Round 2, Game 2: GET GREEDY! Wizards @ Pacers 7 PM TNT 5/7

[dlts20]

yeah Im not buying the 4th quarter stuff and them figuring us out. That was just some game in hand, normal NBA comeback crap that doesnt mean anything. Same stuff we use to be famous for. We lose 50 games but we have promise because we cut 20pt lead to 8 in the 4th. Then we still get stomped in the next game. All I know is that the Pacers and Heat/Nets better hope Walls stroke stays off because I still think we beat both if its on

[GhostsOfGil]

http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos ... ser-5-5-14

[bealwithit]

hate the way we closed out the 4th--boxscore looks like it was even but I think they figured some things out that could make game 2 go more in their favor--specifically:

Hill being more aggressive on PNR with the jumper
Unleashing Copeland
More minutes for Turner
Baiting us into Gortat/Gooden isolations

Meh. It looked close because Hill put on his best Reggie Miller impersonation for a few possessions there in the last minute.

I'm not so sure I fear Turner getting more burn... at all.
I WAS surprised it took them so long to get Copeland in.

It`s weird, Copeland and Turner can cause us problems and Vogel barely play them.It seems as though Turner`s stats are of the empty variety.

Turner is lame and Pacers fans hate him. The best way for Indiana to get back in the series is to make their lineup:
PG: Watson
SG: Stephenson
SF: George
PF: West
PF: Scola
Don't play Hibbert at all (only if the other bigs get in foul trouble), Mahinmi gets those minutes, give Turner's minutes to Copeland and bring Hill off the bench
Thing is, that's not gonna happen. Vogel won't do it.

[FAH1223]

I really think the Wiz need to do a better job of that pick and roll. West killed us with it, Scola was open for a few buckets. And they ran it a lot, the high pick and roll, that's their bread and butter.

Lazy close outs tbh... Scola especially being wide open every single time and Scola has historically killed us

[queridiculo]

I really think the Wiz need to do a better job of that pick and roll. West killed us with it, Scola was open for a few buckets. And they ran it a lot, the high pick and roll, that's their bread and butter.

I disagree, as far as I am concerned they can take those jumpers all day as long as Hibbert doesn't score close to the basket and PG and Stephenson are kept out of the lane.

Those long jumpers by Scola and West are not going to beat us, as long as we don't allow them convert misses into second chance points.

[FAH1223]

Turner is lame and Pacers fans hate him. The best way for Indiana to get back in the series is to make their lineup:
PG: Watson
SG: Stephenson
SF: George
PF: West
PF: Scola
Don't play Hibbert at all (only if the other bigs get in foul trouble), Mahinmi gets those minutes, give Turner's minutes to Copeland and bring Hill off the bench
Thing is, that's not gonna happen. Vogel won't do it.

Wall will need to drive to the basket when the two Centers are out

[pineappleheadindc]

Turner is lame and Pacers fans hate him. The best way for Indiana to get back in the series is to make their lineup:
PG: Watson
SG: Stephenson
SF: George
PF: West
PF: Scola
Don't play Hibbert at all (only if the other bigs get in foul trouble), Mahinmi gets those minutes, give Turner's minutes to Copeland and bring Hill off the bench
Thing is, that's not gonna happen. Vogel won't do it.

Wall will need to drive to the basket when the two Centers are out

Agreed. Wall can get by Watson at will. If the Pacers play this lineup, they better put someone else on Wall.

Otherwise, he needs to attack the cup like a hungry dog finding a pork chop. West and Scola can't protect the rim like Hibbert can (when Hibbert is actually, you know, playing).

[Ruzious]

I really think the Wiz need to do a better job of that pick and roll. West killed us with it, Scola was open for a few buckets. And they ran it a lot, the high pick and roll, that's their bread and butter.

Lazy close outs tbh... Scola especially being wide open every single time and Scola has historically killed us

But really, how badly are you going to get burned by giving up 19 foot jumpers to Scola and West? I don't want them given wide open shots, but I don't mind cheating off them a bit.

[queridiculo]

What I'm mostly concerned with regarding this lineup is Nene's matchup with West. I can see him getting in foul trouble guarding West on the top of the key in situations where he goes for the ball fake and West opts to drive to the hoop.

Nene needs to be disciplined, and stay out of foul trouble.

On the other end of the court though this lineup could be a defensive disaster for the Pacers.

West can't guard Nene, and Gortat would eat Scola alive.

[Rafael122]

I really think the Wiz need to do a better job of that pick and roll. West killed us with it, Scola was open for a few buckets. And they ran it a lot, the high pick and roll, that's their bread and butter.

Lazy close outs tbh... Scola especially being wide open every single time and Scola has historically killed us

But really, how badly are you going to get burned by giving up 19 foot jumpers to Scola and West? I don't want them given wide open shots, but I don't mind cheating off them a bit.

When they made that run in the 2nd I believe it seemed as though they ran the same play over and over again, and every time West was open for the jumper, gotta close out!

[closg00]

Is Hibbert seeing a sports shrink? As a point of personal pride, he has no-where to go but if with his performance.

[Ruzious]

Lazy close outs tbh... Scola especially being wide open every single time and Scola has historically killed us

But really, how badly are you going to get burned by giving up 19 foot jumpers to Scola and West? I don't want them given wide open shots, but I don't mind cheating off them a bit.

When they made that run in the 2nd I believe it seemed as though they ran the same play over and over again, and every time West was open for the jumper, gotta close out!

Maybe so, but there was a stretch in the 4th quarter when it seemed like most times when we scored it was 3 points, and most times they scored, it was on long 2's - up until the end when George Hill reversed the 3 for 2. I'd rather their PF's get a bunch of 19 footers than Hill and George getting good looks from 3. But I concur the Wiz ideally should close out a bit better on the long 2's.

[bealwithit]

What I'm mostly concerned with regarding this lineup is Nene's matchup with West. I can see him getting in foul trouble guarding West on the top of the key in situations where he goes for the ball fake and West opts to drive to the hoop.

Nene needs to be disciplined, and stay out of foul trouble.

On the other end of the court though this lineup could be a defensive disaster for the Pacers.

West can't guard Nene, and Gortat would eat Scola alive.

Yeah, I only put that together because the Pacers offense would be able to finally score points which is what they need right now. Imo, Watson taking the starting job from Hill would make the biggest difference. They'd lose hard on defense though and that's why Vogel would never do it.

[queridiculo]

When they made that run in the 2nd I believe it seemed as though they ran the same play over and over again, and every time West was open for the jumper, gotta close out!

You can't defend every inch off the court.

Closing out hard on 18 footers only removes rebounders from under the basket, and leaves the defense vulnerable to drive and kicks.

You pick a point of emphasis, and live with giving up certain shots.

If the Scola and West beat us shooting those long two's so be it.

[LyricalRico]

When they made that run in the 2nd I believe it seemed as though they ran the same play over and over again, and every time West was open for the jumper, gotta close out!

You can't defend every inch off the court.

Closing out hard on 18 footers only removes rebounders from under the basket, and leaves the defense vulnerable to drive and kicks.

You pick a point of emphasis, and live with giving up certain shots.

If the Scola and West beat us shooting those long two's so be it.

I agree with this. They seem to be focusing on getting rebounds so they can push the tempo, while at the same time not allowing open 3's, and are willing to let West/Scola have the open 18-footer to accomplish that. You can't take away everything, so I'd rather that than letting guys like George and Hill (and Copeland if Vogel would actually play him) get hot from outside or letting Hibbert get his confidence back inside.

West and Scola aren't big scorers, so even if both of them get 12-16 it's not something we can't overcome. Let a guy like Paul George get loose, however, and he goes off for 35+ by himself while also opening things up for the rest of the team. No thanks. I'll take my chances with West/Scola.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

When they made that run in the 2nd I believe it seemed as though they ran the same play over and over again, and every time West was open for the jumper, gotta close out!

You can't defend every inch off the court.

Closing out hard on 18 footers only removes rebounders from under the basket, and leaves the defense vulnerable to drive and kicks.

You pick a point of emphasis, and live with giving up certain shots.

If the Scola and West beat us shooting those long two's so be it.

I agree with this. They seem to be focusing on getting rebounds so they can push the temp, while at the same time not allowing open 3's, and are willing to let West/Scola have the open 18-footer to accomplish that. You can't take away everything, so I'd rather that than letting guys like George and Hill (and Copeland if Vogel would actually play him) get hot from outside or letting Hibbert get his confidence back inside.

West and Scola aren't big scorers, so even if both of them get 12-16 it's not something we can't overcome. Let a guy like Paul George get loose, however, and he goes off for 35+ by himself while also opening things up for the rest of the team. No thanks. I'll take my chances with West/Scola.

Agreed. Our best bet is not to overact if either of those two make that elbow jumper. We simply need to decently contest those shots, but of course, not fall for the pump as someone already mentioned. If they make a few, you live with that, we don't need to freak out and overcompensate if they do. That's both Scola's and West's bread-and-butter shot, their going to make some.

Talking about this subject of mid-rangers from big men, it seems like Gortat has completely abandoned his little mid-range jumper. Seems he camps his butt in the paint and lets Nene flair out to spread the floor. The results have been good so far, Gortat is averaging almost 4 orpg (good for 4th best behind Howard, Gibson, and Lopez in the playoffs).

[MikeTheKid]

All I know is these Hibbert rumors are getting crazy.....................

[pancakes3]

All I know is these Hibbert rumors are getting crazy.....................

Can someone provide a gossip digest of these for those of us who are too lazy/unmotivated to seek it out ourselves, or are they really so distasteful that it's better left alone?

[Rafael122]

All I know is these Hibbert rumors are getting crazy.....................

Can someone provide a gossip digest of these for those of us who are too lazy/unmotivated to seek it out ourselves, or are they really so distasteful that it's better left alone?

Rumor is either Paul George or Lance slept with Roy's wife during all star weekend.

BTW, I'm glad these games are every other day. One thing that irked me about the first round was waiting 2-3 days for another game. Also helps keep the momentum going. That 5 day rest was crucial.

[payitforward]

hate the way we closed out the 4th--boxscore looks like it was even but I think they figured some things out that could make game 2 go more in their favor--specifically:

Hill being more aggressive on PNR with the jumper
Unleashing Copeland
More minutes for Turner
Baiting us into Gortat/Gooden isolations

Good points -- but, we're looking at the same video they're looking at. We're not going to stand still.