Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert may have hit rock bottom after an Eastern Conference semifinals Game 1 loss to the Washington Wizards in which he no-showed and scored zero points while grabbing zero rebounds.
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Much of the Pacers' struggles dating back to the final month and change of the regular season has been heaped on the shoulders of the 7-foot-2 Hibbert, and his Game 1 debacle in which he contributed one assist and two blocks in about 18 foul-filled minutes was the peak of the criticism.
The bizarre dissolution of Indiana's once-lauded chemistry is now speculated to have something to do with star forward Paul George sleeping with Hibbert's fiancée. The rumor originated on BallerAlert.com, and like previous controversies George is trying to step out in front of the distraction.
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He took to Instagram to deny any relations involving Hibbert's love interest, posting a photo of a team fishing trip with the caption, These rumors have got to stop! Its gettin old now and all you that believe them are ignorant! #Brothers."
Key members of the team called Hibbert out in the media to improve his performances, but did so in a stern, tough-love way as opposed to taking shots. Power forward David West implored him to dig deep. "He's got to be part of the fight," West said. "He's got to be part of this thing for us to go anywhere."
George added his own two cents in as well. "We're at a point where we're really going to need Roy. And we really need him now." Hibbert addressed his struggles personally, as well as a meeting held with West and reserve Rasual Butler.
"They addressed it, and I'm going to listen, and I'm going to change it up," Hibbert said.
Head coach Frank Vogel prefers to spread the blame all over the roster. It's not just Roy, it's all of us," Vogel said. "I gotta get him some looks to get him going some. ... I gotta call his number sometimes, which I called it zero times (in Game 1)."
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