Game Thread Round 2 Game 5 Wizards at Pacers 7pm 5/13/2014

jeffsays · Post #1 » by **jeffsays** » Mon May 12, 2014 3:25 pm

Alright guys here it goes. Will the Wizard's season end or do they have enough to pull off a miraculous comeback? Either way it's been a great ride to be apart of. Go Wizards!

Edit: I'll be making some more changes to the OP soon!

How I feel watching replays from this series

FAH1223 · Post #2 » by **FAH1223** » Mon May 12, 2014 3:37 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/status/465687837288202240[/tweet]

FAH1223 · Post #3 » by **FAH1223** » Mon May 12, 2014 4:00 pm

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... um=twitter

WASHINGTON – The Wizards are the youngest team still playing in the Eastern Conference, but they’re not defined completely by their youthful backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal.

They also have what Washington coach Randy Wittman has dubbed the “AARP group” – Andre Miller, Al Harrington and Drew Gooden.

In Game 4 against the Pacers on Sunday, the AARP group nearly led the Wizards to victory and the unit could key a Washington comeback trailing 3-1 in the series.

Miller (38), Harrington (34) and Gooden (32) are the Wizards’ oldest players, and they often played together flanked by Beal and Martell Webster. When that lineup entered Game 4 in the second quarter, the Wizards immediately went on a 12-0 run.

“Thank god,” Wittman said. “They kind of saved the day.”

In the three-point loss, the Wizards outscored the Pacers by 19 points in the 15 minutes Miller, Harrington, Gooden, Beal and Webster played together.

That level of success is no huge surprise. That unit was +32 in 151 minutes during the regular season (offensive rating: 116.0/defensive rating: 104.8/net rating: +11.2).

Harrington’s and Gooden’s ability to space the floor could keep giving Roy Hibbert problems. As well as Hibbert has played lately, he’s still vulnerable when pulled from the paint.

But maybe Wittman stuck with the AARP group too long Sunday. Harrington (11 points, six rebounds and three steals), Gooden (10 points, four rebounds and three blocks) and Miller (seven points and four assists) faded late.

And Paul George excelled, overcoming what was on track to be a special night for the AARP group when it left the court for Wall to lead the team down the stretch.

“Sometimes,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said, acknowledging the Wizards’ success, “you can be undone by a special performance.”

Post #4 » by **nate33** » Mon May 12, 2014 4:04 pm

The Wizards know they no longer have any hope of winning the series. They are broken.

The only way they win this game is if Indy starts celebrating too early and lose focus.

Illmatic12 · Post #5 » by **Illmatic12** » Mon May 12, 2014 4:08 pm

FAH1223 wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/status/465687837288202240[/tweet]

It's funny, all the regular season issues are playing out like clockwork in the playoffs.

Bad home team, poor FT shooting, can't close out games.. they are who we thought they were

FAH1223 · Post #6 » by **FAH1223** » Mon May 12, 2014 4:25 pm

Illmatic12 wrote:
Bad home team, poor FT shooting, can't close out games.. they are who we thought they were

Don't forget the bad 3rd quarter play. It also killed us in the CHI series.

Flight33 · Post #7 » by **Flight33** » Mon May 12, 2014 4:29 pm

Just a young team that made regular young team mistakes.

Illmatic12 · Post #8 » by **Illmatic12** » Mon May 12, 2014 4:43 pm

FAH1223 wrote:
Illmatic12 wrote:
Bad home team, poor FT shooting, can't close out games.. they are who we thought they were

Don't forget the bad 3rd quarter play. It also killed us in the CHI series.

Yep gotta mention that too. Every 3rd quarter you just know it's coming..

On the brightside, Beal has been amazing for this being his first playoff run. Imagine how good this kid is gonna be with a few more years under his belt. He's gonna be one of those classic playoff performers like a Paul Pierce

Post #9 » by **nate33** » Mon May 12, 2014 5:23 pm

Illmatic12 wrote:On the brightside, Beal has been amazing for this being his first playoff run. Imagine how good this kid is gonna be with a few more years under his belt. He's gonna be one of those classic playoff performers like a Paul Pierce

Yup. This is the biggest bright spot of this entire playoff run. Beal has been a pleasant surprise. Overall, his numbers are merely "solid" rather than exceptional once you account for his minutes played; but he has been consistently stuffing the box score, playing pretty good D, and in general, showing a veteran's poise. I couldn't be happier with his play.

Dat2U · Post #10 » by **Dat2U** » Mon May 12, 2014 5:55 pm

I assume a game 5 loss. My only curiosity will be to see if Wall continues his "game manager" ways. I don't care how many shots Wall puts up, I want to see him attack the rim time and time again like he's capable of. I don't care if he misses 10 layups or has 10 TOs or gets knocked down 10 times... GO TO THE RIM AND FINISH!

