What We Can Learn From the Spurs

In a league where success has become predicated upon having a superstar and sidekick, the Spurs continue to roll over the competition when it matters the most.

Regular season? Gregg Popovich's strategy was simple: Inflate the team's record by winning the games that were expected to be won, and resting/learning from the primetime match-ups with the league's top 7.

The end result was a 62-20 record, a #1 overall seed, and healthy veterans ready to lead another long playoff run.

Now? A 15 and 16 point margin of victory in the 2nd and 3rd quarters against OKC in Game 2 last night in San Antonio.

Pop knows his team, knows the chemistry, and knows which players to invest 2-3 years on to eventually complement the dynasty he's already built (See: Kawhi Leonard).

Let's not forget this is the same OKC team from 2012 that lost the first 2 against SA before winning 4 straight before losing to the Heat 4-1 in the NBA Finals. Despite being Ibaka-less, Durant and Westbrook have the offensive prowess to lead OKC to, at the very least, a competitive 6 or 7 game series against the Spurs.

In the end, though, I don't foresee San Antonio blowing it this time around. Thirsty after last year's debacle against Miami, Timmy Duncan is thirsty for his fifth ring. Duncan will stick around for a couple years, but for Manu, I don't see his elderly, niche style of play holding up for much longer.

Spurs win series 4-1.

The Miami series is nigh impossible to predict at this point.

Which Wade will show up?
Where has Bosh been?
Is Paul George's concussion a factor?
Can Hibbert revive his 2013 Miami match-up playoff form?

If LeBron decides to rely on his teammates (which is a perfectly reasonable assumption), then I see Miami winning in 7.

If he expends the extra 30-50% energy needed to dominate like we all know he's capable of, it's Miami in 5 or 6.

Unfortunately, we have to wait until Saturday evening at 8:30 to see the Pacers on the road at American Airlines Arena.

What Remains of the NBA Playoffs: A Wizards Fan's Remarks

In any sport, when your team is knocked out of the playoffs, it's the opposite of an "Aha!" moment. You had so much hope and optimism, emotions weren't really planned for this.

You try to look forward... who is your favorite to win the title now?

It's akin to your little sister growing up, and there are all these guys interested in her. Your favorite just got mono or moved out of town indefinitely, so you're left with the remainders.

Ideally, you don't want anyone to date her. But you an't just take away the title; that wouldn't be fair to the NBA -- err, the high school.

Inevitably, you move on. What could have been. What should have been.

What will be.

That's the most important part of this post-Game 6 loss.

What will be.

John Wall and Bradley Beal got the national attention they needed and deserved.

Nene even got suspended for almost crushing the skull of modest Jimmy Butler of the Bulls, possibly one of the best success stories in the NBA, currently.

The Wizards made headlines. They'll most likely resign Gortat and let Ariza fall to free agency, with eyes peeled for a scorer to insert alongside the remaining starters.

Notable free agents include...

1. LeBron
2. Dirk
3. Bosh
4. Eric Bledsoe
5. Rudy Gay
6. Zach Randolph
7. Lance Stephenson
8. Carmelo
9. Gordon Hayward
10. Luol Deng

Clearly, some are more ambitious and costly acquisitions than others. Realistically, I'd love to see Bledsoe or Hayward to join the starting 5, but free agency is already usually unpredictable without 5 Hall-of-Famers being involved.

In the end, it's all about who will treat your younger sibling the right way.

Good thing we have the offseason for workouts, interviews, and tests to scrutinize the worthiness of the prospects.

Wiz Kids: Back on the Streets

Home.

It's a place that consoles. A place where chicken soup sits simmering on-demand in the thick of winter. Where your childhood memories were formed, butting heads with siblings and tricking friends into mischief.

Home was anything but the above for the 2013-14 Washington Wizards.

Finishing 22-19 both at home and one the road in the regular season, the Wiz were 5-1 away and 1-4 at home in the playoffs.

It's unfathomable. Intensity should rise in front of your home crowd, ideally full of supporters and die-hard fanatics.

As a Baltimore Ravens fan, I know, TRULY, what real fans bring to the table.

Rain or shine.

Win or lose.

Wizards fans are gutless. They have no class, not even for their own team.

Come late. Leave early. In bed by 10.

The crowd was emptying with 2 minutes left in the 4th last night. The same crowd that gave a false sense of engagement at the 6-minute mark when the wizards went on a run capped by a Bradley Beal 3 that gave them a short-lived, 1-point lead.

The Pacers stormed back, going on a 9-0 run of their own and just like that, all hope was lost.

