2014 Playoffs: (1) Indiana vs. (5) Washington

[Lamrock]

We finally have our first conference semifinal match-up! I have no idea how this one will go down. Indiana looked pretty good in game 7 with Roy Hibbert deciding to rejoin the NBA, but their performance as a whole in that series was unimpressive. Washington meanwhile looked really good against Chicago and really should have swept them if not for some dumb mistakes.

I'll take Wizards in 6. Pacers will take a couple but I don't think they'll be able to survive their long scoring droughts against a solid Wizards team.

[JaoSming]

Wiz in 6es

[SoF'nAwesome]

Pacers in 6.

Not good news for the other contender in East.

[NovU]

I just can't see enough reasons for this series to turn out to be an upset. The Wizards have no counter game for Pacers' strength. You have traditional center and powerforward Nene/Gortat that fares pretty poor outlook against Hibbert/West. Then you have one good shot creator in Wall but has no real consistency in mid to long range game. Beal's ok but will get smothered by Lance. Ariza will get eaten alive by bigger and stronger Paul George. Then go into depth, there's no real difference maker for the Wizards.

Sorry but this series signals for Pacers' revival. Hibbert finally can return to his comfort zone just guarding paint and mid lane, occasionally helping out on drive-in by Wall and Beal. And notice how Vogel finally took out Evan Turner out of the rotation (since game 5, completely). Early season successful Pacers had one less headache and ball stopper, that is Turner(and Granger). That's cool now.

Pacers in 6.

[Kevin]

Pacers in. 5 if Hibbert can carry his momentum from Game. 7

[Alpha_]

Wizzy in 6

[Mandich]

Wizards in 6.

Nene gonna bust some nuts in Hibberts face.

[Andrew]

Looks like the Wizards are the favourites so far in the poll. I've already underestimated them once in these Playoffs, but nevertheless I'll pick against them again and say Pacers in six.

I think Washington will put up a great fight, be competitive throughout and take a couple of games, but the series with the Hawks and the Game 7 win might have been the wake up call that Indiana needed. Also, taking a look back at the Wizards/Bulls series, the games were decided by a difference of around 6 points. The Wizards unquestionably outplayed the Bulls, but it wasn't a complete walkover, either. If the Bulls had a team that wouldn't struggle to score 100 points if the opposition left the court for a whole quarter, things might have gone a little differently.

Indiana's defense is just about as stingy as Chicago's, but they score a little more and had the seventh best point differential during the regular season. The Pacers have two things going for them that the Bulls did not, namely a relatively healthy team and a greater ability to actually put the ball in the basket. Chicago simply did not have the offensive punch to break through the Wizards' commendable defense in their first round series. I believe that Indiana does...assuming they're on top of their game, of course. I'll say that they do find their form and that they do get the job done.

[shadowgrin]

Wizzizards in 6 if Hibbert gets into foul trouble for two games.
Pacers in 7 if Nene gets suspended in one game because he's mad for having only one testicle.

[Sauru]

pacers in 6

[bowdown]

Wishington Washington the best.

Pacers are lame. Fake ass #1 seed. They aren't that strong.

[Kevin]

Wow.... hibbert... Wow... fcktard. GOddamn it. 0 points and 0 rebs...
Geore is 4-17 for god's sake indiana, are you really the number one seed?

[TOP BIN]

Wow.... hibbert... Wow... fcktard. GOddamn it. 0 points and 0 rebs...
Geore is 4-17 for god's sake indiana, are you really the number one seed?

Pacers got inside the lockeroom issues... The team is not united and galvanize to win at all, Bird and technical staff seems to lost the control of this team.

[Stress Fracture]

WTF Hibbert.

[Andrew]

[benji]

So Arenas had one last dagger in him for the Wizards.

[NovU]

LoL. Just opposite of my prediction is happening.

[bowdown]

Washington is riding high. Indy has chemistry and confidence issues. They scared now.

[NovU]

It's music to the ears that Pacers are so bad for the Heat fans but I seriously wonder what the heck is wrong with the Pacers. It was about damn time to put differences aside and come together as a team.

[SoF'nAwesome]

It's music to the ears that Pacers are so bad for the Heat fans but I seriously wonder what the heck is wrong with the Pacers. It was about damn time to put differences aside and come together as a team.

All part of the Heat mind game. Spo is a fucking genius

Dumb Hibbert.

[Andrew]

Lack of maturity and leadership, perhaps. Hibbert is certainly in an extended funk, which obviously doesn't help matters either. Simply put, they need to get on the same page and find a Plan B, because what was working for them so well earlier in the regular season is no longer getting the job done.

[bowdown]

Never heard of an All-Star putting up zeros across the boxscore with regularity.

[benji]

The most zero point, zero rebound games over 15 minutes played since 1986:

Code: Select all

Rk   Player   Pos   From   To   Count
1   John Paxson   G   1986   1994   15
2   Michael Curry   F   1999   2003   14
3   Derek Fisher   G   2001   2014   11
4   Steve Blake   G   2006   2013   10
5   Anthony Johnson   G   1998   2009   10
6   Steve Kerr   G   1990   2001   10
7   Brevin Knight   G   1998   2009   9
8   Jason Williams   G   2001   2010   9
9   Anthony Carter   G   2000   2011   8
10   Chris Childs   G   1995   2002   8
11   Lindsey Hunter   G   1998   2009   8
12   Matt Maloney   G   1997   2001   8
13   Lee Mayberry   G   1993   1998   8
14   Sedale Threatt   G   1991   1997   8
15   Earl Watson   G   2004   2014   8

Most by starters:

Code: Select all

Rk   Player   Pos   From   To   Count
1   Michael Curry   F   2001   2003   10
2   Jason Williams   G   2001   2010   7
3   Derek Fisher   G   2001   2011   6
4   Carlos Arroyo   G   2004   2011   5
5   Matt Maloney   G   1997   2001   5
6   John Paxson   G   1988   1991   5
7   Bruce Bowen   F   2003   2009   4
8   Jason Collins   C   2006   2008   4
9   Anthony Johnson   G   1998   2008   4
10   Kenny Smith   G   1994   1996   4
11   Eric Williams   F   2001   2005   4

Most by Hall of Famers:

Code: Select all

Rk   Player   Pos   From   To   Count
1   Joe Dumars*   G   1993   1999   3
2   Chris Mullin*   F   1986   2001   3
3   Adrian Dantley*   F   1990   1990   1
4   Dennis Johnson*   G   1990   1990   1
5   Sarunas Marciulionis*   G   1996   1996   1
6   Gary Payton*   G   2007   2007   1

Number by Joel Anthony: 3
Number by Roy Hibbert: 1
Number by Darko Milicic: 0
Number by Yinka Dare: 0

Number of ZERO POINT, ZERO REBOUND GAMES BY YINKA DARE WITH MORE THAN THREE MINUTES PLAYED: 0

[Andrew]

Number of ZERO POINT, ZERO REBOUND GAMES BY YINKA DARE WITH MORE THAN THREE MINUTES PLAYED: 0

That's why Grant Hill and Jason Kidd shared the 1995 Rookie of the Year award. It took the both of them to wrest it out of Dare's legendary hands.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Joel Anthony