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George's triple-double helps Pacers cruise to game-one win over Hawks
INDIANAPOLIS -- Third-year forward Paul George wasn't surprised when the Atlanta Hawks started Sunday's Game one with Kyle Korver defending him. He probably will be if it happens in Game two.
George had a triple-double -- 23 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists -- to help the Pacers win their first playoff game 107-90.
"I like the pressure," George said. "My teammates were able to make shots and I was trying to rebound every ball. I told myself that for this whole playoff run I'm going to try to leave everything on the court."
The Hawks, the No. 6 seed in the East, got off to a fast start, though Korver wasn't part of it. Guards Jeff Teague and Devin Harris attacked the rim to help the visitors jump out to an early 6-0 lead, which put the Pacers into a hole that's become commonplace lately.
Although it finished with the third-best record in the conference, Indiana finished the season 1-5 and trailed by at least 20 points in all six games.
The team didn't get down and played with poise that goes beyond its experience.
"When we play with passion and energy on both ends of the court, we're pretty good," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "Confidence is everything in this league and your team's psyche can be fragile if you let it be. We understand that there's going to be ebbs and flows during the regular season and we've got to just keep our guys confidence high."
Atlanta started the game with a small lineup, contrary to the last time these teams played on March 25.
Hawks coach Larry Drew said he thinks the key to his team's success -- particularly in the playoffs -- is getting to the basket with a quicker group.
Putting Korver at small forward meant an athletic and skill advantage for the Pacers and it meant the Hawks' best defender, Josh Smith, wasn't guarding Indiana's one-time All-Star.
"I wasn't surprised," George said. "With Josh Smith being an All-Star (caliber player) and being a leader for that team, I knew he would step up and guard me. I can't change it
"No matter who is matched up with me, I still have to think, 'Keep attacking. Keep being aggressive, look for guys.'"
George exploited the advantage. Though he made just three of his 13 field goal attempts, he finished the game 17-for-18 at the line.
In total, Indiana had a 34-14 advantage in free throw attempts.
Atlanta finally went to a bigger lineup--Smith at small forward guarding George--with 5:47 left in the third and the group played mostly even. During that stretch, George didn't attempt a shot, gathered zero rebounds and had just one assist.
"We wanted to go with what's been good all year, and what's been good is playing with a small lineup," Drew said. "Tonight it didn't have the type of effect that I wanted it to have. We'll go back and look at the game and make some adjustments."
The Pacers took the one-game lead in the series despite allowing the Hawks to shoot 50 percent (38-76) from the floor.
Indiana did that by outworking its opponent. Aside from the massive free throw disparity, the Pacers also outrebounded the Hawks 48-32 and had 19 second-chance points compared to just seven for Atlanta.
"In the second half, rebounding was strong," Vogel said, after seeing Indiana's 29-16 desparity. "Getting to the line 34 times was evidence of our guards penetrating with physicality, our bigs posting with physicality and our bigs trying to kill the glass."
George's 23 led the Pacers, but all five starters finished with double-digit scoring. Point guard George Hill, returning from a groin injury, had 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Roy Hibbert had 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Teague led the Hawks with 21 points and seven assists. Smith had 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Korver was 2-for-7 and had five points and four fouls.
Game two is Wednesday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and tips off at 7 p.m.
"We understand this is one game," Vogel said. "In the playoffs you've got to hold serve and take care of your home court, and we understand that that's all we did. ... We'll make adjustments, but before you do anything you've got to stick to who you are."