There was no celebration, at the end of a tough series loss, for a team that finished 29-53 just a season before.

Winning 15 more games in just one season merits substantial appreciation, of which Washington fans showed very little.

It all started in the first, when the Pacers came out with high intensity on the boards and jumped to a double digit lead. The Wiz cut it to 6 after 1, but Indiana was well aware about the advantage they had permanently carved for the remaining 36 minutes.

David West brought flashes of his early New Orleans Hornets days, accounting for 36% of Indiana's shots scoring 26 on 13/26 shooting. It seemed like every other possession, West had an uncontested 18-footer that he knocked down like Dirk.

At the end of the day, John Wall waited until the 3rd to really push the ball -- Washington had zero fast break points in the first half.

To no one's astonishment, half-court basketball was the Wizards' demise.

All in all, it was an incredible season for the team. This is what real Wiz fans expected in Wall's freshman year, but it's good to see his progression and how it's grown in tandem with the addition of a REAL supporting cast -- especially a rising superstar in Beal.

Look for another top-5 Eastern Conference finish in 2014-15's regular season.

A Game Away From Home

The talk of the NBA over the past couple of nights has been heavily skewed towards the officiating. LAC vs. OKC on Monday and NETS vs. HEAT last night both had extremely controversial calls at the end.

As the rules are now, replay can be used only to correct possession and point-related decisions, but not fouls.

I won't go through what happened -- there have been countless articles, slow motion videos, and depictions of each situation.

What I will say, though, is that the Wizards need to play cutthroat on both ends of the court as they did in Game 5 in Indiana. There's no reason for Washington to let the last 2 minutes of the game dictate its season.

Game 5 Takeaways:

1. Washington couldn't miss; Indiana couldn't buy a bucket. It was the polar opposite of Game 4 in DC. John Wall hit fade-away jumpers and open 3s, Gortat left handed hook shots and two handed slams. Everything went the Wizards' way.
2. The Wiz capitalized on scoring runs and put the Pacers away in the 1st and 3rd. The Wizards are 6-1 in the playoffs when leading after 1. This was the first game in this series outscoring Indy in the 3rd quarter.
3. Early turnovers didn't have lingering psychological effects on Washington the rest of the game. After 8 TOs in the first quarter (13 in Game 4 alone), Washington finished with 19 -- less than 4 per quarter thereafter. While not ideal, it exemplifies how well they responded, how high they kept their heads.

Gortat won't shoot 13/15 for 31 points and 16 rebounds (9 offensive) again. What he will do is provide the same energy in Game 6, forcing the Pacers the match it, and hopefully creating a 4th quarter advantage for a Wizards team that holds a huge athleticism advantage.

BUT...

Indy also won't have only 2 players in double digits -- not starters, PLAYERS. Paul George and maybe even David West will return to 20+; Hibbert will pick up the intensity, and Lance Stephenson will be the catalyst for Indiana's energy in every quarter, not just late in the game.

Gortat said it best in an interview, noting the Wizards' struggles at home, not just limited to the postseason, either.

John Wall must maintain his focus. Bradley Beal should continue to run point with Andre Miller and the second squad comes in to give the starters some rest. Game 7 will be forced by energy.

Energy isn't a skill, it's a desire.

Gortat, Gooden, and Nene surged the front court's energy in Game 5.

John Wall pushed the ball and kept the pace high for four quarters.

The same will happen tonight at 8:00pm at the Verizon Center.

Prediction: 103-85, Wizards

Another Blown Win

The Wizards' strengths in the Chicago series have turned into the worst of weaknesses against the Pacers. After a Game 1 win in Indiana, the Wiz have dropped 3 straight -- 2 at home -- and face a 3-1 series deficit upon their game tomorrow.

What happened?

1. Paul George
2. Roy Hibbert
3. The third quarter
4. The inability to step on the Pacers' throats

Ariza hasn't been effective in stopping Paul George, who set a playoff career high with 39 points in Game 4. That's three consecutive games where he's been more productive, efficient, and effective in leading the Pacers' backcourt.

Hibbert is awake. He heard the criticism after his 0-0, 5 foul Game 1. No more, he says. A 28-9 Game 2 effort was followed by a 14-5 Game 3, then 17-9 in Game 4. He has 2-3 blocks per game, but more importantly, is severely altering Washington's shots in the paint, which is almost as good as a turnover (especially if Andre Miller is driving).

The Wiz Kids are getting DOMINATED in the 3rd quarter; Indiana has outscored them by an increasing amount in each game's 3rd period (6, 6, 14, 17). Coming out flat, ceasing to run a transition offense, and settling for contested jumpers are all contributors to this statistic.

It's no secret that the Wiz were up by 17 at halftime and 19 after a quick bucket to start the 3rd. And then came the collapse.

In spurts.

Up 17... up 10.

Up 14... up 7.

Game-changing moment: Up 9, Bradley Beal misses an uncontested, reverse right-handed layup. Indiana hits a 3. 

Then the Pacers cut it to 2, and at that point, it was anyone's game.

If the Wizards don't learn how to "Spur" their games, making a 20 point lead into 30, effectively cutting off their opponent's oxygen supply, the next level will never be reached.

Am I still confident about the Wizards' chances, down 3-1?

Yes.

But at this point, I predict Indy in 7.

Game 5 prediction: 91-83, Wizards

Game 2 Recap; Game 3 Predictions

Well, so much for ex-NBA stars trolling Young Roy Hibbert on social media.

The troubled center scored the first 5 points for the Pacers, setting his own pace for the remainder of the game. I wouldn't describe his play as dominant; he just played smart basketball, putting himself in the right places at the right times to get timely put backs, hook shots, and scoops.

He finished with 28 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, and altered numerous other Wizards attempts.

For the Wiz, Ariza, a long-range threat and defensive specialist, found himself under the weather and scored only 6 points in 39 minutes of play.

John Wall couldn't find a stroke all night, finishing 2-13 with 6 points and 8 assists.

Cumulatively, these poor games by so many Washington starters would lead one to believe they were on the losing end of a blowout. Surprisingly, Washington was down only 3 with just over 2:00 left to play in the game.

John Wall missed 2 threes and Bradley Beal missed another, forfeiting 3 straight possessions and wasting 3 defensive stops.

My question: Washington, what got you here? Yes, outside shooting has been of a higher percentage this year, but that's because they have been taken carefully at timely moments in games all season.

Wall's best game comes from the drive-and-dish, or driving and scoring in the lane with the possibility of a foul.

Admittedly, in his post-game interview, Wall took the loss on his back, acknowledging his mistakes in the final period.

But wait, there's more!!!

It shouldn't have even gotten to that point. The Wizards only attempted 12 free throws all game, a consequence of settling for jumpers and failing to be aggressive in the paint on drives.

Nene missed the first 4 FT attempts of the game, and Washington finished just 5-12, or under 42% to Indiana's 18/21 - 86%.

THAT was where the Wizards almost blew it in Game 1 when George Hill made desperation 3s at the end. THIS is where they blew it in Game 2.

My thoughts...

1. Hibbert won't have another season-high scoring game this series.
2. Wall and Ariza won't combine to shoot 4-21, or 19%, in another game.
3. Wittman will rescind his obligatory dunk from his squad's series win over the Bulls if the team doesn't shoot over 70% from the charity stripe in each game from here on out.
4. Andre Miller deserves a maximum of 10 minutes a game; maybe even less, but certainly not more.

Tonight's Game 3 in Washington will be showtime for the Wizards. An 8:00pm tip-off in the nation's capital city allows plenty of time for the home crowd to show up on time, loud enough to take on anyone, maybe even Nenê.

Washington will lead for almost the entirety of the game, in another defensive battle holding both teams under the 100-point mark (the Over/Under is 183.5). Beal will go off for 25-5-5 or more, and Nene/Gortat will combine for 40/20+

Indiana will get huge offensive surges from Lance Stephenson and Paul George, as Hibbert returns to maybe a 12-5 line.

Prediction: 93-87, Wizards

REMINDER: IF the Wiz score 100+ and win, use code WIZ50 to get 50% off anything full price from Papa John's in the DC/Metro area.

Heat and Pacers Take a Cruise; Wiz Set for Game 2

Last night, the Spurs and Heat both made defining statements to open their independent series.

LeBron was LeBron; the Nets' veterans had no answer for his energy and versatile play. Garnett scored 0 in just 16 minutes, while The Truth had 8 in just under 30.

It was close until half, but the fatigue that set in for Brooklyn created an opportunity for the Heat to take over. Outscoring Brooklyn by 10 in the 3rd, the lead was 13 and that's all she took.

The Spurs and Trail Blazers game was the complete opposite. San Antonio led by 13 after 1, and 26 going into halftime. Parker was unstoppable, with 33 points and 9 assists for the game. Portland's Lillard will have his hands full this whole series.

Spurs are too deep to lose this. I call a 4-1 series win for the Texas juggernaut.

On to the real story...

Washington needs to stick with the playoff game plan they've been rolling with for 6 games now.

Its all about the boards. If Nene stays out of foul trouble, I can't fathom a Wizards loss.

