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 Very few teams, if any, in the league could withstand the loss of
a standout forward for an entire season and lengthy absences of two
other key players but Indiana have refused to adopt a "woe is me"
attitude.
Though they have stuttered to a dismal 8-18 record while struggling
with patched-up lineups and unfamiliar plays, they have strived to
compete as a team and Vogel has only praise for Indiana's collective
spirit.
"Despite a difficult situation and a lot of losses, everyone has
really stayed positive, believing in one another and believing in
what we do," Vogel told Reuters before the Pacers' 102-100 loss to
the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
 "Even though we've had losses at the rate we have, where we are used
to winning at a much higher rate, it's easy (for the team) to
separate and it's easy to crack but we haven't done that and that's
most impressive.
"It's been tough, no doubt about it, and it's no fun losing. We're
hoping that the way we started is not how we're going to finish the
season, and how the season is going to be defined."
The Pacers were deflated after losing All-Star forward Paul George,
due to a broken right leg, and shooting guard Lance Stephenson, to
the Charlotte Hornets on a three-year contract, before the start of
the 2014-15 season.
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However, point guard George Hill has also been sidelined, with a
bruised left knee, and with power forward David West playing in only
11 games because of a sprained right ankle, Indiana's expectations
have been lowered considerably.
"Obviously you lose your best player, things change," twice All-Star
West told Reuters after scoring 17 points against the Clippers.
"We didn't start the year off healthy, there were not a lot of
bodies, no familiarity with the lineups, stuff like that. We are
just a work in progress. We've got to figure it out as the games
come and as the season rolls along.
"We just keep the mojo going, even though it's a grind. We've got a
lot of basketball left. You've got to adjust. You're just trying to
make the best of whoever is available to play."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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