Open Thread: Regular Season Game 81

by Jake Whitacre on Apr 14, 2008 2:52 PM EDT in Game Threads

The Essentials:
Pacers (35-45) at Wizards (42-38)
7 p.m.
Verizon Center
CSN

Notable Pacers numbers this season:
16th in expected winning percentage (.464)
3rd in pace factor (95.9 possessions per game)
18th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating
15th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating

Key Links (drop any others in the comments)
Indy Cornrows
Pacers Insider
Thoughts from G-Wiz on the Wizards' chances in the playoffs
Dominic McGuire is The Cleaner

Starting Lineups:
Pacers
PG: Flip Murray
SG: Danny Granger
SF: Mike Dunleavy
PF: ~~Troy Murphy~~ Jermaine O'Neal
C: ~~Jeff Foster~~ Troy Murphy

Wizards
PG: Antonio Daniels
SG: DeShawn Stevenson
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Antawn Jamison
C: Brendan Haywood

Tonight's Lines
Pacers at Wizards: Wizards by 4.5
Over/Under on Total Scoring: 212

Tonight's going to be a game that's as important as the Wizards want to make it. I think everyone would understand if Eddie took the safe route and made sure that everyone is healthy going into the playoffs, but on the other hand, the 4th seed is still well within reach if the Wizards can take these last two games. I'm going to align my thoughts with sierradave on how the Wizards should approach tonight's game:

Indiana is still alive in the playoff race. They're going to be motivated tonight. Cleveland is matching up with a Philly team that is struggling over position, and they're coming off a stinker yesterday where they actually trailed MIAMI going into the fourth! (tangent: watching that game, I found myself actually rooting for the Miami Heat. Something broke inside of me in that moment. I think it was my sense of childlike wonder.)

My point is that the smart money is on Philly winning at home tonight, but it's also on Indiana playing with a fire in their bellies. I say monitor minutes, sure, but if Caron can play, he should suit up. Let's put the pressure on Cleveland, let them sweat about a final game matchup with a Detroit squad that hasn't forgotten last year's playoffs. Reaching the four spot is a stretch, but I think it's one this team should push for.

If it were a normal year, I'd guess that Eddie would probably rest his starters, but with Gilbert still trying to get back on the same page with everyone else, he'll probably try and keep it closer to normal. That's just my guess though, which probably means that it's wrong and we'll be enjoying the Dominic McGuire experience tonight. Only time will tell.

This is an open thread, so if you're planning on storming the court tonight, watch out for Jeff Foster:

GO WIZARDS!

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Comments

Raise a toast

This is the last game thread that you'll see on this platform. By the time Wednesday's game against the Magic rolls around, Bullets Forever will bear a striking resemblance to the new & improved Golden State of Mind.

Wizards
Under

Bullets Forever: Where discussion on personnel decisions turn into arguments about Lindsay Lohan.

by Jake Whitacre on Apr 14, 2008 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

Here here!

Raises his glass.

Are diaries turning into Fan Posts? Or will they be the same?

Wizards
Under

by Craig @ Bullets Forever on Apr 14, 2008 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

Well, nevermind.

I guess I should've read a little bit more before I posed the question. Silly thing, reading.

by Craig @ Bullets Forever on Apr 14, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

FYI

Y'all, I believe, can start claiming your old accounts for the new platform.

I'd recommend doing it soon. Most of you will probably keep their old name, but some of you might have to switch it if someone else has the same name on a different site.

Predicting how this squad is going to perform is like trying to solve trig problems with pen and paper. -sierradave.

by Mike Prada on Apr 14, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

FYI part II

You won't have to remember these tips anymore.

Bullets Forever: Where discussion on personnel decisions turn into arguments about Lindsay Lohan.

by Jake Whitacre on Apr 14, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Pick

I'll take the Wiz.

Eager to see the new site.

"Now, obviously individual production does not unilaterally equal better team production, but there's a high level of causation."

by Vanilla Gorilla on Apr 14, 2008 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

Picks

Wiz
Under

by ooba on Apr 14, 2008 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

We've basically conceded the 4th seed

Pacers, under

"My swag [is] phenomenal."

by Icantfeelmyface on Apr 14, 2008 7:06 PM EDT reply actions

OUCH

Jamison just got karate-kicked in the junk by a leaping defender...

"My swag [is] phenomenal."

by Icantfeelmyface on Apr 14, 2008 7:18 PM EDT reply actions

Iniana?

ZERO D in this Pacers squad and this is a summer league game. Jermaine ONeal looks old. Ernie has done a helluva a job with this roster.

What? They don't have TV in the D-League? Don't watch me, watch TV.

by Mac G on Apr 14, 2008 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

Wow.....watching this Sixers game..unbelievable.

I'm waiting for Philly fans to start throwing beers on the court.

www.truthaboutit.net

by Kyle Weidie on Apr 14, 2008 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

Cleveland lost tonight

to Philly by a point. Could we really still have a shot at home court?

by ooba on Apr 14, 2008 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

Heh

Not after the refs had their say. It was pretty funny to see the game end with the Sixers losing after they dropped that confetti.

"Now, obviously individual production does not unilaterally equal better team production, but there's a high level of causation."

by Vanilla Gorilla on Apr 14, 2008 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow...even the Cleveland announcers are talking...

.....shit. "Gilbert Arenas, welcome back to Cleveland." What do we do now vs. Orlando? I think I'd rather rest everyone.

www.truthaboutit.net

by Kyle Weidie on Apr 14, 2008 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

Not so fast my friend......

I think that's what we all thought. But the refs can review to see if a foul was called and one indeed was with .2 seconds left. Devin Brown made both. Game. Set. Match. Cleveland.

www.truthaboutit.net

by Kyle Weidie on Apr 14, 2008 9:46 PM EDT reply actions

Phooey -

NBA.com had the score momentarily wrong and I got very excited because I thought Cleveland lost. Oh n well. I still think we can beat them anyway even without home court

by ooba on Apr 14, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Solid game

As an aside, I switched over to CLE-PHI and am watching the weirdest end to a game ever. Lebron fails at another buzzer-beater, with Dalembert blocking it. Devin Brown grabs it, misses with time expiring. Then afterward, the refs go study film for awhile and decide to call a foul.

So Cavs get the four spot, and this might be a good time to begin the conversation about how the referees are going to be calling our upcoming playoff series.

Great game from Mason and the rest of the bench, btw. I agree with Mac: kudos to Ernie Grunfeld. Compare how the team looked today without Gil and Caron to how the team looked a year ago without them.

by sierradave on Apr 14, 2008 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Wednesday's game

I think it makes most sense to keep Caron out on Wednesday, what with all these nagging injuries he has. I'd say the same about Deshawn, but we all know that there's no way he'll sit out :P

by Gilbert4SpaceJam2 on Apr 14, 2008 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

Snorlando

I agree Caron should sit. I think DeShawn should as well, although I'd settle for him hobbling through the first half again and then hitting the locker room if thats all it takes to keep his little pride thing going. Gilbert needs to play as many minutes as he needs.. As a matter of fact, I'm still not sold that he needed to sit tonight.

by T Really on Apr 14, 2008 11:25 PM EDT reply actions