Hibbert obviously needs to contribute more on the court. Jokes are made, but at the end of the day, he's a giant turning over zero stones, getting slayed by David every trip down the court.

West was upset with him after the game, as I'm sure were the entire Pacers squad. Larry Bird should have a few words with him...

It will be the Pacers who start off hot, and the Wizards who cap the comeback, reminiscent of Games 1 and 2 in Chicago. 

The airball that Bradley Beal shot on his second attempt during one trip to the line only made him stronger. His nerves were taken away in those 3 seconds, with the crowd jeering.

Prediction: 98-95, Wizards

Ariza, Beal Start Hot; Wizards Own the Paint and Take Game 1

Both teams certainly started right where they left off. Washington jumped out to an 8-0 run, while Indy struggled to shoot and couldn't grab a board to save a life.

The Pacers started the game 0 for 4 with 2 turnovers before David West finally hit a jumper after a timeout to make it 8-2.

This was after the referees missed 2 possession calls in Indiana's favor in the first 3 minutes.

The first quarter belonged to each and every Wizard, big or small. They had 6 blocks in the period alone, with 4 different players being held accountable, while also forcing 5 turnovers. That's the infectious team defense fans are accustomed to seeing.

Ariza came out firing, ending the quarter with a huge 3 to give him 11 and 4 boards. Beal was quiet with 2 and 2, but John Wall let his services be known, handing out 5 assists with a quiet 6 points and 2 rebounds.

Things changed when the second quarter started.

The reason? Andre Miller. Coming in for John Wall, Miller is a liability in every aspect of the game. He's slow, can't drive, is a scared shooter, throws suspect passes, and turns the ball over.

A 9-0 Pacers run before a Wizards timeout was countered by a 8-2 Washington burst ending with a 3rd foul on Hibbert with 6:35 left in the half.

Ariza ended up 5/5 from downtown for the half; the Wiz started 6/6. Their starters got it done, with 54 of their 56 points, and left midway with a 13 point lead.

Clutch three point shooting, domination on the glass, and hustle plays set the pace for Washington in the first half.

The second half brought intensity from Indiana, and Lance Stephenson stepped it up with 9, bringing new life to his team that was down only 7 heading into the final period. It would have been closer, but Drew Gooden stepped in for Nene, who picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls with 10:00 left in the 3rd. Gooden almost had a double double in the period alone, finishing the game with 12 points and 13 off the glass in only 18 minutes. What a wily veteran, having the nerve to come off the bench like that and D up David West, who is actually a year older than Drew but clearly more agile.

The Pacers in the 4th were knocking on the door, but the Wizards always found an answer.

A Bradley Beal 3.

A Nene dunk.

The Pacers led for 0:15 the whole game when it was 31-30. Despite this, they cut it to a 7 point game late in the fourth. It remained 92-84 for what seemed like an eternity, as Beal, Wall, and Gortat all missed crucial free throws.

But shut down defense gave the Wiz the time they needed to collect themselves at the line, allowing them to finally hit some free points. They were needed, too, as George Hill decided to come down a few possessions in a row and known down quick, heavily contested threes to make it as close as 5.

In the end, the Wiz closed on the road for the fourth consecutive time this postseason, winning 102-96. Slightly off from my prediction of 99-92, but the result is the same and satisfies me, nonetheless.

Boards: Wizards, 53-36
Off. Boards: Wizards, 16-7
Assists: Wizards, 23-16
Fouls: Pacers, 26-23
Free Throws: even, 22 apiece (Pacers with higher % -- 81.5 vs 71)

Game 2 Wednesday evening will test Indiana's character. They know the Wizards now, and so does the nation.

Prediction: 98-95, Wizards

Game 1: Keys for the Wiz

As the Wizards get set to take on Indiana tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the vibe of the team hasn't been more positive since... well, maybe the minutes leading up to drafting Kwame Brown in 2001 -- before Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Joe Johnson, Jason Richardson, Zach Randolph... okay, you get the point.

A 4-1 sweep of the Bulls proved all but one ESPN analyst wrong and set new standards for this young team that is seemingly done "building."

