Race For the Central Division - Bullets Vs Pacers
Apr 30, 2015 10:34:57 GMT -6
San Francisco and Portland like this
Post by Washington on Apr 30, 2015 10:34:57 GMT -6
With the end in sight to the ABCA Regular season the race to be crown Central Division Champions and homecourt advantage for the first round of the playoffs couldn't be closer between the Washington Bullets and the Indiana Pacers. With 9 games to go for the Bullets (10 for the Pacers) the Bullets hold a slim 1.5 game lead over the Pacers. We take a look at the schedule ahead for both of these teams and the players who will be key for their team.
Washington Bullets: 45-28
5 Home Games, 4 Road Games
5 Teams over .500 (Warriors, Pacers, @sonics, @titans, @alba)
04/07/27 Pistons (23-50)
04/09/27 Warriors (52-21)
04/10/27 Globetrotters (32-42)
04/14/27 Pacers (43-29)
04/15/27 Rockets (26-47)
04/18/27 at CSKA (23-49)
04/19/27 at Sonics (50-22)
04/21/27 at Titans (42-31)
04/22/27 at ALBA (43-30)
Indiana Pacers: 43 - 29
7 Home Games, 3 Road Games
7 Teams Over .500 (Warriors, Towers, @bullets, @knicks, Sonics, Kings)
04/06/27 Zamalek (14-59)
04/07/27 Warriors (52-21)
04/10/27 Rockets (26-47)
04/11/27 Towers (46-27)
04/13/27 Mahram (37-36)
04/14/27 at Bullets (45-28)
04/17/27 at Knicks (60-14)
04/18/27 Sonics (50-22)
04/20/27 Kings (59-15)
04/22/27 at Pistons (23-50)
Looking at the schedules the game between the two looks to be a huge game and could go a long way to deciding things, although the Bullets have beat the Pacers on their previous three games so far this season and hold the tiebreaker both teams will not want to lose this one. The Bullets have the easier strength of schedule with 5 games against teams over .500 compared to the 7 games the Pacers face while the Pacers have 7 home games compared to the Bullets 5. The Bullets are finishing the season on a 4 game road trip, whilst the Pacers face a brutal stretch following their crucial clash against the Bullets facing the Knicks, Sonics and Kings three elite teams.
The Bullets haven't been playing that great basketball in the last 10 going 5-5, and looking at the schedule I can see them carrying on that sort of form and going 5-4 which means with the Bullets already holding the tiebreak, the Pacers would have to win 8 of their 10 games which is a big ask but it does make the game against the Bullets that much more important in terms for wins and loses for both teams.
Lets take a quick look at the key players for both teams this season.
Washington Bullets Key Players:
Dominique Wilkins: 35.7MPG, 27.2PPG, 8.0RPG, 3.4APG
Mitch Richmond: 35.8MPG, 20.9PPG, 5.2RPG, 4.9APG
Norm Nixon: 35.2MPG, 12.3PPG, 10.4APG, 2.0SPG
Dominique Wilkins is putting up some big numbers for the Bullets and is repaying the faith the Bullets showed in him when they made the big trade to bring him to Washington. Mitch Richmond is having a career year averaging 20,5,5 all of which are career highs. Mitch is a free agent in the off season and will be getting max money for the Bullets I have no doubt as he is developing into a great shooting guard in this league. Lastly is veteran point guard Norm Nixon who is averaging over 10APG which is 3rd best in the league and has just signed a three year contract extension which shows how much the Bullets value his production.
Indiana Pacers Key Players:
Kevin McHale: 37.2MPG, 22.8PPG, 11.0RPG, 2.0BPG
Shaquille O'Neal: 38.3MPG, 18.8PPG, 10.8RPG, 3.0BPG
Dennis Johnson: 38.4MPG, 20.8PPG, 9.3APG, 3.0SPG
The Pacers are lead by their great front court duo Kevin McHale and Shaquille O'Neal both of which are putting up impressive numbers with both in the top 5 in rebounds per game. Dennis Johnson was a huge mid season pickup for the Pacers and turned their season around after somewhat of a slow start and is going a little bit of everything averaging 20PPG, 9APG, 3SPG.
