Pacers vs Wizards Game 4 Pick

Indiana Pacers vs. Washington Wizards

Game 4

Sunday 8:00 EST

May 11, 2014

Line: Washington -4.5 (Subject to change. Check up-to-date odds at Bovada)

Things can’t get any worse for the Washington Wizards. At least they better hope not, otherwise midnight will soon strike on their magical playoff run.

In Game 3, they shot 24-for-73 from the field and scored the fewest points the franchise has scored in a game, regular season or playoffs.

Now, the hard part comes for these young Wizards. They must put their abysmal Game 3 performance in the rear view mirror and turn their attention to Game 4. After winning the first game of the Eastern Conference series, the Wizards now trail 2-1 and enter Sunday’s Game 4 matchup in a desperate situation. Washington can attribute their Game 3 loss to simply not making shots or the 18 turnovers that led to 21 points for the Indiana Pacers. But whatever the reason, the Pacers executed the perfect game plan against the Wizards. Washington’s offense looked out of sorts from the opening tip. While the Pacers slow tempo led to more halfcourt possessions than the Wizards are used to, Washington won’t survive another game playing in this rhythm. That’s not how they’re built. The speedy John Wall and the athletic Bradley Beal need to get out in transition and find more easy baskets.

Game 4 will be another test for Indiana’s defense to try and slow down Washington’s offense. But for the first time in the series and postseason, he Pacers regained their defensive form and style that elevated them to the No. 1 seed in the East. Indiana limited the Wizards to 32.9 percent shooting, while forcing 18 turnovers that resulted in 21 points. Wall had seven turnovers in the loss after only committing six turnovers in the previous five games combined. And for the first time in these playoffs, the Wizards trail in a series. They will have to win Sunday’s Game 4 to avoid returning to Indianapolis for a possible closeout game.

The Wizards have the talent and ability to compete with Indiana. They proved it during the first two games of the series. Now, the Wizards must have the mental toughness to compete in Game 4. It won’t be their physical talents that slow them down. It’ll be between the ears.

One dominating performance from Indiana doesn’t mean I’m hopping on the Pacers bandwagon just yet. Let them do it again before I actually start believing. Although the Wizards laid an egg in Game 3, expect the series to be all tied up after Game 4.

My Pick: Wizards -4.5