Round 2, Game 1: SET THE TONE! Wizards @ Pacers 7 PM TNT 5/5

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

question for Wiz fans. If someone had a crystal ball and said we are going to definitely win one of the first 2 games. Which one do you think it most likely would be?

As for game one, we are well rested so we should take game 1. On the other hand Indy is still in playoff mode while we are rusty and dont have that intensity so they should win. They went 7 with the Hawks and we went 5 with the bulls so we should win game 1 on confidence. On the other hand Indy played their best in game 7 and Hibbert found his game again while they are also on a 2 game winning streak so they should win game 1 on confidence. lol.......IDK. We just need to steal one of those first 2

Maybe the 2nd one. They're sharp coming off b2b wins to get the series.
(maybe)We're not sharp.
They win the first convincingly, then relax and we steal the 2nd one. Then we split 2 at
home before winning games 5-6 to take the series. That's my wishful thinking prediction.

Jim, I think the Wizards need to win game one. If they do, then everything favors Washington. Unfortunately, after seeing Indy put clamps on Atlanta, I don't think the Wizards will have much success game one. The layoff and late travel both work against Washington. The Pacers appear to be peaking and primed to go.

That's why a game one win can be huge. Their doubt creeps in big time and they're already desperate by game two. A game one Wizards win will speed the hype train. That same mojo displayed virtually the entire Chicago series will be on for real and through the whole series.

I hope to heck I am wrong but I see game one going Indy, maybe in a lopsided fashion. If the refs let them come over the back like in game 7 vs ATL, the Wizards are in trouble.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Deivy202]

John eall needs to go off. I can see him avg 18 ppg this series as well as gortart getting good gamea

[Dark Faze]

One thing the Chicago series taught me is that if we keep our turnovers low and pound the offensive glass we have a shot to cause a lot of damage. I know the Pacers are fresher than us but I don't think their series with Atlanta helps them much at all against us. On the otherhand I think playing against Thibs is going to have us super confident for this one on Monday.

[AFM]

So I take it George Hill will be guarding Wall... Is he a capable defender?

[nate33]

I cant stresss this enough because i seriously think everyone including our own fans are way undevaluing what we just did. The Bulls produced the best record in the Eastern Conference since Jan. 1, going 36-16. No one wanted to play them. I dont care if you think they had flaws or not, we beat them in 5. Thats impressive. We shredded the #1 D in the league. Thats impressive.

I downplay the achievement because it was pretty clear to me (certainly after Game 1) that there was a significant talent mismatch between the teams. We had matchup advantages everywhere. I never felt the Bulls were that formidable, the surprise to me was that the Wizards actually put things together and truly played up to their talent level.

So, yes, I'm not overly impressed with the Wizards' achievement. I'm happy, but I don't have the confidence to think "we've arrived". What gives me a lot of hope, however, is that I'm also fairly unimpressed with Indiana. It took them 7 games to beat an Atlanta team that went 22-31 in the East in the 53 games they played without Horford. Atlanta was a really bad basketball team.

[dckingsfan]

I cant stresss this enough because i seriously think everyone including our own fans are way undevaluing what we just did. The Bulls produced the best record in the Eastern Conference since Jan. 1, going 36-16. No one wanted to play them. I dont care if you think they had flaws or not, we beat them in 5. Thats impressive. We shredded the #1 D in the league. Thats impressive.

I downplay the achievement because it was pretty clear to me (certainly after Game 1) that there was a significant talent mismatch between the teams. We had matchup advantages everywhere. I never felt the Bulls were that formidable, the surprise to me was that the Wizards actually put things together and truly played up to their talent level.

So, yes, I'm not overly impressed with the Wizards' achievement. I'm happy, but I don't have the confidence to think "we've arrived". What gives me a lot of hope, however, is that I'm also fairly unimpressed with Indiana. It took them 7 games to beat an Atlanta team that went 22-31 in the East in the 53 games they played without Horford. Atlanta was a really bad basketball team.

And if Atlanta had connected on some of those many 3s... we would be playing Atlanta

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

A silver lining is that I probably won't be right again.

I wanted Chicago. I posted prior to the series that I thought Washington would win convincingly, 4-1.

This time I see Indiana smothering the Wizards and Wall putting up a ton of bricks. Roy gives Nene fits. The Wizards struggle to get their offense going. Scola kills off the bench. Booker struggles mightily.

(Alternate ending: Gortat mans up huge. Wizards win.)

Sent from my SGH-M919 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Must get myself back in a lather.

All this downtime has rendered me a normal, non-NBA-obsessed, beautiful spring day enjoying human being.

I so need to snap out of it.

Doc, got a good anti-Indy screed in ya?

JWiz, got some id-infused purple prose to sling?

Need to leave the civility behind and get the fangs bloody again!

[dckingsfan]

A silver lining is that I probably won't be right again.

I wanted Chicago. I posted prior to the series that I thought Washington would win convincingly, 4-1.

This time I see Indiana smothering the Wizards and Wall putting up a ton of bricks. Roy gives Nene fits. The Wizards struggle to get their offense going. Scola kills off the bench. Booker struggles mightily.

(Alternate ending: Gortat mans up huge. Wizards win.)

Sent from my SGH-M919 using RealGM Forums mobile app

I think where Atlanta gave Indiana fits is having Pero Antic, Paul Millsap and Mike Scott bombing from the outside. It made Hibbert useless on the inside. We don't have that with Nene or Gortat and West and Hibbert are comfortable guarding out to 18 feet (just not to the 3 point line). Wall doesn't seem to like to drive inside on Hibbert - but I can't really get inside his head.