Whatever happens it is sure to be a exciting end to the season and although it’s great to win your division and get homecourt advantage for the 1st round, with the way the seeding works the prize is looking to be a 1st round matchup against Hakeem and the Lakers, Seattle Sonics or the Warriors.
Washington Bullets: 45-28
5 Home Games, 4 Road Games
5 Teams over .500 (Warriors, Pacers, @sonics, @titans, @alba)
04/07/27 Pistons (23-50)
04/09/27 Warriors (52-21)
04/10/27 Globetrotters (32-42)
04/14/27 Pacers (43-29)
04/15/27 Rockets (26-47)
04/18/27 at CSKA (23-49)
04/19/27 at Sonics (50-22)
04/21/27 at Titans (42-31)
04/22/27 at ALBA (43-30)
Indiana Pacers: 43 - 29
7 Home Games, 3 Road Games
7 Teams Over .500 (Warriors, Towers, @bullets, @knicks, Sonics, Kings)
04/06/27 Zamalek (14-59)
04/07/27 Warriors (52-21)
04/10/27 Rockets (26-47)
04/11/27 Towers (46-27)
04/13/27 Mahram (37-36)
04/14/27 at Bullets (45-28)
04/17/27 at Knicks (60-14)
04/18/27 Sonics (50-22)
04/20/27 Kings (59-15)
04/22/27 at Pistons (23-50)
Looking at the schedules the game between the two looks to be a huge game and could go a long way to deciding things, although the Bullets have beat the Pacers on their previous three games so far this season and hold the tiebreaker both teams will not want to lose this one. The Bullets have the easier strength of schedule with 5 games against teams over .500 compared to the 7 games the Pacers face while the Pacers have 7 home games compared to the Bullets 5. The Bullets are finishing the season on a 4 game road trip, whilst the Pacers face a brutal stretch following their crucial clash against the Bullets facing the Knicks, Sonics and Kings three elite teams.
The Bullets haven't been playing that great basketball in the last 10 going 5-5, and looking at the schedule I can see them carrying on that sort of form and going 5-4 which means with the Bullets already holding the tiebreak, the Pacers would have to win 8 of their 10 games which is a big ask but it does make the game against the Bullets that much more important in terms for wins and loses for both teams.
Lets take a quick look at the key players for both teams this season.
Washington Bullets Key Players:
Dominique Wilkins: 35.7MPG, 27.2PPG, 8.0RPG, 3.4APG
Mitch Richmond: 35.8MPG, 20.9PPG, 5.2RPG, 4.9APG
Norm Nixon: 35.2MPG, 12.3PPG, 10.4APG, 2.0SPG
Dominique Wilkins is putting up some big numbers for the Bullets and is repaying the faith the Bullets showed in him when they made the big trade to bring him to Washington. Mitch Richmond is having a career year averaging 20,5,5 all of which are career highs. Mitch is a free agent in the off season and will be getting max money for the Bullets I have no doubt as he is developing into a great shooting guard in this league. Lastly is veteran point guard Norm Nixon who is averaging over 10APG which is 3rd best in the league and has just signed a three year contract extension which shows how much the Bullets value his production.
Indiana Pacers Key Players:
Kevin McHale: 37.2MPG, 22.8PPG, 11.0RPG, 2.0BPG
Shaquille O'Neal: 38.3MPG, 18.8PPG, 10.8RPG, 3.0BPG
Dennis Johnson: 38.4MPG, 20.8PPG, 9.3APG, 3.0SPG
The Pacers are lead by their great front court duo Kevin McHale and Shaquille O'Neal both of which are putting up impressive numbers with both in the top 5 in rebounds per game. Dennis Johnson was a huge mid season pickup for the Pacers and turned their season around after somewhat of a slow start and is going a little bit of everything averaging 20PPG, 9APG, 3SPG.
Whatever happens it is sure to be a exciting end to the season and although it’s great to win your division and get homecourt advantage for the 1st round, with the way the seeding works the prize is looking to be a 1st round matchup against Hakeem and the Lakers, Seattle Sonics or the Warriors.
