2013 Playoffs: Pacers-Hawks Game 4 viewer\’s guide
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
If the Pacers win on Monday, their first-round series is essentially a wrap. If they lose, they’ll fall into a tie and face heaps of pressure in Game 5 on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Here’s what to look for in a pivotal Game 4 in Atlanta:
Going West: Surprisingly, outside of a few moments in Game 1, David West has been just an ordinary player in this series. He went 1-for-4 from the field and scored just seven points in Game 2. He’s missed routine looks he usually makes. On Saturday, his counterpart, Al Horford, lit up the Pacers, while West resorted to flagrant fouls borne of frustration. Horford admitted to being upset at West’s open-court takedown and that it fired him up. The Pacers need more from West if they have any hope of carrying a lead back to Indianapolis. West looked better than any other Pacer on the road in the regular season. But he wasn’t as engaged on Saturday. Before the game, Frank Vogel was asked about the impact when West is in the background. It puts more importance on the bench, he said. Look for Indiana to do something to get West going in Game 3.
Line ˜Em Up: As Game 3 proved, Josh Smith, Ivan Johnson and Horford as the frontline is Atlanta’s best lineup, and it’s not even close. In the regular season, that trio spent just 90 minutes on the court together, but due to the size of the Pacers and the loss of Zaza Pachulia (who would have started at center in this series), the Hawks are finding this grouping to be the best alternative. Coach Larry Drew said Smith’s defense as a small forward on Paul George set the tone for Saturday’s blowout. Johnson said his strength allowed him to check Roy Hibbert. That Drew thought the 6-foot-8 Johnson was up for the challenge in the first place was striking. Yet Johnson prevented Hibbert from scoring in nearly a full quarter of head-to-head play in the first half, and Johnson employed his quickness and athleticism in addition to upper-body muscle to accomplish it. That wasn’t the first time he’s given Atlanta competent minutes at center, so expect the Hawks to continue guarding West with Horford until the Pacers prove Hibbert can make Johnson pay.
Orchestrating the Defense: The Pacers are allowing 99.9 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs after posting a league-best 96.6 defensive efficiency rating in the regular season. As odd as it is to type, Atlanta’s offense has had the upper hand. The Pacers must improve by maintaining intensity for all four quarters. They must cut down on all of the easy penetration. Perimeter defenders have to remain conscious of where Kyle Korver is at all times on the floor. Also, Vogel needs to find a defensive rotation strategy that allows Indiana to help when Smith takes George in the post and to still recover in time to contest shots elsewhere. It’s inevitable that Smith’s court vision and mobility will allow him to make an effective swing pass. In that situation, the Pacers must identify and cover the other Hawks who move without the ball. Stepping back, Indiana’s general defensive drop-off dates to the final two weeks of the regular season. The Pacers trailed by as many as 28 points in Game 3, marking the seventh time in their last nine games that they faced a deficit of at least 20. They must shore up their problems quickly if they hope to make any sort of deep playoff run.
Recovery: Vogel chalked up the Game 3 embarrassment to the growing pains of a very young team. An odd comment indeed, the Pacers are nevertheless expected to easily dispense of the No. 6 seed Hawks, and a victory Monday would probably assure them of a quick conclusion. In a best-of-seven series in the NBA playoffs, only eight teams have failed to advance after taking a 3-1 advantage.
