Insider Clifton Brown and columnist Gregg Doyel discuss the Indiana Pacers' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. (December 2017) Clark Wade/IndyStar
INDIANAPOLIS – Wednesday night was not the first time the Indiana Pacers were manhandled in the paint this season. Just the most recent time.
It was part of a trend for the Pacers, who ranked 28th in the 30-team NBA as of Thursday in giving up second-chance points (14 per game). Only the Phoenix Suns (14.3) and Atlanta Hawks (14.1) yielded more second-chance points than did the Pacers.
During the Pacers’ loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Thunder center Steven Adams had his way with a game high 23 points and 13 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds that led to easy put-backs. Adams moved the Pacers’ front line out of his way, like a big brother handling a little brother.
“He clears out so much space and he’s so strong,” said Pacers forward Thaddeus Young following Thursday’s practice. “We had about three or four guys on him, and he was picking us up and taking us with him.”
The Pacers (16-12) hope to solve their rebounding problem when they host the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. But it will not be an easy fix. Wednesday night, the Thunder had 22 second-chance points compared to 13 for the Pacers. In the Pacers’ previous game, the Denver Nuggets had 27 second-chance points, compared to just 10 for the Pacers.
Victor Oladipo, Darren Collison and Myles Turner discuss the Indiana Pacers' defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Paul George. Clark Wade/IndyStar
Pacers guard Lance Stephenson said his team must develop a more determined rebounding mindset.
“Rebounding is tough,” Stephenson said. “You got to sacrifice your body. You can’t think about getting hurt. Just go in there, run in there, grab it out of the air, do whatever it takes to get that rebound. Sometimes, guys don’t want to take that risk.”
Something Adams said to Stephenson during Wednesday’s game got his attention.
“One of our guys hit him, and he was like, ‘Hit me harder,’’’ said Stephenson, laughing.
Young led the Pacers with 10 rebounds Wednesday, but starting center Myles Turner had four in 35 minutes, including just one defensive rebound. Turner admitted the Pacers need more from him in that department.
“We’ve got to gang rebound,” Turner said. “I got to be tougher down there for my guys.”
However, Pacers coach Nate McMillan knew rebounding would likely be an issue for his team this season. Until they add size and improve their depth, being a smaller team by NBA standards is an obstacle they will face.
“(The Thunder) were bigger, probably stronger at every position last night, from the guard spot to the five spot,” said McMillan. “We knew going into the season, we’re not a big team. The guards are not big guards, our bigs are not really big guys. We have to do that collectively. That’s something that we continue to work on. Myles is not going to put on 15, 20 pounds in the course of a year. That takes time. He’ll get stronger, he’ll put on some muscle, so will Domas (Sabonis) and some of our other guys. We looked at that situation, and we’ll address it in the offseason. What we have to do now is continue to work, continue to battle. Last night we were no match for them.
Indiana will face another major challenge Friday night, when they face Pistons center Andre Drummond, who entered Thursday night leading the NBA in rebounding (15.1 per game). The better the Pacers rebound, the better their chance to win.
Pacers injured swingman Glenn Robinson III continues making progress following ankle surgery:
Robinson was cleared to shoot and run last week, and said he was pain free. However, there is no definite timetable for his return. Robinson has missed the entire season after suffering the injury during training camp.
“They want to kind of see where my limits are right now, what all I can do,” said Robinson. “I’m feeling great. It’s tough to watch these games and not be out there. I’m really able to do everything at a very slow pace right now.
Three things to know about Pistons at Pacers, Friday (7 p.m.) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse:
1. This will be the third Pacers-Pistons matchup this season. They have split the first two games, each team winning at home.
2. The Pistons could be more fatigued, coming of a Thursday night game in Atlanta, while the Pacers had Thursday night off.
3. December has been a brutal month for the Pistons. They had lost seven straight entering their game Thursday night in Atlanta.
Follow IndyStar sports writer Clifton Brown on Twitter @CliftonGBrown.
More:
Takeaways: Paul George gets the boos, Pacers the loss
Doyel: If loathing Paul George is wrong, I don’t wanna be right
Pacers' Victor Oladipo: 'We might have wanted it too bad'
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