Indiana Pacers Drop Another Game on the Road
Washington Wizards (37-35) 91
Indiana Pacers (52-21) 78
Mar 28, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) dribbles towards the basket as Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) defends during the first quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Indiana Pacers continue their Jekyll and Hyde persona over the past couple of months as once you think they’ll turn that corner, they hit the wall. Tonight was almost a predictable fall, but not quite as hard as it was. The Pacers fall to the Washington Wizards, the same Wizards that held down to 73 and 66 points in the previous meetings. 66 has been the lowest point total the Pacers have allowed all season.
The tables were turned in this one as yet again the offense of the Pacers just isn’t there. I was going to state that it’s been tough to crack 100 points for this Pacers team, and then I looked over the past number of games, and it’s been hard to crack 90 points. Even 80 has been hard to come by.
I don’t know what the solution is for the offense to find it’s groove other than the defense will have to step up it’s side even more, and hopefully help the offense get some easy baskets. I almost wonder if the Pacers are suited to play at a running pace more often so teams can’t set up on defense, and the ball movement won’t be as bogged down as it has been.
17 turnovers for the Blue and Gold just won’t get it done come playoff time and tonight was no different. Give the Wizards credit as they were able to get 21 points off those turnovers.
The starters put up plenty of minutes for the Pacers and who knows maybe that’s a factor in the shooting slump of everyone. Paul George was once considered a MVP candidate, boy did that talk die down. Granted, Lebron James and Kevin Durant have been ahead of the class, but it would have been nice for George to get some votes. Don’t count on that anymore.
Even more bad news is that Miami is taking out Detroit, which will help gain a game in the loss column. That Wednesday night win for the Pacers might not matter as much now if the Heat end up winning the Eastern Conference top spot. It’s like the Pacers are just dragging to that finish line, but still there’s unfinished business. You really wanted to see a continuation of Wednesday night, and we didn’t see that. At all.
Right back in the worry mode for this Pacers team and where they’ll be come playoff time.