Bullets Forever - Wizards vs. Pacers, NBA Playoffs 2014 Game 3: Wiz drop the ball in 85-63 loss"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2014-05-10T10:30:29-04:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/54660952014-05-10T10:30:29-04:002014-05-10T10:30:29-04:00Pacers' D swallows up Wall, Wiz
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<figcaption>Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards had no chance against Indiana's set defense and looked overwhelmed. How did John Wall and company fail so badly in Game 3?</p> <p>There's a reason why so many pundits pegged the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a> to win this series, even though they were taken to the brink by an Al Horford-less <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> team and were inches away from perhaps the biggest meltdown in league history.</p>
<p>It's for the same reasons those same pundits picked the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a> in the first round. The Pacers are a defensive force and were well on their way to becoming one of the all-time great units of this generation after blitzing the league in the first two months of the season. Like Chicago, they swallow up dribble penetration by clogging the lane and stationing <span>Roy Hibbert</span> right under the basket to thwart any forays to the rim. They use their wing defenders to hound you off screens, and when they're not doing that, they're expertly playing passing lanes.</p>
<p>All of this took a toll on Washington's offense in Game 3. They amassed just 10 assists on 24 made field goals with 17 turnovers and 4-16 shooting from deep. <span>John Wall</span> again looked helpless. He pushed the ball off misses whenever he saw fit, only to be met by <span>Paul George</span> as he crosses halfcourt.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434403/george.jpg"><img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434403/george.jpg" class="photo" alt="George"></a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434411/george2.jpg"><img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434411/george2.jpg" class="photo" alt="George2"></a> <br id="1399697745870"></p>
<p>George doesn't even care that <span>Evan Turner</span> is all alone defending two three-point shooters in Ariza and Webster. Ian Mahinmi is still backpedaling, C.J. Watson is getting beat down floor, and Wall has a chance to get right to the hoop. But the four Pacers in tandem makes Wall reset and also causes him to miss Webster cutting to the hoop unimpeded.</p>
<p>But more importantly, Wall couldn't figure out how to attack the basket. He took a more measured approach not to settle for jumpers than in Game 2, but just couldn't solve Indiana's scheme. The spacing was never optimal in the first place, but to make matters worse, he couldn't get by George Hill. And on the occasions that he did, he failed to manipulate the space in front of him and settled for awkward floaters over Hibbert's outstretched arms.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434443/wall_floater.jpg"><img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434443/wall_floater.jpg" class="photo" alt="Wall_floater"></a></p>
<p>That's where Wall's biggest problems were. He was able to get in the lane through rescreen action or simply rejecting picks, but once he got there he had no idea what to do. He didn't have his usual poor shooting night, and that has more to do with him simply not settling for jumpers.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434483/wall_float.jpg"><img src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434483/wall_float.jpg" class="photo" alt="Wall_float"></a></p>
<p>I'd actually argue that him crossing into the middle was a bad idea. Normally it opens up more of the floor, but he'd probably have been better served staying on his side of the floor and giving Gortat a chance to roll into his lane.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434491/wall_float2.jpg"><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4434491/wall_float2.jpg" class="photo" alt="Wall_float2"></a></p>
<p>That led to another wild floater, this time with his right hand while he's moving towards his left. It took LeBron James a full offseason of work just to develop a floater to cope with Hibbert's verticality, Wall's not there yet. This is not his game, and I'd rather him just pull the ball back out and reset.</p>
<p>Washington's going to have to find ways to mask their spacing deficiencies. This is a make or miss league, and right now they're not making Indiana pay from midrange the way they did Chicago. But I don't think they can afford changes to the rotation, not when Hibbert and West are throwing their weight around like they are now. Their best remedy at this point is getting out on the break, and the only way they do that is through getting stops and rebounding.</p>
<p>There shouldn't be instances where Wall is walking the ball up court. The ball movement has to be better, and if they think running a high pick and roll with Wall or a Bradley Beal handoff with Nene while the others camp on the perimeter will work, this series won't make it to Washington for a sixth game.</p>
<p>Attacking from the sides is their best bet. It keeps Hibbert from just surveying the floor and engaging ball handlers in the lane, but it also keeps their wings from crashing down into the paint so freely.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/A8v6OfYJrSU" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1399702177661"></p>
