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.

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