Three-game losing streak aside, the Pacers had plenty going for them heading into Monday's game against San Antonio.
The Spurs were playing the back end of a back-to-back, having lost in New York on Sunday. They were without starting center Pau Gasol, who has missed 16 games to injury. Their second-leading scorer, LaMarcus Aldridge, hit just 7-of-22 shots. They are starting a 34-year-old point guard Tony Parker, who's well past his prime. And, Tim Duncan is still retired.
Still, they had too much for the Pacers in their 110-106 victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Too much execution. Too much poise. Too much shot-making when it mattered most.
The result was a fourth consecutive defeat and a third consecutive homecourt loss for the Pacers, who played much better than in Saturday's loss to Milwaukee but not well enough to beat the team with the league's second-best record (42-13).
The Spurs had another thing going for them: continuity. The Pacers tried a new starting lineup, with Kevin Seraphin and Glenn Robinson III joining Paul George, Myles Turner, and Jeff Teague. But they also had it because of their time-tested and title-tested system. They're now 9-1 in the second half of back-to-backs, and 9-0 in such games on the road. There's a reason for that. Broken down to the most basic of the basics, they set good screens and run their halfcourt offense at a fast clip, which enables them to get more good shots than opponents.
"They execute," C.J. Miles said. "In the NBA, there's not a lot of different sets. They run some similar stuff to what we run, they just run it well. Pace doesn't come up when you talk about them, because everybody thinks pace means running up and down the floor, a lot of shots, a lot of possessions. Pace is the speed you run the set in the halfcourt. They might use the whole clock, but they're running and the ball is moving and everybody is changing positions, and they don't let you get into set defenses."
Execution includes free throw shooting. The Pacers got to the line more than San Antonio, but scored two fewer points there by hitting just 21-of-30 attempts. They missed five in the final 5:17, when they were trying to protect a four-point lead.
George, who led the Pacers with 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting, didn't consider that the major issues, however.
"It goes down to their screening," he said. "When they needed to get great shots, they screened and got guys open for good looks. We played a chaotic style of basketball. We took some tough shots, we rushed some shots. When you've got a team that's calm and collected and a team that's chaotic, the calm team is going to win."
Examples abounded, most notably in the fourth quarter. The Pacers were nursing a one-point lead when Rodney Stuckey – who played well off the bench with 13 points – forced a shot with a defender on his hip. Moments later, Monta Ellis – who also played well off the bench with 10 points, four assists and two steals – bricked an 18-footer with the shot clock winding down. Teague later missed a one-handed scoop shot down the lane, and Ellis forced a 12-footer off one foot. Those kind of shots, along with the missed free throws, were no match for the Spurs, who scored on 10 of their final 13 trips across the midcourt line.
If one possession made the difference, and if the Spurs got lucky when they needed it most, it came when the Pacers' defense got a deflection and forced a scramble in the final minute. The ball wound up in the hands of Aldridge, who scored from underneath the basket, drew a foul from Turner and added the foul shot to give the Spurs a 105-100 lead with 52.2 seconds left.
Kawhi Leonard was another difference-maker. He finished with 32 points on 13-of-23 shooting. George Matched him for rebounds (six) and assists (three) but Leonard had four steals to George's zero. George defended Leonard well most of the game, but he hit consecutive jumpers over George to give the Spurs a 100-97 lead that was never relinquished. Both of those baskets came late in the shot clock, and off ball movement rather than clear-outs.
"That's what changed the game," Miles said. "They just moved the ball and guys got quality shots. Not to say we don't, but they're conditioned for it. Over and over, the same guys every year. They bring in a couple new guys here and there and they learn it quickly and you see them get better as the year goes on. And those other guys have been there so long, they can do it with their eyes closed."
Despite their sometimes "chaotic" offense and sub-par free throw shooting, the Pacers scored more points than the Spurs give up on average (98.6). Five players scored in double figures and the shooting percentages from the field (48.7) and 3-point line (45.0) were good.
"That just goes to all the talent we have in this locker room," Miles said. "So many weapons, so many guys who can score the ball, so many guys who can make defenses honest.
"We have every piece you need, it's just about execution."
Have a question for Mark? Want it to be on Pacers.com? Email him at askmontieth@gmail.com and you could be featured in his next mailbag.
Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Indiana Pacers. All opinions expressed by Mark Montieth are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Indiana Pacers, their partners, or sponsors.