Wizards vs. Pacers preview

Wizards and Pacers tip it off tonight in the first game of the second round series.  The Wiz are looking to get past the second round for the first time since the 1970s. They've reached Round 2 only twice since then -- getting swept by the Heat nine years ago and losing 4-1 to the Celtics in 1982 -- and haven't won a second-round game since April 28, 1982, when Frank Johnson and Spencer Haywood scored 26 points apiece in a 103-102 victory against Larry Bird and the Celtics when Washington was still the Bullets. If the Wizards advance, they would be the lowest seed in the conference finals since the Knicks in 1999.

That said, I like the Wizards chances.  Indiana has been struggling for the last month and a half and narrowly escaped the first round against the Atlanta Hawks.  However, often times we have seen a team like the Pacers struggle and barely escape an early series only to buckle down and go on a tear on their way to the finals.  Personally, I don’t see that happening here.  The Wizards have had five days off since their closeout game against Chicago while the Pacers will have had one day off.  Will be interesting to see how the game starts off and who is bringing the energy.  Despite their youth, I do think the Wizards are focused on this series and have some determination and resolve.  They are balanced inside and out and have a variety of scorers that can pick it up should one (or even two) guy(s) be having a poor shooting night. 

One interesting point of interest, while Washington won the last meeting between these teams, 91-78 on March 12, the Pacers have won 12 straight at Indy including twice this season. The Wizards last win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse came April 18, 2007.

At this point of the season, I feel the Wizards are the more focused, determined, confident, and sound team.  The Pacers look like a team trying to pull things together and struggling.  If the Wizards play the way they are capable of playing, they win this series in 6.