<p>This is one of my favorite plays because of all the screening going on. It starts off looking like another Beal handoff with George fighting through a pair of staggered screens, but then Wall will flare out and Beal will deliver the pass just as Wall's man gets screened off. Wall gets <span>David West</span> to jump out, and he's able to suck in the defense in the lane to get Ariza a corner three.</p>
<p>Wall and Beal simply looked overwhelmed in Game 3. It was manageable in round one because it didn't take much to outscore the Bulls, but this is an entirely new matchup against a better defense that is slowly finding its offense. <span>Randy Wittman</span> has to adjust to get the ball moving quicker in these sets or his team will be headed back to Indy in a precarious spot.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/5/10/5702418/john-wall-washington-wizards-offense-pacers-game-3Umair Khan2014-05-10T10:24:03-04:002014-05-10T10:24:03-04:00Wiz demoralized after Game 3 no-show
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<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards lost an awful one in Game 3, then seemed dismayed by it after the game.</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- That was one of the most depressing postgame locker room scenes I've ever witnessed in five-plus years covering this team. Players took forever to get dressed, to the point where public relations staffers had to track them down. <span>John Wall</span> lingered in the training room dealing with a cut below his eye before finally emerging around 11:45, several minutes after many writers decided to abandon ship and try to meet their deadlines.</p>
<p>That 85-63 loss was earth-shattering to us, and it seemed like it was to them too. Most of us figured <i>that</i> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Pacers</a> team was never coming back. Worse, the first seven games of the playoffs almost convinced us <i>that</i> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> team was also gone forever. Instead, they arrived together in one horrible, no-good, very bad game that had fans scurrying for the exits with several minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>Each Wizards player had a different explanation. Some notable ones:</p>
<p><b>JOHN WALL: </b>"I think we had a lot of pace to start the game. We just didn't make shots. If you're not making shots, you don't want to keep that same pace just to force shots up and give those guys an opportunity to run."</p>
<p><b>RANDY WITTMAN: </b>"[John's] got to stay aggressive. I think he had some hesitation in his game tonight, in between 'What do I do here.' That's something we never see, and he's got to fight through it."</p>
<p><b>DREW GOODEN: </b>"I think we were very confident, maybe overly confident coming into this game. Thinking that we were going to take the Pacers and put them down early, but that wasn't the case."</p>
<p><b>TREVOR ARIZA: </b>"We turned the ball over too much and we didn't run our offense the way we're capable of running our offense. ... It wasn't anything they did. We just didn't do what we normally do."</p>
<p><b>ANDRE MILLER: </b>"We find ourselves standing around a bit playing pick and roll, and that played into their defense. We just got to continue to move the ball, but our defense needs to force turnovers too."</p>
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<p><b>BRADLEY BEAL: </b>"I think we got involved in what they do. We let them affect us too much."</p>
<p><b>NENE: </b>"Sometimes we focus too much on making shots and in our own way, we shut down a little bit."</p>
<p><b>GOODEN: </b>"I just think we missed a lot of shots that we usually knock down, and it's only so much defense you can play. We played our defense. We just didn't play our offense. We can't try to win ballgames in the 80s or low 90s."</p>
<p><b>WITTMAN: </b>"John was trying to push it. We didn't have five guys running with him."</p>
<p><b>BEAL: </b>"Yeah, I was [forcing some shots]. But at the same time, I was trying to get Paul [George] tired so it's make Trevor [Ariza's] job on the other end."</p>
<p><b>NENE: </b>"They did a great job executing their game to pound the low block. I think we that a little bit more."</p>
<p><b>BEAL: </b>"That's one adjustment that they made. Lance [Stephenson] and Paul [George], they don't even really crash [the offensive glass]. They're just running back on defense. But at the same time, we still get the rebound, and we can still push it. We still have our transition offense that we run that's very efficient."</p>
<p>The fix will not be easy. Indiana is fully engaged, and it may be time for some drastic measures.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/5/10/5702382/pacers-defense-wizards-nba-playoffs-2014-paul-george">Here's my piece</a> for the mothership on the game. Safe to say that Game 2 wasn't Indiana's A game after all.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Dominique Wilkins was not happy about the fans booing the team in the fourth quarter.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Even get Gooden going with a little energy and hustle to get the home crowd going. No reason ur arena should be booing. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23playoffSupport&src=hash">#playoffSupport</a></p>
