Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks - April 24, 2017
Worst forfeit: The Wizards loss tied the series at 2-2 with Game 5 on Wednesday in Washington. All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures Monday night as the Wizards defense struggled to wrap anyone up. Bradley Beal led all scorers with 32 points, John Wall has 22 points and 10 assists, and Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 19.
Worst stat: The Wizards defense was worn out in Game 4, and Washington ultimately seceded its series lead with this ugly stat:
Worst sequence: John Wall missed a contested layup with the Wizards down seven, then Dennis Schroder bounced in a three-pointer on the other end to put Atlanta up by double digits with 1:41 left to play.
Best circus shot: The three-point play that got Atlanta its 10-point lead with 4:28 left in the game involved a two-point shot he made off of one foot as he fell to the floor. Wizards fans may be the only ones crying.
Best Bogdanovic: With just over eight minutes to play, Bojan Bogdanovic hit a 25-foot three-pointer to keep the Wizards within a possession. With 13 points in 16 minutes, the guard has already had his most productive game of the series.
Worst foul: Markieff Morris swatted Paul Millsaps arm and drew his fifth foul with 5:41 to play and the Wizards down four points.
Worst defense: Jose Calderon has little business getting tip-ins at the rim, as he did early in the fourth quarter with Bradley Beal guarding him. And Kent Bazemore has 16 points and seven assists. Gulp
Worst coaching conundrum: With the Wizards frontcourt sharing seven fouls between them and Bradley Beal and John Wall having clocked 30 and 32 minutes respectively, Scott Brooks started four reserves and Otto Porter Jr. in the fourth quarter. They promptly fell into an eight-point hole, with just one made field goal, to leave the score at 89-81 with nine minutes left in regulation. Then Brooks put the starters back in.
Best hometown nostalgia: Apparently they like their free chicken in Atlanta, as well.
Worst bench: BeyondBojan Bogdanovic, who had 13 points midway through the fourth quarter, the Wizards bench had scored just 10 points. Kelly Oubres stat line sits at zero points, two rebounds and two turnovers.
Best comeback: Mondays game has featured a few big swings, and the Wizards pulled off another in the third quarter. Washington bounced back from a nine-point deficit to tie things at 77 all and enter the fourth quarter with Bradley Beal (27 points on 10-of-18 shooting) in rhythm and the defense clicking. A strong third period bodes well for a good finish for the Wizards: Statistically, the fourth quarter has been their best. Theyve made an average 56 percent of their shots in the final period throughout the series.
Best steal: With just under two minutes left in the third, Bradley Beal managed to s****h the ball off of a bad Mike Dunleavy pass and dish to Otto Porter Jr., who made the three-point play to tie the game at 73.
Best Beal: The Wizards are out to an 18-9 edge in the third quarter in part because Bradley Beal has upped his performance. The star guard has two three-pointers this quarter and is picking up the slack in lieu of John Wall, who has just three points in the third.
Worst quarter: Atlanta owned the second quarter, 31-15, all without their starting point guard. Jose Calderon found a rhythm, Dwight Howard surged back to life, and Washington made just 5 of 20 attempts from the floor. That saddled the Wizards with a59-50 halftime deficit. Bradley Beal still leads the Wizards with 15 points, and John Wall has 11 points and six assists. Kent Bazemore has 10 points and five assists.
Best (Worst?) Dwight Howard: After a quiet first three games, the Hawks center is finally starting to look like his old playoff self in Atlanta. He has 14 points and 11 rebounds in 15 minutes, as the Wizards struggle for the first time all series to match him at the rim.
Worst drought: The Wizards went more than four minutes in the second quarter without a field goal and relinquished what was once a nine-point lead. Meanwhile, the Hawks went on a 12-0 tear capped by a three-pointer from Jose Calderon to lead 41-38 with six minutes until halftime.
Worst scuffle: If you can call if a scuffle. Calderone received his third foul after a back-and-forth with Brandon Jennings, and the refs werent finished. Kelly Oubre Jr. was called for two offensive fouls just 54 seconds apart shortly after that. He joined Markieff Morris, who also has two fouls, on the bench with nine minutes left until halftime
Best start: After slogging through the opening few minutes, the Wizards ended the first quarter shooting 56 percent from the floor. Bradley Beal leads with nine points despite connecting on just 1 of 4 attempts from three, and John Wall has eight.
Best draw: John Wall drew three of the Hawks four total fouls in the first quarter, including Dennis Schroders third foul in 10 minutes of play.
Worst Morris: The Wizards starting power forward hasnt backed up his pregame smack talk yet. Markieff Morris started 1 for 4 from the flour, racked up two fouls in five minutes and tried unsuccessfully to draw a charge against Dwight Howard. Perhaps worst of all, Paul Millsap scored seven points in eight minutes.
Worst misses:As Bradley Beal likes to remind us, a miss is a lady. But miss is also what the Wizards did 4 of 5 times from the three-point line in the first four minutes Monday.
Best decor:Paul Millsap and Markieff Morriss on-court/off-court beef has provided plenty of entertainment this first-round series. Morriss latest entry came afterthe Wizards lost, 116-98, on Saturday in Atlanta, when the power forward called his counterpart a crybaby while talking about the the free throw disparity between the two teams.
Best mojo:On Sunday, Ted Leonsis watched in person as the Washington Capitals clinched their first-round playoff series in Toronto, moving through all the requisite emotions of an overtime playoff hockey game. The Wizards cant clinch their series against Atlanta tonight, of course, but having Leonsisin the housecarrying all that good playoff energy cant hurt, right?
Game information
Game 4: Washington Wizards (Easts No. 4 seed, 49-33) vs. Atlanta Hawks (Easts No. 5 seed, 43-39)Date and time: Monday, 8 p.m.Channel: CSN, TNTLocation: Philips Arena, AtlantaRegular season series: Wizards 3, Hawks 1Game 1 result: at Wizards 114, Hawks 107Game 2 result: at Wizards 109, Hawks 101Game 3 result: at Hawks 116, Wizards 98
Remaining schedule
Game 5 at Washington: Wednesday, 6:00 p.m.(CSN, TNT)Game 6 at Atlanta (if necessary): Friday, TBD (CSN)Game 7 at Washington (if necessary): Sunday, TBD (TBD)
What you need to know
>> Wed like to get to the free throw line, Wizards Coach Scott Brooks said. We havent been there enough. Brooks highlighted the free throw disparity between the teams. TheWizards may own the two-to-one series edge, but the Hawks are dominating the battle at the line. Through three games, Atlanta has attempted 109 free throws compared to Washingtons 70.
>> As an antagonist, Markieff Morris is a lot more effective when his game works harder than his mouth, writes Jerry Brewer. He is a nuisance an entertaining one if youre into conflict when he talks trash to Paul Millsap. However, when hes making three-pointers, blocking shots and catching lobs, Morris becomes something greater and more difficult for Millsap to handle: a problem. The Washington Wizards can live with Morris irritating Millsap, but if they want to win two more games and end this series with the Hawks quickly, they would rather see Morris bother Millsap with his play, not his antics.
>> John Wall said he saw it coming, imagining how Atlantawould come out with hair-on-fire intensity in Game 3. I said, we have to withstand their first five minutes, Wall recalled. Although Wall was spot on with his prediction, his warning didnt matter as the Wizards played the first quarter at half speed, allowing 38 points and setting the tone for the rest of the game in which they trailed and chased but never caught up in the 116-98 defeat. Ahead of Game 4, Wall isnt the only player issuing warnings. To leave Atlanta with a stranglehold on this round, up 3-1 as opposed to a 2-2 tie, Washington must heighten its sense of urgency, especially at the start of the game.
>> The John Wall playoff highlight reel has yet to disappoint. In three postseason games, Wall has produced enough wow moments to satisfy the entire spring, raising his superstar profile and carrying the Wizards in this opening round. And though it has been wonderful and necessary, though youd be a fool to want less from him, its time to see more from the rest of the Wizards, writes Jerry Brewer.
>> Wizards forward Markieff Morris continues to make thefirst postseason series of his career a memorable one mostly with his words. While many players might opt for cliched praise for opponents as to not needlessly stir the pot, Morris has grabbed the biggest spoon he could find and mixed personal animosityinto this first-round playoff series. His target: four-time all-star Paul Millsap. Good game, Morris said after Millsap dominated Game 3. He did more for his team tonight. Me as a man, you know, you take your wins with your losses and I take my wins with my losses all the time. You know, he did more for his team. Hes a crybaby. You get all the calls and you a crybaby. Thats how Im looking at it.
>> The gloomy faces on the Wizards sideline told the story. John Wall sat closest to the coaching staff, a red towel draped his shoulders there would be no mistaking it for a cape Saturday night, when Walls individual moments of brilliance went to waste. There are plenty of worsts and a few bests in this Game 3 wrap up.
>> Sports fans dont agree about much. But when the Wizards announced in late March that they would wear their white stars-and-stripes uniforms at all home playoff games this spring, the response seemed pretty close to unanimous approval. Theres one issue, though: You cant buy them.
>> Before Game 3, Washington was pleased with how the team had been sidelining Dwight Howard and the Wizards were also pleased with their adjustments when Howard is absent. Then the Hawks big man posted a +24 in 26 minutes in Game 3, with only three fouls.
>> Theres bad blood between John Wall and Hawks guard Dennis Schroder: You remember last time we played them in the playoffs, when I broke my hand? Wall said. You see the picture he posted, going to the conference finals. And Im just sitting there, like, sad face, with my hand wrapped, and him and Bazemore just laughing. Its just about history. Just history in the game.
>> Its funny now to remember that, less than a year ago, John Wall and Bradley Beal werent enough. As a star tandem, they were thought to be malfunctioning too inconsistent, too many injuries, too much bickering and most believed the Wizards needed to add another marquee player to be taken seriously. After failing to land that big-name difference-maker in free agency last summer, the future seemed uncertain. Then, Wall and Beal led the Wizards to their best regular season in 38 years, and now theyre two victories from advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the third time in four years. But the vibe is different this time. They arent underdogs showing flashes of becoming an elite backcourt. They have arrived. It took them five years to get here, but if you think thats a long time, it speaks more to impatience than anything Wall and Beal did wrong, writes Jerry Brewer.
>> The story of Game 2 may well have been the referees. Endless, constant fouls turned the game into a near-three-hour slog, with the Hawks shooting 38 free throws and Washington firing 33. The crowd provided its evaluation intermittently, chanting, Refs, you suck! throughout the night.
>> Brandon Jennings played an unlikely hero for the Wizards in Game 2. Jenningss number was called with just more than two minutes left in the third with Washington in dire straits, down four points and relying on a short rotation with four players including its two starting forwards in foul trouble. Jennings had played 15 minutes in Sundays Game 1 win at Verizon Center and come up with five assists, but no points and a -10 plus/minus rating. But three days later, just more thana minute into the fourth quarter, the backup point guard hit a step-back jumper to cut theWizards deficit totwo. Just more thana minute after that, he hit two consecutive jump shots, got a defensive stop, and dished to a cutting Jason Smith for the game-tying dunk. Some nights, it might be your night, he said. But when your numbers called, just do what you have to do for the team.
>> In good times and bad, the Wizards are an excitable bunch. When your best player is an ebullient point guard, when a moody center nicknamed the Polish Hammer mans the middle and when your power forward creates a Death Row DC alter ego, youre not going to be a laid-back team. Raw emotion fuels and hinders the Wizards. During his first season in Washington, Coach Scott Brooks has attempted to channel that passion, especially with John Wall, writes Jerry Brewer.
>> Once again, Bradley Beal bounced back from a rough night, torching the fourth quarter of Game 2 with a 6-of-9 shooting performance (16 points). Beal finished with 31 points (12 of 27 from the floor with four three-pointers), his second career 30-plus total in the playoffs. And he credited his superstar teammate. Its great, Beal said, responding to John Walls show of support late in the game. Especially John, more than anybody, he doesnt care if I shoot the ball 100 times in a game or how many I make or miss.
>> The key to the Wizards Game 2 win? Having their five best players on the floor together, which was more difficult than youd think. Finally, with the starting unit together through the final 4:35 of the fourth quarter, Washington turned a tie game into a 2-0 series lead. And just like in Game 1, John Wall was the best player on the floor.
>> John Wall was incredible in the third quarter of Game 1, but he might have been even better than you think: The Wizards outscored the Hawks by 43.5 net points per 100 possessions in that frame with Wall scoring in transition, off the pick and roll and on drives to the basket. The guards effective field goal percentage (77.8 percent) was light-years ahead of his regular season performance (48.2 eFG percent).
>> A die-hard Wizards fan was crushed by John Wall, who was going for a loose ball late in Game 1. His reaction? I took most of the impact for him because we cant afford to have him being hurt, especially with Atlanta being such a dirty team. I saved our best player, and if thats what it takes, thank G*d.
>> Marcin Gortat was struggling badly but recently he has looked more like the player who once anchored a very good Wizards starting lineup. And all it took was for his backup to get hurt. Gortats mini resurgence in Game 82 of the regular season, he made 8-of-9 shots for 16 points against Miami and he outplayed Dwight Howard in Game 1, scoring 14 points (7 of 11) with 10 rebounds and two blocks comes as Ian Mahinmi recovers from a left calf strain.
>> The most interesting comments after Washingtons Game 1 win over Atlanta likely came via Hawks star Paul Millsap. The difference in the game was we were playing basketball, he said, and they were playing MMA. The Wizards have not attracted any sort of reputation as a brutish team this season, and they spoke of Sundays debut as a normal affair, spiced withpostseason intensity but nothingremarkable. Nonetheless, Markieff Morris later promised double MMA. So theres that.
>> Markieff Morris gave the Wizards their social media nickname, Death Row DC. Its kind of an inside joke. Its also kind of serious. Death Row; thats the type of team we are, thats the type of team we want to be, Bradley Beal said. Which is what, exactly? Aphysical team that will kind of trash talk you a little bit, and that just dont take no BS, Beal said. Thats pretty much it. And Morriss prints are already stamped all over this first-round playoff series.
>> This NBA playoff run is the most important of John Walls career, writes Post columnist Jerry Brewer. It could shatter the false perception that hes a player who is not quite elite. It could elevate Wall, 26, to a level of respect that h**l boldly tell you is overdue.
>> How do the Wizards and Hawks match up? We break it down, position by position.
>> The Wizards stunning turnaround from a 2-8 start to a 49-win season began during a 1-2 road trip in December. One thing Ill say about this team, nobody threw coach under the bus, John Wall said. Then we started to have a stretch of a lot of home games when we started to win and win and win and finding a way to win a couple games on the road. I think thats what built our confidence back and then we were like, Were a pretty d**n good team. Here are the five most important games of the Wizards season.
>> The Wizards last trip to the postseason ended in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The team that jettisoned Washington? The Atlanta Hawks. This isnt 2015, however, and the Wizards are welcoming this playoff series against the Hawks. Part of that is the addition of Markieff Morris to keep up with four-time all-star Paul Millsap, who has given the wizards plenty of trouble in the past. Weve been going at it all year, Morris said about playing Millsap. Its a matchup Im definitely looking forward to in the playoffs. Were going to get it in, for sure. Its going to be a good one.
>> When the Wizards began the season by losing eight of their first 10 games, Ernie Grunfelds 14-year tenure as the teams general manger was quickly called into question. Washington is now 49-33 and has home-court advantage for the first round. The teams success is in no small part due to Grunfeld, who has held an unshakable belief in the Wizards core of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr., as well as the organizations long-held strategy, referred to simply as The Plan. Throughout all the ups and downs, Grunfeld remained patient, and now hes reaping the results.
>> Scott Brooks calls D.C. a magical city. Youll be forgiven for thinking Brooks might have a bit of magic about himself. Maybe his first 10 months in this city could have gone better, but its hard to imagine how. He helped turn a .500 team with a downtrodden fan base into an Eastern Conference heavyweight, boasting the best record in the East since Dec. 1. He won Washingtons first division title in 38 years, clinched home-court advantage in the opening round for the first time in 38 years, and flirted with 50 wins for the first time in 38 years.
>> The Hawks simply dont have the personnel to keep John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. in check. But the Hawks pose a threat inside with the frontcourt combo of Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard, and if Atlanta should win, it will have more to do with how that pair dominates the paint than whether the Hawks stop the Wizards trio.
>> Post NBA reporter Tim Bontemps broke down all of the NBAs first-round matchups ahead of Saturdays kickoff. He predicted the Wizards would win in five games but would need John Wall and Bradley Beal to again play like they have in past postseasons.
>> Weve got good news and bad news: Washington is the 13th team, including the 1987-88 Bullets, to qualify for the playoffs after starting 2-8 or worse since the NBA playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1983-84. Now for the bad news: Teams that turned their seasons around after 10 games typically havent fared well in the postseason. In fact, the 2003-04 Miami Heat is the only team among the previous 12 to reach the postseason after starting 2-8 or worse to win even one series.
>> You know who does fear the Wizards? The Cavaliers, at least according to Charles Barkley. The TNT analyst and former star suggested Cleveland might actually prefer to finish second because it means it would avoid the mighty Washington Wizards until the Eastern Conference finals. No, really.
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