_____


____36-35 (6th East/2nd Southeast Div)__________________52-20 (1st East/1st Central Div)
_________17-17 home, 25-16 vs East_________________________19-16 Road, 35-9 vs East
__________4-6 Last 10, Streak: L2 ___________________________6-4 Last 10, Streak: W1
Losers of four of their last five games, representing the most powerful city in the world, YOUR Washington Wizards take to the court against the visiting Indiana Pacers. The Pacers currently lead the Eastern Conference and have already clinched a playoff berth. They come off of a hard-fought and physical win on Wednesday night against the Miami Heat.
Leading the visitors are a skilled frontcourt trio of SF Paul George, PF David West, and Georgetown alum C Roy Hibbert. SG Lance Stephenson is a physical swingman who can also step out and hit the three from time-to-time. G/F Evan Turner provides depth off the Pacers bench.
Perhaps feeling the delayed effects of an injury to PF Nene Hilario, YOUR Wizards have hit a bit of a rough stretch. PG John Wall continues to play at a high level. However, the team is currently struggling on defense, giving up an average of 105 points in their last 5 games. Meanwhile, the Pacers play a good brand of defense, giving up an average of 91.7 per game -- good for third in the NBA.
Here are the starting lineups:
Line-Ups
__________


_____________PG John Wall___________________________________PG George Hill
_____20.0 ppg (44% fg, 36% 3pt, 81% ft)___________________10.7 ppg (45% fg, 37% 3pt, 82% ft)
_____8.8 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.9 spg, 0.5 bpg________.___________3.6 apg, 3.8 rpg, 1.0 spg, 0.3 bpg
__________


_____________SG Bradley Beal______________________________SG Lance Stephenson
_____17.0 ppg (41% fg, 41% 3pt, 80% ft)___________________14.2 ppg (50% fg, 35% 3pt, 71% ft)
_____3.4 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 0.2 bpg____________._______4.7 apg, 7.2 rpg, 0.7 spg, 0.1 bpg
__________


_____________SF Trevor Ariza_________________________________SF Paul George
_____14.9 ppg (46% fg, 42% 3pt, 78% ft)___________________21.9 ppg (43% fg, 36% 3pt, 88% ft)
_____2.6 apg, 6.4 rpg, 1.7 spg, 0.3 bpg___________________3.5 apg, 6.6 rpg, 1.8 spg, 0.3 bpg
__________


____________PF Trevor Booker________________________________PF David West
______6.4 ppg (54% fg, 0% 3pt, 57% ft)__________-________13.9 ppg (48% fg, 31% 3pt, 78% ft)
_____5.6 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.6 bpg__________________6.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.9 bpg
__________


_____________C Marcin Gortat__________________________________C Roy Hibbert
_____12.9 ppg (54% fg, 100% 3pt, 69% ft)__________________11.3 ppg (46% fg, 40% 3pt, 78% ft)
___-__9.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.4 spg, 1.5 bpg___________________7.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.4 spg, 2.3 bpg
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This is the home stretch. For any Eastern Conference team that's not named Indiana or Miami (or Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Orlando or Boston), these final games are crucial for playoff positioning. Given the frontcourt skill of the Pacers versus the Wizards relative weakness among their bigs, this game looks to be an uphill battle. The teams have played twice before this season, both times in Indiana, with the Pacers trouncing the Wiz by 20 and 27 points, respectively.
But your Wizards have done it before -- defied expectations -- on beating some of the NBA's elite teams. Given the importance of this game, can YOUR Washington Wizards fine a way to beat the Pacers?
Post your thoughts and comments below.
What: Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers
When: 7:00 p.m. EST
Where: Verizon Center -- Washington, DC
Radio: WFED-AM, 1500, 106.7 TheFan
TV: CSN, NBATV, NBA League Pass, Quasi-legal internet streams
Let's go Wizards!
