Open Thread: Game 4

Regular Season Game 4
Pacers (3-1) at Wizards (1-2)
Verizon Center
7 PM
CSN and NBA League Pass

The Wizards return home today to face an Indiana Pacers team that has been playing solid basketball so far, with wins over Charlotte, New York, and Philadelphia, with only a loss to undefeated New Orleans. My biggest worry with Indiana was guard play, but Darrell Armstrong and Maryland alum Sarunas Jasikavicius have been solid in that regard. Jermaine O'Neal is having another strong season and has added nearly 4 blocks a game to his arsenal.

The Wizards are coming off a tough loss to Orlando, but they played well in most aspects of the game, with the huge exception being perimeter defense. The good news is that the Pacers don't exactly have a boatload of shooters, instead relying on slashers like Jamaal Tinsley, Al Harrington, and Danny Granger.

Pacers Blogs: Indy Cornrows

Indy has started 3-1, but considering they've beaten Charlotte, New York, and Philadelphia, I don't see it as so impressive. Nobody on this team wows me, but Rick Carlisle is proving why he's such a good coach. In their only loss, they played a New Orleans team that can expose their backcourt defensive weaknesses. The Wizards don't have Chris Paul, but I expect Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler to have big games tonight against a Pacers team that doesn't really have a big perimeter defender just yet. In addition, Indiana is on the second game of a back-to-back, and the Wizards are really strong at home. I don't expect this one to be too close.

Prediction: Wizards 110, Pacers 95

And, as a reminder, keep sending in your Brendan Haywood trade proposals, even if you don't think they'll happen. So far, we only have one offer, but I haven't even checked the trade tracker to see if it works. Keep sending them in!