The Wiz are for real, and here's why:

1. Travor Ariza is a defensive playmaker. If he can D up LeBron, Paul George isn't really a question. Will George get his 20+ each game? Most likely. But it will be a fatiguing process, with Ariza contesting every jumper, drive, and dish.
2. Nene and Gortat are too much for Hibbert and David West. I've said it before, but the Wizards' big men compliment each other so well. Nene is more polished offensively; Gortat gets scrappy points off boards and backdoor cuts. Both give 30-35 real minutes each game and have been altering offenses all season. Obviously, this isn't news to Indiana -- the key here is how Hibbert responds after a rough series - although relatively productive Game 7 - against the Hawks sin Al Horford.
3. PG John Wall is the polar opposite to SG Lance Stephenson, in a way that unquestionably favors Washington. Wall is a calm, controlled leader who does it all and doesn't create unnecessary controversy on or off the court. Stephenson isn't afraid to let his emotions show, despite being, at the end of the day, an average guard at best. When he's hot, he's a star -- when he's not, he's dysfunctional and takes away from the good of his team. Good thing the Pacers have PG George Hill to balance him out and handle some of the offensive load when Stephenson's shot isn't falling.

The Wizards deep bench may meet its match with Indiana's PF Scola, C Mahinmi, SF Turner, and PG C.J. Watson accustomed to playing 15-25 minutes each on any given night.

The headlining story for Indy has been Hibbert's resurgent Game 7, in which he stayed out of foul trouble to log 31 minutes, scoring 13 and collecting 7 boards and 5 blocks to disrupt any offensive that the Hawks thought they had.

Hibbert must return to his 2012-13 form if the Pacers want to maintain home court advantage.

Not surprisingly, four ESPN analysts predict the Wizards to win the series -- all believe it will take 6 games. That's only 25% of ESPN's experts, but the takeaway here is that the Wiz are finally getting some respect. Whether it's based off their recent play, the slump the Pacers' have been staggering through, or a mix of both is all heresy.

All I know is that tonight at 7:00, I'll be donning the nation's colors as John Wall and His Friends take their game to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to put on another show for the NBA, this time against the #1 seed in the East.

Prediction: 99-92, Wizards

NBA Playoff Implications, Quick Movie Review

What a relief it is to have a series wrapped up while everyone else is either trying to close out a 3-2 lead or come back from a 2-3 deficit. Tonight is HUGE for the Wizards, as the Hawks try to close out the series against the first seeded Pacers in Atlanta.

Let's talk about Atlanta.

At the end of March, the Hawks had no business even eying the playoffs. A six-game losing streak was finally snapped by a March 31 victory against the lowly 76ers, a team that tied the NBA record with a 26-game losing streak. Had the Hawks lost this one, the team and fan base's energy would have been all but drained.

Instead, that W sparked a 7-3 record over the last 10 games to lift Atlanta -- despite a 38-44 record -- into the Eastern Conference playoffs as an 8 seed.

Clearly, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague had other plans for their 2014 season.

Now, one win away from becoming the fifth eight-seed in NBA history to knock off a #1 - the most recent coming in 2011 when the Grizzlies beat the Spurs in the Western Conference.

The difference in this series, in my eyes based off the couple of games that I've watched, has started in the post. Millsap has scored in double-digits in every game. On the flip-side, Hibbert has zero 10+ games scoring through the first five games.

Guards have a significantly higher opportunity to dominate and create space when the inside game is working. Even without Al Horford (torn pectoral), the Hawks have enough presence in the paint to disturb Indiana's Hibbert and David West - although West has been a veteran thus far, putting up a 13-5-5 line of averages in the postseason.

I see the Hawks riding momentum and a home crowd to bust out early and send the reeling Pacers home to their couches until next season.

Prediction: 93-88, Hawks


On an unrelated note, I watched Don Jon last night after my girlfriend enthusiastically informed me that it was finally available for Netflix streaming.

Honestly, I had never heard of the film until she introduced me. Then I saw the cast of JGL (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Scarlett Johansson and all other priorities instantly faded to grey for the evening.

The premise: JGL is a New Jersey guido stud portrayed as a grown frat star, bringing home someone different at his leisure. Then he meets Scarlett and instantly turns into a relationship kind of guy, despite her demanding, high-maintenance style of living.

There's a problem, though...

JGL is a porn addict. He likes porn more than the real deal, and it's not even close. Some days, he watches more than 40 videos -- that's after starting with still pictures as a warm up.

Honestly, JGL did an incredible job in both his acting and directing (but what else would you expect from the guy who can pull off a dying cancer victim in 50-50 and Christian Bale's go-to as Robin in Batman?).

It definitely isn't your average chick flick. There is actual character development.

A short 90 minutes flies by and the ending is a good one. I recommend it to supplement your 10-hour weekend binge sesh of whatever drama you've run into on Netflix recently.

TLDR;

1. Hawks will pull off the win tonight
2. Wizards get home-court and a shot at an Eastern Conference Finals matchup
3. Don Jon is worth the 90 minute investment
4. It finally stopped monsooning on the East coast.