The Indiana Pacers, who was once considered a clear favorite to knock off the Miami Heat, was in a stretch where the team was dysfunctional and those problems continued in the first round. For much of the regular season, it was assumed the Heat had only one true challenger in the East: Indiana. The problem is, the top-seeded Pacers haven't resembled the group that rolled to a 46-13 start in some time. They lost 13 of their final 23 games of the season and needed seven to fight off the eighth-seeded Hawks. Indiana trailed for majority of the series but the Pacers responded by winning Game 6 and Game 7 and finally were able to put away the tough and gritty #8 seed Atlanta Hawks in front of a sold out Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as the Pacers won their first game 7 in a playoff series. They worked all year to get home court for scenarios such as this but they were anticipating it being for the Miami Heat, not this early on their road to the NBA Finals. Let’s see if this series will wake up the Pacers as they host the Washington Wizards, who is the #5 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards, stunned many fans and experts alike by defeating a defensive heavy Chicago Bulls team led by Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah and made them look mediocre to most whom picked the Bulls to advance in the series. Washington’s NeNe Hilaro's presence in the post was a key contributor to the Wizards (4-1) series victory over the favorite Chicago. Also, some of their role players like Trevor Ariza and Marcin Gortat, as well as reserves Andre Miller and Trevor Booker, stepped up to provide solid complementary production for a team whom won their its first playoff series since 2005 and is unexpectedly emerging as a legit threat in the Eastern Conference.
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| Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images |
The Pacers playoff success looks more relevant as "Mr. Irrelevant" showed some signs of life in their Game 7 victory over Atlanta as center Roy Hibbert posted (13) points, (7) rebounds, and (5) blocks in 31 minutes, which was the most minutes he played during that series since the first game of the series. The small ball Indiana's head coach Frank Vogel installed in their last matchup could possibly be a disadvantage in this series. Alongside NeNe, Marcin Gortat has played at a high level, which gives Washington an intriguing advantage in the front court if Hibbert continues to play "soft” because Nene can attack Hibbert and the Pacers' frontcourt with a devastating array of power moves and with Gortat, whom averaged an impressive (10.8) points per game, (9.6) rebounds and (2.0) blocks in the playoffs so far could really be a problem in this series for Indiana. As for Indiana, Hibbert's counterpart David West whom averaged (13.4) points per game, (6.9) rebounds per game, (4.9) assists per game, and (1.6) blocks per game and was a hero in game six to help them reach a game seven and against Atlanta. Although West is providing a solid impact, Hibbert must provide more than the (4.0) points and (3.2) rebounds per game, which he posted in the first six games of the series if they will advance to the second Eastern Conference Finals in a row.
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Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) dribbles past Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3). (Photo: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports)
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Similar to Atlanta, the Wizards have solid players who are good perimeter defenders that compliment their outstanding post play. The Wizards entire starting line-up can post a double-figure performance any game and do not rely on one person to carry the load. Point guard John Wall, in his 3rd season out of Kentucky, averaged (18.8) points per game to go with (6.8) assists in the Chicago series, which is a huge advantage against guards such as George Hill and C.J. Watson, Indiana’s counter point guards. In the series against the Hawks, Indiana struggled with Atlanta’s point guard Jeff Teague was able to breakdown the defense and Wall's similar in style but a better all-around scorer may have his way with the Pacers front court. When you’re adding in Bradley Beal to the equation, Washington has arguably the best backcourt in the East. Wall and Beal's play in the first round was worthy of that title. When Chicago was able to shut down one, the other would take over. Beal, in his first playoff series, averaged (19.8) points per game, (4.2) assists per game, (4.6) rebounds per game, which is simply amazing for the young shooting guard while Washington has a 73-point differential with small forward and defensive anchor Trevor Ariza on the floor which leads the team. Ariza defensive pressure will be needed against Pacers star Paul George. George posted tremendous numbers in the series against the Hawks averaging (23.2) points and (10.2) rebounds per game, while putting up a playoff career high 30 points in their series closeout win on Saturday. Ariza is also a huge problem for George, who has been Indiana's most consistent source of offense all season, in Trevor Ariza. George shot just 31.3 percent in 96 minutes while Ariza was on the floor this season. The Wizards have all the ingredients needed to take down the Pacers: a dynamic backcourt, a formidable front-line and a lock-down defense.
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Indiana Pacers forward Paul George defends Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Friday, January 10, 2014, in Indianapolis.
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Lance Stephenson played better the final two games averaging (20) points per game but the biggest story of the series will be the post-game between Indiana and Washington. Roy Hibbert came on to the scene after the Pacers second round series win versus the Knicks in last year’s playoffs, however he has faded off the planet in this year's playoffs. Washington brings experienced playoff veterans such as Trevor Ariza and Andre Miller coming off the bench, Washington poses as an even bigger threat than the Atlanta Hawks were. In the Pacers wins versus the Hawks with an unreliable Hibbert they were able to dominate the interior scoring, and if Indiana can get NeNe in foul trouble as he fouled out twice versus Chicago, it will be beneficial to the Pacers capturing a win. The Wizards were (22-19) on the road during the regular season, despite losing the regular season series (2-1) I don’t see Indiana still overcoming their late season debacles. If the Wizards win this series they are headed to the conference finals for the first since the 1978-79 season.
PREDICTION: WIZARDS IN 6 OVER INDIANA
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