The Indiana Pacers are in solid shape heading into the All-Star Break with a 32-21 (60.4%) record.  They are currently #3 in the Eastern Conference, 5 games behind the Heat.  Here is a look at the players who made the biggest impacts in the first half of the 2012-13 season:

Team MVP:  Paul George - 22-year old Paul George shifted to small forward (from shooting guard) to cover for Danny Granger this year and he was excellent in the first half.  He has played in 52 games (all starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 37.8 minutes, 17.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game.  He is shooting 42.2% from the floor, 38.1% from the three point line and 81.8% from the free throw line so far this year.

Biggest Surprise - Lance Stephenson - 22-year old shooting guard Lance Stephenson had been sitting at the end of the Pacers’ bench his whole career until 2012-13.  But, Danny Granger’s injury opened up a hole at shooting guard and Stephenson stepped up to take it.  He has played in 51 games (45 starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 28.9 minutes, 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Stephenson will likely lose some P.T. with Granger returning recently, but the Pacers hope that he keeps up the good work.

Biggest Disappointment:  D.J. Augustin - The Pacers had high hopes for Augustin in 2012-13, but he has face planted so far this year.  Augustin has played in 48 games (3 starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 16.2 minutes, 4.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  He is only shooting 33.7% from the floor and 33.6% from the three point line and those are pretty pathetic numbers.

Sure, the Pacers just got knocked out of the playoffs by the Miami Heat in six games, but that doesn’t change the fact that they had a good year. The Pacers were 42-24 (63.6%) during the regular season and they were 6-5 (54.5%) in the playoffs last year. Here is a look at the players that stood out the most to me in 2011-12 for the Pacers:

Team MVP: Roy Hibbert - 25-year old center Roy Hibbert finally turned into the force inside that many thought he could be. Hibbert played in 65 games (all starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 29.8 minutes, 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game.

Biggest Surprise: Paul George - 22-year old shooting guard Paul George really stepped up in his second year in the NBA. George played in 66 games (all starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 29.7 minutes, 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

Biggest Disappointment: A.J. Price - 25-year old guard A.J. Price didn’t play too well last year for the Pacers. He played in 44 games (1 start) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 12.9 minutes, 3.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Price only shot 33.9% from the floor and 29.5% from three point range last year.