Open thread and Contest: Game 63

by Mike Prada on Mar 14, 2007 1:30 PM EDT in Game Threads

Regular Season Game 63
Wizards (34-28) at Pacers (29-34)
Conseco Fieldhouse
7 PM
CSN

Previous Results:
Wizards 117, Pacers 91.

The Wizards hit the road for six of their next seven games, starting tonight against reeling Indiana. The Pacers have lost 10 in a row, including last night's loss to Minnesota. Jamaal Tinsley scored a ridiculous 37 points, but the Pacers still found a way to lose. If there's one team struggling more than the Wizards right now, it's certainly Indiana.

There won't be any Jermaine O'Neal for the Pacers tonight, which is really good news for the Wizards. O'Neal is the type of inside player that this team really struggles to stop, and without him, the Pacers turn into a perimeter-oriented team without a superstar.

Caron Butler remains a game-time decision with the knee contusion. The early response from most of you is that you'd rather see him sit out a few games to get completely healthy. I personally disagree, because I think the problem is more mental than physical. Last year, Butler legitimately was playing through an incredible amount of pain. He dislocated his thumb really badly, and he still was able to contribute pretty well. But now, we're talking about a knee contusion, which hurts, but is also the type of thing players play through. I think Butler is struggling to deal with new defensive attention, and he's using the injury as a sort of scapegoat.

That's not to say the injury isn't affecting him. It is. It just shouldn't have to.

The Wizards really need this one, because Miami won again last night and is only half a game back. Tonight's game and Saturday's home game against New Orleans are really key, becuase a tough 5-game road trip awaits afterwards.

Pacers blogs: Indy Cornrows is all you need.

Your lines for tonight:

Wizards at Pacers: Wizards by 2.5.
Over/Under on Big 3: 67.7 points.

This is an open game thread, so any JailPacers jokes go here.

Update [2007-3-14 19:13:27 by Pradamaster]: So apparently O'Neal is playing. Butler is as well, and he has the first bucket for the Wizards.

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Wizards
Under

by Jake Whitacre on Mar 14, 2007 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

Picks

Wizards
under

by TheHype on Mar 14, 2007 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

Do I even watch tonite? Yes, Im picking up a Sixer

Wiz, Under.
Prada, I have to disagree with you on this one. Tuff Juice got his name for not being soft or using injuries as an excuse. Maybe his comments to the media make it seem that way. If he says he is banged up and it is affecting his play, I tend to believe him. I think he has earned that right with his stellar play as a Wizard. I understand your argument rationale of him not playing at an All Star level and he has not lately. However, speculating his true injury is a very slippery slope.

As my buddy Willis likes to say about Tuff J, "Butler has been incarcerated, no backing down from that Cat." I could not agree more and I hope he rests up for our playoff stretch. Understatements of the year, both teams need a win tonight and Dickie V likes Duke over VCU. word.

by Mac G on Mar 14, 2007 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think he's soft and that he's faking it

I'm saying his problems aren't totally related to the injury, and I don't think sitting out just to get healthy is going to be enough to get him playing like he did in the first half.

He has a knee contusion, which stings, but it's the type of thing he can play through (and has played through) effectively. Last year, he was a pretty decent player despite dislocating his thumb, which basically kills your ability to shoot correctly. It's a minor miracle that he only missed 5 games, yet he was playing at an extremely high level in the playoffs. If anything, the fact that he isn't a soft player indicates that he SHOULD be playing better. Yet he isn't. That makes me believe there's more to it than just an injury.

I think the root of his struggles have to do with teams adjusting to him, and he now hasn't quite adjusted back. Sitting out a couple games isn't going to help him learn to adjust.

As AJ said, once you're an all-star, teams start attacking you more.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Mar 14, 2007 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions