Definitive Guide to Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers, Wednesday's Top NBA Games
Guess what day it is?
Hump day. More importantly, it's game day in the NBA. It's almost always game day for the Association this time of year. Think of it as a nightly Christmas; the contending battles are the oversized gifts under your tree and the tank jobs are the coal in your stocking.
Exactly 20 teams are in action Wednesday night. Recovery time from your Tuesday-night, nine-games-were-on hangover must be short. Time to rest is basically nonexistent as we gear up for a hyperactive slate of games.
There are chips to dip, cold beverages to sip and chests to bump. There's also a Central Division battle to watch between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers. And the Los Angeles Clippers are taking an unleashed Chris Paul to Disney World. And John Wall's Washington Wizards are looking for their first win against the tanking Philadelphia 76ers, who, to this point, have done almost nothing besides win.
(Comes up for air).
And the Golden State Warriors are looking to teach the Minnesota Timberwolves how to shoot. And the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies are hoping life gets easier. And the San Antonio Spurs are going up against the almighty Eric Bledsoe.
Did I mention the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz will stage an early war for Andrew Wiggins' affections as well? Or that Dirk Nowitzki will take his Geico impersonations to Oklahoma City?
On game day, everybody wins. Well, except for half these teams, who will ultimately lose.
Wednesday Night's Lineup
Toronto Raptors vs. Charlotte Bobcats, 7 p.m. ET
Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. ET
Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. ET
Utah Jazz vs. Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET
Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
*All stats from this article are accurate as of Nov. 6, 2013.
Best Matchup of the Night: Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers
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November, meet playoff implications.
If there was ever a division fated to become a two-team race, it's the Central Division. We think.
The Cavs, Pistons and Bucks—alright, not the Bucks—may all toil with a playoff berth, but it's the Bulls and Pacers who will be playing for first place. We think.
Early on, the Bulls, who went 1-3 against the Pacers last season, haven't looked great. Derrick Rose has looked especially lost, shooting 28.8 percent from the floor and posting a PER of 1.7 through his first three games. That top-notch defense of Chicago's, by the way, is gone. For now, at least. Opposing teams are scoring 98.3 points a night on Tom Thibodeau's usually stingy defense (16th).
Indy suffers from no such beginning-of-the-season blues. At 4-0, the Pacers not only have the best record in the division, they're the only undefeated team in the league.
Paul George has been particularly fantastic, averaging 27 points a night to open the year. Indiana's defense is once again unflappable as well. Only two of the Pacers' opponents have topped 90 points, and none of them have seen the light of 100.
All signs point to a grueling, physical, offense-be-damned matchup at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the winner of which will earn premature bragging rights. And you just can't put a price on those.
Must-See Individual Matchup: Michael Carter-Williams vs. John Wall
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To what do we owe the pleasure?
Rookie sensation Michael Carter-Williams will square off against John Wall. Again. Because, yes.
First time around, it was Wall who won the individual battle, going for 26 points, six assists and five rebounds against the lowly Sixers. Did I say lowly? I meant inexplicably dominant.
It was the Sixers who actually emerged victorious, winning their second game of the season at the time. Behind Carter-Williams' 14 points and five assists, they got the best of Wall's winless Wizards.
Less than a week later, the Wizards are still without a W, and though the Warriors ended the Sixers' surprising run of perfection, they remain the darlings of the tanking world.
Point blank, Carter-Williams is the current favorite to win Rookie of the Year. I don't want to hear otherwise. He led Philly to three straight victories to start the season, exactly half the number of wins the team was supposed to have all year. The fact that I'm only partially kidding proves my point.
Wall, meanwhile, is looking to save face and his team. Despite his best efforts—19 points and 8.7 assists a night—the Wizards are 0-3. A bad 0-3. Their losses include a botched game against the allegedly horrific Sixers and the then-Brandon Jennings-less Pistons.
Will Carter-Williams get the best of his max-contract counterpart, or can Wall help bury the rookie's fairy-tale beginning?
(Related: How awesome is it that the above is even a question?)
Who Has the Most on the Line?
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Let us not be coy: The Wizards are close to screwed.
Expectations soared between last season and now in Washington. From a 24-25 record with Wall in the lineup in 2012-13, to the point guard's max deal, to the acquisition of Marcin Gortat, the Wizards were going to be good.
Instead, they're 0-3, looking at 0-4 if they fail to put away the Sixers for a second straight game. While the NBA isn't the NFL, 0-4 starts aren't the onsets playoff campaigns are made of.
Since 2010-11, six teams have opened the season 0-4; only one has gone on to clinch a playoff berth. Ironically, the Sixers were the only team to do so, dating back to 2010-11.
Climbing out of 0-4 starts hasn't been Washington's forte, either. In each of the last two seasons, the Wizards have gone 0-4, inevitably becoming another statistic as they failed to make the postseason both times.
Things were supposed to be different this year. Championships wouldn't be won or even contended for, but the Wizards were all-in on making the playoffs.
Continuing down their current path, the one paved in successive losses, could ruin everything. Putting themselves in an early hole has increased the meaning of every game they play, starting now.
"This is how we've got to play," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said after his team's loss to the Heat, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "Nobody wants to lose but I thought we took a good step in the right direction."