— Dominique Wilkins (@DWilkins21) <a href="https://twitter.com/DWilkins21/statuses/464946580496609280">May 10, 2014</a>
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<p>I didn't really like it either, but I get it. That was embarrassing, and we've seen the Wizards lay down after brief stretches of brilliance all year. Wall was asked about it and said he understood. "That's their right."</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>:-(</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Left for dead outside Verizon Center <a href="http://t.co/pQDGqNv7tJ">pic.twitter.com/pQDGqNv7tJ</a></p>
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikePradaSBN/statuses/465011649741877248">May 10, 2014</a>
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***</p>
<p>The good news is that it's just one game. One incredibly demoralizing game, sure, but just one game. Indiana still needs to win Game 4 to really feel comfortable, and we know how capable this Wizards team is on the road. The postgame thread was gloomy, as it should be, but just as we've seen this team lay down when things were going well, so too have they often rallied when things weren't. So I'm not ready to call this series just yet, even if I'm exponentially less confident than before.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/5/10/5703044/nba-playoffs-2014-wizards-pacers-nba-2014Mike Prada2014-05-09T22:37:45-04:002014-05-09T22:37:45-04:00Wizards' O dies in deflating 85-63 loss
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<figcaption>Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards' offense was an embarrassment in Game 3 and that caused a demoralizing 85-63 loss. Indiana now leads the series, 2-1.</p> <p>After six games of brilliance, an out-of-body experience that happily confused everyone, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> reverted to Regular Season Wizards in Game 3 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Pacers</a>. The offense was a disaster, the free-throw shooting was typically abysmal and <span>John Wall</span> vacillated between breathtakingly brilliant and mind-numbingly frustrating every other possession. In the end, the Pacers came away with a 85-63 win and a 2-1 series lead.</p>
<p>One could call this game the Revenge Of Mid-Range. The Wizards had been scorching from that range all playoffs and regressed to the mean in a huge way. The Wizards hit just 5-25 shots from that range, bricking open and contested looks alike. And with a re-engaged <span>Roy Hibbert</span> shutting off the lane, that killed any hopes of scoring. Any efforts thereafter were out-of-control mad dashes and Hail Mary's that had no shot.</p>
<p>The Wizards started fast-ish, but as the first half went along, the Pacers slowly put their mark on the game. The Wizards tried to push the ball more, but Indiana just wouldn't let them. Pacers perimeter players dropped way back on every shot attempt, an ultra-conservative tactic that limited Washington's fast break. When Trevor Ariza banked in a three early to get the crowd going, <span>Frank Vogel</span> called timeout, a quick decision right out of the Lenny Wilkins mode. Indiana eventually survived the <span>Luis Scola</span>/<span>Evan Turner</span> sequence and turned it back on at the end of the half for a one-point lead. The Wizards kept working for (and missing) mid-range shots, and save for a couple bursts at the half, John Wall seemed wary of driving.</p>
<p>And then Indiana really turned up the screws to start the second. <span>Paul George</span> may not be the most efficient offensive player, but he was all over <span>Bradley Beal</span>. Meanwhile, Wall tried pushing and succeeded once, but turned it over a couple other times when trying hard to get in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/british-open">the open</a> floor. A George-induced turnover led to a three-point play for <span>Lance Stephenson</span>, then a <span>David West</span> jumper pushed the lead to nine with 6:24 left. The Wizards could only get mid-range shots and missed all of them.</p>
<p>It got worse after the timeout. Wall set up Nene twice for point-blank layups, but Nene only converted one of four free throws for his efforts. The Pacers turned up the screws further defensively and got easy looks from patient offense, with George and Stephenson converting backdoor attempts. Wall tried dashing into the lane, but threw up a junk floater that missed badly and missed several free throws. It took a herculean effort to make it a 12-point third quarter.</p>
<p>There was a flicker of hope early in the fourth quarter after Bradley Beal knocked down two mid-range jumpers, but it faded quickly. <span>Ian Mahinmi</span> drew a foul on a roll to the basket and Indiana's slow grind continued. Wall again tried running it down Indiana's throat, but was stripped by George Hill. He eventually took a steal with 8:42 remaining and the Wizards down 13.</p>
<p>Desperate for a spark, Wittman turned to <span>Andre Miller</span> and <span>Al Harrington</span> in a modified AARP Unit look with <span>Trevor Booker</span> in for <span>Drew Gooden</span>, but that didn't work. Two more fouls put the Wizards into the penalty, and an awful Miller turnover on a jump pass convinced Wittman to scrap the unit a minute later.</p>
