Pacers edge out Wizards in Game Two
DC rising
This game is very easy to break down by the stats. Roy Hibbert scored 28 points for the Indiana Pacers whereas, John Wall only contributed six points to the Washington Wizards total. The Wizards managed to get to the free throw line a meager twelve times making only five shots. The Pacers on the other hand went 18 for 21 from the charity stripe. Now, that is certainly a substantial disparity but I would suggest that perhaps the most telling stat of the night is the number of fast break points put up by the Wizards. That being one. Just one point on the fast break.
I think the fast break stat is more indicative of how off the Wizards game was tonight. Washington is the faster, more free-flowing offensive team to be held to only one point on the break does more to explain why they were only able to put up 82 points after breaking the century mark in game one. When Washington is able to get in and maintain their typical pace of play, all the other stats that were lacking in this game are improved. Trevor Ariza will contribute more than six points, since he thrives in open space created by an up-tempo game. More driving lanes. More trips to the free throw line. All of these things come to the Wizards when they control the pace of the game.
Whatever it was that finally woke Hibbert from his poor play coma seemed to also take away that control from the Wizards. The positive side is that Hibbert as has yet to show he can maintain any sort of positive play this post season in back to back games and the Wizards still only lost by four points. My only concern is that Hibbert’s play seemed to catch the Wizards completely by surprise.
Head coach Randy Wittman has done a very fine job this post season but I would have expected him to have had a game plan in place for such a performance. It is either inexperience or arrogance that keeps a coaching staff from preparing for any and all situations when it comes to the playoffs. Pacer head coach Frank Vogel notoriously refuses to make any extreme adjustments so knowing that Hibbert would play, the Wizards staff should have prepared for the potential for Hibbert to have a good game. Hopefully this will serve as a wake-up call and the Wizards will be better prepared as the series moves now to Washington.
Even in the loss, this game still showed how far the Wizards have come this year. On an off night the Wizards only lost by four to the team with the best record in the East. That has to couch at least a little of the disappointment. I expect the Wizards to be prepared and ready for game three in Washington and to continue what is shaping up to be a very entertaining series.
