Tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT the Indiana Pacers, down 1-0 in their semifinal series of the Eastern Conference playoffs to the Washington Wizards, will attempt to salvage a split of their opening home games in a Game 2 that can be live streamed free by clicking this link. Pacers fans can hear the radio broadcast on 1070 The Fan, while Wizards fans may listen to the action on WFED-AM 1500.
All eyes will be on Pacers center Roy Hibbert tonight after a Game 1 no-show in which he totaled zero points and zero rebounds in 18 minutes of floor time. Pacers forward Paul George had an uncharacteristic off game, and nobody was able to pick up his slack.
"We tell Roy all the time how much we're going to need him in this series and this playoff run," George said. "You know it's up to Roy to just come through and deliver for us."
In Game 1 he did manage two blocks, and he should still be a force defensively against Washington's massive frontcourt. Hibbert believes strong play on D may translate to the other end of the floor. "I'll just try to be a little more aggressive on both ends and just not be content with letting their guards and forwards get defensive rebounds," Hibbert said.
"I've got to do a good job putting a body on Nene and [Marcin] Gortat, so I'm just going to go out there and pursue."
Another way to get him going might simply be him demanding touches, said George. "Roy's just got to clear his mind, demand the ball in the paint and get the ball where he wants it in the paint," George said.
"You know when he gets to where he's able to be a threat and he's able to make a move without putting the ball on the ground, it's going in almost every time."
If Hibbert's slide continues, expect Washington's John Wall to run wild and the Wizards to be in the Eastern Finals.
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