The Pacers had just endured having their hearts ripped out as they fell to eventual NBA champion Miami in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Rising MVP-caliber stud Paul George addressed the team.
“They want to take the next step. I sensed it as soon as we came in and huddled up after the Game 7 loss,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “Paul George’s voice emerged from the huddle and said, ‘We’ve got to do better next year, we can win this thing.’ ”
The way the Pacers have started the season, 7-0, no one doubts them, least of all the Nets, who became Indiana’s seventh consecutive victim, 96-91, Saturday at Barclays Center. The 7-0 start is the best in Pacers history. But they don’t care how they start. It’s how they finish — as George said last spring.
“[George] said something to the effect we have to work hard this summer, make sure we get past a Game 7,” said center Roy Hibbert, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds. “I’m paraphrasing, but I’m telling you the gist of what he said.”
So the Pacers, who were so good but just not good enough last season, have been the best so far. Vogel stressed how close they came to winning the East and the NBA fact of life that road wins are not easy, doubly so in the playoffs, triply so when a Game 7 is involved, infinitely so when you factor in the Heat.
“We talked about it, how close we were, how winning the East is an obtainable goal,” Vogel said. “But it’s going to take great effort, great focus, great play and sustainable effort over 82 games. … Having homecourt advantage would give us an edge. We were 8-1 in the playoffs at home last year [so] we want to try to compete for the one seed.”
That means winning games like Saturday’s. The Pacers, entering as the NBA best defensive team, in scoring and shooting percentage, were good, not great. They could not put the Nets away, but in the end, they relied on talent, defense — and familiarity, which the Nets are still learning.
“We really wanted to get this win,” said George, who scored 24 points. “That’s the maturity of this team. Years ago, we would have lost this game.
“We would have lost this game by not making shots or executing or not getting guys in spots. We’re growing as a team. We’re maturing and finding ways to win.”
Are you listening Nets?
“It says something, to come here and win,” George said. “There was a playoff atmosphere. They’re a great team and we were able to pull it out.
“[Familiarity has] been a difference maker early in the season,” Vogel said. “Look at [the Bulls’] Derrick Rose coming back and getting used to things again, [the Nets] being new to each other. We have that as an advantage over some teams.”
The Nets shot better (46.1) than anyone has against the Pacers so far, equalling the high point yield surrendered by Indiana. Still, when it mattered, the Pacers went to their staple: defense. On their last four possessions, the Nets went turnover, miss, miss, turnover.
“Obviously, we’re following Paul George’s lead,” said forward David West, who had 18 points and eight rebounds. “But our team, we set the tone defensively every single night. That’s our motto and we let our defense speak for us.”
Right now, the defense says Indiana is pretty darn good.