[FAH1223]

A silver lining is that I probably won't be right again.

I wanted Chicago. I posted prior to the series that I thought Washington would win convincingly, 4-1.

This time I see Indiana smothering the Wizards and Wall putting up a ton of bricks. Roy gives Nene fits. The Wizards struggle to get their offense going. Scola kills off the bench. Booker struggles mightily.

(Alternate ending: Gortat mans up huge. Wizards win.)

This happens if the Wizards take the first "open" shot at every turn. Classic Randy Wittman basketball.

In the last series, the ball swung which impressed me the most. Not a lot of hero ball. They got great shots not just good, open shots.

Plus, the Hawks took 44 3 point shots yesterday and they had a lot of open looks. Indiana won by 12.

Something isn't right with that picture IMO. The Pacers defense didn't seem all that impressive to me and their offense came to a halt with turnovers and their own bricks.

Good thing is that the Wizards don't turn it over as much as the Pacers and the Wizards are a top 10 defensive team in their own right.

[pineappleheadindc]

Defensive boards are key tomorrow night. We want Wall, Beal, and Ariza, who will trail the break and stop at the 3 point line, to beat West and Hibbert down the court. Wall needs to be attacking the cup like a heat seeking missile.

[nate33]

Atlanta went 12-29 in the post Horford era against teams not named Boston, Milwaukee, Philly, Orlando or Cleveland.

[dobrojim]

One thing the Chicago series taught me is that if we keep our turnovers low and pound the offensive glass we have a shot to cause a lot of damage. I know the Pacers are fresher than us but I don't think their series with Atlanta helps them much at all against us. On the otherhand I think playing against Thibs is going to have us super confident for this one on Monday.

We're fresher than them. Our legs should be well rested. The layoff might
affect our execution but it shouldn't give them any kind of freshness advantage.

And I totally expect that the team travelled today. The short flight to INDY
on chartered air should not be a problem for us.

[dobrojim]

Defensive boards are key tomorrow night. We want Wall, Beal, and Ariza, who will trail the break and stop at the 3 point line, to beat West and Hibbert down the court. Wall needs to be attacking the cup like a heat seeking missile.

Defensive boards will be important. No doubt. Low TOs!!! High assists.
That's been a major part of our winning formula, when we win (duh).
The high assists infers good shooting.

eFG% differential is the tell tale stat. We win that one, we should win
the game. Right Kev?

[pineappleheadindc]

I've been "preparing" for tomorrow night's game by re-watching the close out game vs Chicago. That last four minutes, when the Wiz got about a hundred offensive boards, was fun to watch.

Wizards board peeps, get ready to RELEASE THE KRAKEN!!

[Wizardspride]

A silver lining is that I probably won't be right again.

I wanted Chicago. I posted prior to the series that I thought Washington would win convincingly, 4-1.

This time I see Indiana smothering the Wizards and Wall putting up a ton of bricks. Roy gives Nene fits. The Wizards struggle to get their offense going. Scola kills off the bench. Booker struggles mightily.

(Alternate ending: Gortat mans up huge. Wizards win.)

This happens if the Wizards take the first "open" shot at every turn. Classic Randy Wittman basketball.

In the last series, the ball swung which impressed me the most. Not a lot of hero ball. They got great shots not just good, open shots.

Plus, the Hawks took 44 3 point shots yesterday and they had a lot of open looks. Indiana won by 12.

Something isn't right with that picture IMO. The Pacers defense didn't seem all that impressive to me and their offense came to a halt with turnovers and their own bricks.

Good thing is that the Wizards don't turn it over as much as the Pacers and the Wizards are a top 10 defensive team in their own right.

Yeah, I'm glad you brought this up. The Pacers won the game but it sure wasn't because of their lockdown defense or anything.

Atlanta had the same wide open shots that they had all series.

Unfortunately for them, they just happened to miss them in game 7.

I'm PRAYING the Wizards get those same shots.

[wolfv]

I'm now on the Washington bandwagon

Go wiz

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I'm now on the Washington bandwagon

Go wiz

Excellent. We welcome all Raps fans....


I secretly like Canadians.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

All these Toronto fans... steal a heart.

Where are all the knuckleheads who posted before our triple OT win?

I was definitely pulling for Toronto. I love watching the baton being passed to a new generation of players (Granted I also love watching Timmy D and the vets keep doing their thing... But JJ, Pierce, and Garnett can go the way of the dinosaurs for all I care... after they dispose of Miami).

[SUPERBALLMAN]

All these Toronto fans... steal a heart.

Where are all the knuckleheads who posted before our triple OT win?

I was definitely pulling for Toronto. I love watching the baton being passed to a new generation of players (Granted I also love watching Timmy D and the vets keep doing their thing... But JJ, Pierce, and Garnett can go the way of the dinosaurs for all I care... after they dispose of Miami).

How do the Nets look now, purposefully matching themselves up with Toronto and getting all they can handle pushed to 7, and now getting Miami.

This series vs Indy is gonna be great! So excited and glad for this team. Thinking back to preseason when Wall and Beal and Ariza, and most of the team were getting together on their own and playing, and working toward this season, and seeing how it has paid off and how this team has really come together.

Hoping Wizards come out physical and with fire. Hit 'em in the mouth, and really push the tempo. Gortat's gotta make Hibbert work, Nene must outplay West. I expect to see more of Gooden and Harrington, as well as Booker to come in with fresh legs and physicality to help wear them down. Ariza and Beal must neutralize George and Stephenson. Leaving Wall's speed and domination of the point to be the difference in this series.

WIZARDS IN 6.