George Hill's return to Pacers lineup triggers improvement by bench, too

• Bulls at Pacers%2C 7 p.m. Friday%2C FSI

Who knew an Indiana Pacer other than Paul George could key such a productive second half of the season?

That has become the case with George Hill, whose strong return from injury has improved the starting lineup as well as the unit that comes off the bench.

With Hill averaging 14.5 points over the past 11 games, the Pacers are 9-2 and in playoff contention entering Friday's home game against Chicago because the entire team is clicking.

Rodney Stuckey and C.J. Watson have combined for 57 starts this season, but as a recent tandem of reserves they're giving opponents fits.

Stuckey has averaged a team-high 15.6 points since Hill went back to starting Feb. 4. Included in that surge are seven games of 15 or more points and back-to-back 30-point efforts. Stuckey's totals have been fueled by 51 percent shooting (52.2 percent on 3-pointers) and 3.6 assists.

Watson has averaged 7.6 points over that period, steadying the second unit.

"We try to come in and change the tempo, pick the pace up, try to be scrappier," Watson said Thursday after practice at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. "We gamble probably a little more (than the starters), but it's paying off."

It can be argued the Pacers are actually benefiting from the injuries that beset them earlier in the season. Luis Scola got minutes in place of David West. Stuckey and Watson spelled Hill; Sloan spelled them. Ian Mahinmi and Lavoy Allen occasionally took Roy Hibbert's place. Solomon Hill, who for now is a starter, has stepped into the void created by George's broken leg.

Now, they're helping with that second unit.

"It's about getting minutes," said Scola, who is averaging 10.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 50 percent shooting since Hill returned to full-time status. "If you get a lot of minutes — starter's minutes — it's better. If you get less it's more difficult, but you're better if you've had those minutes (earlier)."

Pacers coach Frank Vogel said a team is always a sum of its parts.

"(These) parts fit," he said. "Stuckey's ability to attack (the basket) with C.J. Watson and (Damjan) Rudez spacing the floor and Luis and Ian doing all the dirty work.

"They're in a pretty good groove right now."

In the 49 games without Hill as a starter, the backup Pacers averaged 40.7 points and 8.2 assists, and both numbers have increased in the past 11 games — to 42.8 and 10.2, respectively.

"They're playing at a high level," Vogel said of the reserves. "Guys getting extended minutes earlier in the season, with this group of teammates in this system has helped all those guys find better rhythm."

The bench play figures to get another boost if George returns in the next couple of weeks because one of the current starters — likely Solomon Hill — will be moved into the second group. The experience Hill has gained this season — 56 starts in the 60 games he has played — has been invaluable and certainly will be important as a backup.

Although starter minutes tend to increase in the pressure-packed playoffs, any team will benefit from having reliable players coming off the bench. In Indiana's case, Stuckey and Watson will be counted on for key contributions, but Vogel knows he will have Scola, Mahinmi, Allen, Sloan, Rudez and even lesser-used Shayne Whittington and Chris Copeland at his disposal.

"It takes a team," Watson said.

Follow Star reporter Curt Cavin on Twitter: @curtcavin.

CHICAGO at INDIANA

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Friday.

TV: Fox Sports Indiana.

Radio: WFNI-107.5-FM, 1070 AM.

BULLS (38-23)

PACERS (26-34)

STORYLINES

Playoff standing: The Pacers and Bulls still have much to play for as the final quarter of the season unfolds. Indiana is a half-game behind Charlotte for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference, while Chicago, its Central Division rival, is in a hot battle for the No. 2 spot. The Bulls entered Thursday night's game with Oklahoma City in a tie with Toronto and Cleveland. One of those three enters the playoffs No. 2, one of them No. 4. It could be important to avoid No. 1 Atlanta in the second round. The Hawks currently have a 10.5-game lead.

New-look Bulls: This Chicago lineup isn't the one the organization thought would be contending for an NBA Finals berth. Yes, Gasol and Noah are playing well up front, but Jimmy Butler (20.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists) and Derrick Rose (18.4 points) are out, and that puts more emphasis on Snell, Brooks and a shortened bench. Playing the Pacers without Butler is significant given that he scored 32 and 27 points in the two previous meetings this season. The Pacers have split with Chicago, winning 99-90 and losing 92-90. The final meeting between the teams is March 18 in Chicago.

Prediction: The Pacers are gunning for their first four-game winning streak of the season after being stopped a single game short three other times. This figures to be attainable given that the Bulls hosted the Thunder Thursday night and the Pacers should be rested after Wednesday's 105-82 home rout of New York. Also, the Pacers are over .500 at home for the first time since the first game of the season. Indiana wins 94-89.

— Curt Cavin