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