It's still early, but the Wizards must discover their winning ways before it's too late.
Critical Scratches
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Boston Celtics
Rajon Rondo, Knee: Soon, not even Rondo's return will prevent the Celtics from tanking. Cheer up, Boston, that means he won't be traded. Probably.
Golden State Warriors
Harrison Barnes, Ankle: Officially, he's questionable. Unofficially, the Timberwolves are really, really scared.
New Orleans Pelicans
Ryan Anderson, Foot: Three-pointers just don't seem the same in New Orleans without Anderson in the lineup. Mostly because they're not going in as much.
Orlando Magic
Tobias Harris, Ankle: The Clippers are currently averaging 119 points a game. So yeah, the Magic could have used his offense.
Philadelphia 76ers
Nerlens Noel, Knee: He'll likely need the entire season to recover from a torn ACL (wink, wink).
Phoenix Suns
Goran Dragic, Ankle: AZ Central's Paul Coro had Dragic missing two games, meaning he's likely out against the Spurs. Eric Bledsoe-on then.
Utah Jazz
Trey Burke, Finger: For some reason he's listed as questionable, when it was said he would miss at least six weeks. I doubt he plays. Tank on, Utah.
*All injury information was obtained via CBS Sports unless otherwise attributed.
Pop-in Potential: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies
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Mr. T and I both pity the fool who sleeps on the importance of this matchup.
Both the Grizzlies and Pelicans have already entered survival mode, in that neither one of them can afford to fall further behind the pack.
Fueled in part by Anderson's absence, New Orleans' offense has appeared disjointed and choppy. After playing the Pacers tough, the Pelicans have gone 1-2 against three non-playoff teams. The loss to a surging, yet still tanking, Suns outfit was particularly unnerving. Already near the bottom of the standings, a loss sends the Pelicans to a 1-4 start, putting them one Jazz or Nuggets win away from having the worst record out West.
Life hasn't been much easier in the land where grit n' grind describes a style of play and not breakfast.
Memphis' offense has been surprisingly middling, which, for the Grizzlies, is a good thing. Their defense, however, has been shockingly mediocre—a problem for a contingent prided on staunch rim protection.
Narrow victories over the Pistons and tank-master Celtics have done little to prove they can replicate the 56 wins they snagged last season. Lose, and they'll fall under .500 for the third time this season.
League Pass is an invaluable power, so remember to use it wisely—and always for good, like tuning in to see the Grizzlies battle the Pelicans. Never use it for evil, like watching the Celtics and Jazz play the "who's worse" game.
Fantasy Stockwatch
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Fantasy matchups are getting intense.
Once the middle of the week rolls around, it's every crafty planner for himself. Time is running out for you to build sizable leads across the boards or, more pressingly, make up for the gap currently existing between you and your opponent.
Drive up your leads and stage your comebacks with me, the one who is willing to point out both the obvious and the cryptic.
The Big Guns
Chris Paul
There has been no stopping Chris Paul early on, which is less than unlikely to change when the Clippers take on the Magic.
Paul is averaging 26.5 points, 13.3 assists and 3.3 steals on 51.7 percent shooting through his first four games. "Whoa," "holy moly" and a long-winded "damn" are all suitable words or phrases for a time like this.
Orlando doesn't have a Paul stopper, mostly because there is no such thing. Victor Oladipo has the athleticism and defensive dexterity necessary to make life difficult, but Paul's combination of piercing drives and precise shooting make him an impossible cover.
On this night, that ensures Paul will be good for yet another double-double.
Consider this my "beware of how you structure your lineup" pick.
Most nights, Stephen Curry is enough to carry you in a league where three-pointers made and three-point percentage count for something, but the Timberwolves' perimeter defense poses a daunting matchup for the hot-shooting point guard.
Golden State's 46.9 percent conversion rate from deep ranks second in the league thus far. Curry is draining his treys at an impressive 50 percent clip, all the while attempting nine a night. No, that's not a typo; he's actually hoisting up nine bombs a game.
But opponents are shooting just 29.2 percent from deep against Minny. Anyone who knows Curry also knows the best way to quiet him offensively is to hound him on the perimeter. If the Timberwolves can keep his deadly three-point act in check, it could be a long night for the Dubs.
Or, more likely, if the Timberwolves find Curry is a gunner who cannot be deterred, they'll be the ones facing a night without end.
The Sleeper
C.J. Miles
Ride this bandwagon as far as it carries you.
C.J. Miles has had an interesting start, to the say least. Through four games, he's notched 14.8 points on 52.3 percent shooting in just 20.5 minutes a night. He's also been good for three rebounds and 1.8 steals.
The thing is, Miles has scored more than 10 points just twice. Outings against the Bobcats (22 points) and Timberwolves (18) have carried his averages.
Still, for a player who's receiving a limited amount of playing time, he's lighting it up. His 25.9 points per-36 minutes are the most on the Cavs, and a defense like Milwaukee's—that somehow ranks fifth in points allowed thus far—is one he can slip through when playing next to Kyrie Irving or Dion Waiters, or both.
Instant scoring laced with frequent rebounding and steals are valuable fantasy commodities, especially when they're coming efficiently. Bookmark Miles for another strong night.