NbdyBeatsTheWiz · Post #11 » by **NbdyBeatsTheWiz** » Mon May 12, 2014 6:17 pm

jeffsays wrote:
How I feel watching replays from this series

Lol.

This is how they make me feel:

Which is why I've avoided SportsCenter and any highlights like the plague today.

Illmatic12 · Post #12 » by **Illmatic12** » Mon May 12, 2014 6:29 pm

nate33 wrote:
Illmatic12 wrote:On the brightside, Beal has been amazing for this being his first playoff run. Imagine how good this kid is gonna be with a few more years under his belt. He's gonna be one of those classic playoff performers like a Paul Pierce

Yup. This is the biggest bright spot of this entire playoff run. Beal has been a pleasant surprise. Overall, his numbers are merely "solid" rather than exceptional once you account for his minutes played; but he has been consistently stuffing the box score, playing pretty good D, and in general, showing a veteran's poise. I couldn't be happier with his play.

I'm not just talking about his numbers. He's been quite exceptional in terms of making big shots and stepping up his game in the 4th q, and his defense has been really solid overall.

Beal has been exceptional.

fishercob · Post #13 » by **fishercob** » Mon May 12, 2014 8:13 pm

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7vtWB4owdE[/youtube]

TheKingOfVa360 · Post #14 » by **TheKingOfVa360** » Mon May 12, 2014 8:52 pm

If Wall played half as good as he did during the season we could be up 3-1 in this series. Didn't expect him to struggle in the playoffs but I guess it's a learning experience. Hopefully the Wizards can at least extend the series and bring it back to DC.

dckingsfan · Post #15 » by **dckingsfan** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:35 pm

TheKingOfVa360 wrote:If Wall played half as good as he did during the season we could be up 3-1 in this series. Didn't expect him to struggle in the playoffs but I guess it's a learning experience. Hopefully the Wizards can at least extend the series and bring it back to DC.

That's it right. If it is a learning experience and he comes back better next year fine.

If this is who Wall is - damn.

TheKingOfVa360 · Post #16 » by **TheKingOfVa360** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:39 pm

dckingsfan wrote:
TheKingOfVa360 wrote:If Wall played half as good as he did during the season we could be up 3-1 in this series. Didn't expect him to struggle in the playoffs but I guess it's a learning experience. Hopefully the Wizards can at least extend the series and bring it back to DC.

That's it right. If it is a learning experience and he comes back better next year fine.

If this is who Wall is - damn.

That's my major fear. I hope he isn't one of those players that will consistently under perform in the playoffs. This game manager stuff isn't working vs the Pacers. Wall has to attack.

AWIZZINGBULLET · Post #17 » by **AWIZZINGBULLET** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:49 pm

nate33 wrote:The Wizards know they no longer have any hope of winning the series. They are broken.

The only way they win this game is if Indy starts celebrating too early and lose focus.

I don't believe that.

All it takes is for Nene and Gortat to have that look like they've come to play---but especially Nene. They both have to play up to their status on the team.

I think Beal will show up and Wall will find a way to contribute without compromising the team. If all this happens I see the Wizards forcing a game 6 and then a game 7.

When the team has faced a stingy defense like the Pacers or Spurs, one or both of the Wizards big men have failed to show up. They both had better bring it.

long suffrin' boulez fan · Post #18 » by **long suffrin' boulez fan** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:43 pm

TheKingOfVa360 wrote:
dckingsfan wrote:
TheKingOfVa360 wrote:If Wall played half as good as he did during the season we could be up 3-1 in this series. Didn't expect him to struggle in the playoffs but I guess it's a learning experience. Hopefully the Wizards can at least extend the series and bring it back to DC.

That's it right. If it is a learning experience and he comes back better next year fine.

If this is who Wall is - damn.

That's my major fear. I hope he isn't one of those players that will consistently under perform in the playoffs. This game manager stuff isn't working vs the Pacers. Wall has to attack.

C'mon now. It's been two series. In the first one, he was really good, bordering on great.

The Pacers have keyed on him and his shot has gone missing.

But to call the whole playoffs a story of underperformance is to ignore all of chapter one.

bealwithit · Post #19 » by **bealwithit** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:49 pm

We just gotta put it all out there and play with nothing to lose these next 2 games. Would be hilarious if we made this go to a game 7

Post #20 » by **pineappleheadindc** » Tue May 13, 2014 1:31 am

Looks like the Wizards are going to host another viewing party at the Verizon Center tomorrow night.

I wish I could go. Got daughter duty, though.