the veteran get his starting spot back automatically, or is Robinson auditioning for it now?
It's a question that doesn't need to be addressed until Ellis' strained groin has healed sufficiently for him to return, and McMillan will wait until then to make a decision.
"We're taking it one game at a time," McMillan said. "Whenever Monta comes back we'll look at where we are and we'll go from there."
Nothing personal, but Robinson is not urging Ellis to return anytime soon. The Pacers have some players, such as Rodney Stuckey (who also is likely to miss this week's games with a pulled hamstring) who don't want to start and some, such as C.J. Miles who don't care either way. Robinson makes no secret of his desire.
"(Winning a starting spot) is what I'm trying to do. That's my job, to come in and want to keep that spot. I said at the beginning of the year, I've been on that bench too long."
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