Photo Credit: Pat Lovell/USA TODAY Sports
Things may have gone from bad to worse for the Indiana Pacers. After getting off to an electric start this season, the team has significantly cooled off. As if that was not bad enough, center Roy Hibbert is now talking to the media about the locker room. After losing in Washington, Hibbert was heard telling NBA.com’s David Aldridge, “”Some selfish dudes in here.” This was in reference to his Pacers teammates.
He did not name names speaking to Aldridge, but many may guess he is referencing Paul George. George’s offensive production has taken a nose dive recently and it has really affected the team. The Pacers have lost five of their last seven games.
Hibbert continued by saying, “I was letting the lack of touches on offense really affect my defense. So I came to the conclusion, I said, if I [only] get one or two shots a game, I’m just going to get back on track for Defensive Player of the Year … and not worry about offense, let Paul and Lance and David take over the helm in terms of scoring.”
What is interesting, on that same night George made this comment about Wizards’ center Marcin Gortat, “Gortat is probably defensive player of the year. You couldn’t get nothing. He was just excellent at the rim.” Could these comments spell trouble for the top team in the east? It is very possible because there is something holding this team back from playing like they did at the beginning of the season. Coach Frank Vogel has to keep his team positive and working together or else this team will fall short for the second year in a row.