<p>The Wizards' starters tried, but couldn't gain enough momentum. A three by Beal and a big Harrington offensive rebound were highlights, but the runs were quenched each time by West jumpers. Every time Wall or Beal tried to run a pick and roll, their rhythm was off because Hill and George were playing way up on them. It finally ended for good when the Pacers forced a switch, West backed Wall into the lane to draw another defender and the ball swung to George for a wide open three. That gave Indiana a 17-point lead and sent fans to the exits.</p>
<p>There's lots of blame to go around. Wall will gobble up the lion's share and he was often dreadful, but Beal was 6-19 and Nene was 3-14. The game -- and perhaps the series -- turned when Frank Vogel put George on Beal and Hibbert inched a step up on those pick and rolls. Nene, meanwhile, can't shoot this poorly for the Wizards to have any shot at all.</p>
<p>Man, I'm bummed. I'm not sure what the adjustment is other than making more shots and paying more attention. Indiana's D was in midseason form tonight, and unless the Wizards find some way to generate spacing, there's not much at all Washington can do.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/5/9/5701472/wizards-vs-pacers-nba-playoffs-2014-game-3-score-finalMike Prada2014-05-09T21:33:03-04:002014-05-09T21:33:03-04:00Your Wizards-Pacers game thread (Part 2)
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<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Watch the second half here.</p> <p>Ugly first half, but it's still only a one-point game. Let's do this.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/5/9/5701772/wizards-vs-pacers-nba-playoffs-2014-game-3-open-thread-part-2Mike Prada2014-05-09T19:27:44-04:002014-05-09T19:27:44-04:00Your Wizards-Pacers game thread (Part 1)
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<figcaption>Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Discuss the first half here.</p> <table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" border="1" align="center"><tbody> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3">2013-14 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-playoffs">NBA Playoffs</a> </th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center style="text-align: center;"> <img width="80" height="72" src="http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/wizards_alt_logo_hand.gif"> </center></td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">vs</th> <td width="240"><center style="text-align: center;"><img width="80" height="72" src="http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/6/224/full/3083.gif"></center></td> </tr> <tr><td bgcolor="silver" align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>May 9, 2014</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>Verizon Center</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>8 p.m.</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>ESPN, 1500 AM</strong></td></tr> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>Projected Starting Lineups</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right" style="text-align: center;"><span>George Hill</span></td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">PG</th> <td width="240" style="text-align: center;"><span>John Wall</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right" style="text-align: center;"><span>Lance Stephenson</span></td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">SG</th> <td width="240" style="text-align: center;"><span>Bradley Beal</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right" style="text-align: center;"><span>Paul George</span></td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">SF</th> <td width="240" style="text-align: center;"><span>Trevor Ariza</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right" style="text-align: center;"><span>David West</span></td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">PF</th> <td width="240" style="text-align: center;">Nene</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right" style="text-align: center;"><span>Roy Hibbert</span></td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">C</th> <td width="240" style="text-align: center;"><span>Marcin Gortat</span></td> </tr> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>2013-14 Advanced Stats</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right" style="text-align: center;">94.9 (20th)</td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">Pace</th> <td width="240" style="text-align: center;"><span>95.4 (19th)</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right" style="text-align: center;">101.5 (22nd)</td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">ORtg</th> <td width="240" style="text-align: center;"><span>103.3 (16th)</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right" style="text-align: center;">96.7 (1st)</td> <th width="20" align="center" style="text-align: center;">DRtg</th> <td width="240" style="text-align: center;"><span>102.4 (9th)</span></td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" bgcolor="silver" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3">Also see: <a href="http://www.indycornrows.com/">Indy Cornrows</a> | <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/nba-playoffs-2014-wizards-vs-pacers">BF's series section</a> | <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/5/9/5699970/wizards-vs-pacers-nba-playoffs-2014-game-3-preview">Game Preview</a> </th></tr> </tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>Here at Verizon Center, where Randy Wittman isn't worried about whether John Wall will bounce back and all of Frank Vogel's keys are things the Pacers did well in Game 2. There's lots of optimism from folks I talked to before the game. Now, it's time to do it.</p>
