IN SUMMARY
The Result: Of all of our preview articles, this is looking like the least likely. Indy is down two games to Cleveland (in the division and for third) and Washington has now slumped into seventh place in the same boat as Miami and Milwaukee. Sometimes that happens to good teams, they just, for whatever reason, spoil. Maybe Washington has spoiled.
Next: Pacers potential playoff opponents preview: Philadelphia 76ers
I don’t know. As recently as two months ago I was very high on the Wizards, but not anymore. The Pacers are better. Washington has two real advantages over most teams. Their guard play is almost unparalleled, and they typically rebound well. The problem is that they haven’t been rebounding well, and the Pacers defense can neutralize the Wizards backcourt. These two will likely not play each other, but the Pacers should hope they do. They could beat these guys in a series.
Washington could have three games where everything clicks and they look like a dangerous team, but the consistent Pacers outlast them. Pacers in five or six. I lean towards five.