The best and worst thing about Pacers center Roy Hibbert is that you never have to wonder what he’s thinking. That was the case last night, as Hibbert blamed the team’s game plan for his performance in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which saw the big man go 0-4 with 0 points and 5 rebounds in the team’s 102-90 loss to Miami.
Via ESPN:
“The game plan really wasn’t to utilize me as much; I’m just trying to be effective as I can,” Hibbert said. “Would I like a little bit more touches early on? Yeah. But that’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes.”
Vogel appeared to like the matchup with David West on surprise starter Rashard Lewis better. West took six shots in the first quarter, and Hibbert got just one.
Afterward, the Pacers played from behind and Hibbert was limited with fouls.
Hibbert scored 19 points in Game 1 of the series and 10 points in the first quarter of Game 3. But his shots have not been consistent.
“I can only control what I can control,” Hibbert said. “I can’t control plays called for me.”
After averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds in the seven games of conference finals against the Heat last season, Hibbert is averaging just 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds so far in this series. Last year he averaged about 15 shots a game against the Heat. The most he’s taken in a game in this series is 13, and he’s averaging about nine.
“I just need to be a good teammate if I don’t get looks,” Hibbert said.