<p>Remember: flag trolls and do not engage with them, and please stay over here after the game.</p>
<p>GO WIZARDS!</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/5/9/5701330/pacers-vs-wizards-nba-playoffs-2014-open-thread-part-1Mike Prada2014-05-09T13:50:08-04:002014-05-09T13:50:08-04:00No major adjustments needed in Game 3
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards' gameplan was sound in Game 2. If they clean up the execution, they should win Game 3.</p> <p>The day after Game 2 happened,<a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/5/8/5693774/wizards-pacers-game-2-nba-playoffs-2014-recap"> I wrote that</a> we shouldn't be too concerned with the loss. The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> played a poor game and were still right there at the end. Duplicate that effort going forward, and the Wizards will still win the series.</p>
<p>After rewatching the game, I feel even stronger in that opinion. The difference in Game 2 came down to several breakdowns that need to be cleaned up ... and they weren't necessarily the obvious ones like John Wall's late-game shot selection. A few examples:</p>
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<ul>
<li>Very early in the game, the Wizards were stuck with <span>Bradley Beal</span> on Paul George. George took him into the post, and the Wizards doubled nicely the first time. But when the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a> re-posted, George walked into the middle of the lane without a second defender coming. Too easy.</li>
<li>The Wizards' first timeout happened because Wall was standing upright in transition and <span>Marcin Gortat</span> didn't come over to stop George Hill's drive. Too easy.</li>
<li>A bad miscommunication late in the second quarter gave Hill an uncontested two-handed dunk. The Pacers used George as a screener, which means <span>Trevor Ariza</span> is supposed to jump out for a second to slow Hill so Wall can recover. He didn't, even though Wall expected him to do so, and nobody rotated to Hill.</li>
<li>Early the third quarter, the Wizards were making a run, and the Pacers had the ball down five. They ran a pick and roll and <span>Roy Hibbert</span> caught the ball in a non-threatening position on the right side. And yet, Wall sort of floated to him while leaving Hill wide open in the right corner. He was neither pressuring Hibbert, nor was he still on Hill. He was in no-man's land. Hibbert made the easy pass and Hill hit the corner three to stop Washington's run.</li>
<li>A wide-open third-quarter corner three from <span>Lance Stephenson</span> happened because Wall and Nene switched a Hill/<span>David West</span> pick and roll. The Pacers swung the ball to West and EVERYONE collapsed into the middle. You make it too easy <a href="https://twitter.com/MikePradaSBN/status/464812078516035584">when this happens</a>.</li>
<li>Early in the fourth quarter, <span>Drew Gooden</span> contested a mid-range jumper and leaked out ahead of the Pacers. The ball trickled to <span>Martell Webster</span>, and he had Gooden open. But instead of throwing the pass immediately, he dribbled an extra time. The ball still got to West, but it gave <span>Ian Mahinmi</span> time to rotate back and commit the foul. Gooden hit only one of two free throws. Two (or even possibly three) points turned into one.</li>
<li>At the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, <span>C.J. Watson</span> badly picked Andre Miller's pocket. Someone has to tell Miller there's a guy behind him.</li>
<li>That George dunk late was definitely Nene's fault. He didn't step up off Hibbert because he was worried about the dump-off pass, even though Wall was correctly positioning in the passing lane.</li>
<li>The play that preceded Wall's devastating late-game turnover was a double drag screen that turned into a step-up pick for Beal. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAXQW7dr8J4&index=3&list=PLxu2s_rEDXBnpgMOHb7CXHf3nkr-1b54G">Here's the Oklahoma City version</a> for a better frame of reference). George properly jumped the play, but Beal still needed to try to run him into Gortat's screen. Instead, <a href="https://twitter.com/MikePradaSBN/status/464819193243000832/photo/1">he cut away </a>and took himself out of the play.</li>
</ul>
<div>Am I nitpicking? Perhaps. But my point is that the Wizards were still right there despite all of these little breakdowns that add up. There's no need for <span>Randy Wittman</span> to make drastic gameplan changes to win Game 3. The Wizards just have to clean up these issues.</div>
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<div>Of course, it'd also help if Wall played better. I was disappointed in his defense, and there are definitely times where he needs to be more of a scoring threat attacking the basket. But even with Wall's rough game, they had a chance to win. That's a good sign for Game 3.</div>
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<b>Game time: </b>8 p.m. ET</div>
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<b>Channel: </b>ESPN</div>
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<b>Radio: </b>1500 AM</div>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/5/9/5699970/wizards-vs-pacers-nba-playoffs-2014-game-3-previewMike Prada