Game 5: SEAL THE DEAL!! Wizards @ Bulls 8 PM (CSN/TNT) 4/29

[Rafael122]

You guys are messing around with the basketball gods talking about the next round. This series isn't over yet.

Agreed, not taking anything for granted tonight. In fact, as sad as it is, I've gone into every game thinking we're going to lose. I sincerely hope they can close it out tonight.

You can certainly tell who has been rooting for the Wizards for a couple weeks and who has endured decades.
Some use(d) the word "sweep" and talk about the Eastern Conference Finals like its a lock.
Others go into games with maximum levels of stress waiting for an implosion, and come out of them with grey hairs and pit stains... but thankful.

My heart races the day of games, being a Wiz fan for so long, I take nothing as an automatic. My heart told me Wiz in 6. My mind told me Bulls in 6. My girlfriend and I watched the game on Friday night, and when Nene made that lay up (right before the 'fight), I jumped up and cheered and she says "what are you doing, you're not even playing in the game." I wanted to walk downstairs and slash her tires. She doesn't get it, and I tried to explain that the Wiz probably had a 5% chance of winning this series, so to be up 2-1 at that time, now being up 3-1 is something I couldn't have seen. Even watching the game live in Game 4, I cheered hard, but when the Bulls made a mini-comeback in the 4th, I slouched in my chair thinking "**** here we go."

[Kanyewest]

I think Mack really had to adjust his game when he came to the league. EG definitely wasn't patient.

But if we had Shelvin Mack we wouldn't have Miller... I dunno, I kinda like Miller, even if he is kinda pricey.

One of our problems at the backup pg position is that you couldn't bring in someone of Miller's quality because they wouldn't get any minutes and not want to come. Miller understands he is clinging to the league by his fingernails and should thank his lucky starts for every hard won minute he gets. And he's bringin' it.

While EG shares some blame, it was also Wittman and the rest of the coaching staff that felt Mack wasn't enough of a facilitator. The Wizards later picked up Livingston who didn't do well either and is now tearing it up with the Nets.

[Zonkerbl]

Livingstone resurrected his career with us. Too bad he couldn't demonstrate the same ability he had when he first auditioned for us.

[dobrojim]

Keep playing D like Game 4, only with Nene to stop Gibson.

Offensively, I thought the Wizards were nearly perfect in Game 4. Except for a few bad long 2's by Wall, their shot selection was superb. Frankly, they could easily have won by a lot more except Gortat couldn't make a layup and the refs were horribly one-sided. Even during that cold stretch of the 4th quarter, the Wizards were getting quality shots. It may be that they have simply figured out Chicago's defense. If that's the case, they should score 95+ points in Game 5. That should be enough to win the game unless Chicago gets another flukey performance like the Dunleavy explosion.

If the refs call the game fairly for 48 minutes, it should be a cakewalk for Washington. If the refs let Gibson, Boozer and Noah push people in the back for offensive boards and foul driving offensive players with impunity, then it could be close.

I counted at least 3 occasions where Boozer or Gibson shoved a Wizards player into a Bulls player while the Bulls player was shooting or rebounding and the ref ended up calling the foul on the Wizard that was shoved.

Just looking at how frequently they put 2 hands on the player they're defending or
jostling for rebounding position with is totally outtahand.

But I totally agree with your first point - and to repeat what I said in the gm 4 thread,
play solid, focused, intense defense and we'll win this thing. If we do that, the chances
of them outscoring us are not very good.

It would be awesome to get extra rest while waiting for the IND-ATL series to finish.
INDY looks beaten already. I would be surprised if they came back and won. Very surprised.
ATL wins, we have HCA in the 2nd round. Bet nobody would predicted that in OCT.

[dobrojim]

Shelvin Mack is playing amazingly well.... We let this guy go for nothing?

Well what were we supposed to do? NOT sign Eric Maynor?!

Funny but we let Mack go when Maynor was still but a gleam in EG's eyes.

[dckingsfan]

no way the wizards win 3 games in a row over Chicago in Chicago. I am extremely nervous

Yeah, I think our chances of winning this one are pretty low. Chicago will be jacked. Our only hope is that they are jacked instead of intense and lose their snap.

Zonk - don't jinx the unjinx...

[dobrojim]

I've been impressed with Mack and just putting my head down in despair watching him play well during the season.

ATL spreading the floor is a huge matchup issue. It's like everyone on that roster can hit a 3.

And they're running the Spurs offensive system to boot w/ Coach Bud and his championship experience.

All of this without Horford.

Thing with Mack is, he's getting good minutes off the bench, something he was never going to get here. He would probably have played 5-10 minutes, if that. Hard to improve when you don't play much.

Mack had moments here, typically solid A:TO but lets not get too revisionist about him.
He also struggled at times, particularly as a converted SG trying to play point. Small
quick defensively minded opp backups gave him hell. I was not happy about him leaving
but it's not like we lost that much. That said, I'm happy for him with the success he is now
enjoying.

[pineappleheadindc]

no way the wizards win 3 games in a row over Chicago in Chicago. I am extremely nervous

Yeah, I think our chances of winning this one are pretty low. Chicago will be jacked. Our only hope is that they are jacked instead of intense and lose their snap.

Ji and Zonker....W.T.F. are the two of you doing??? And Zonker, why are you participating in the Ji Jinx??? Now you (Zonker) go outside of the office -- right now -- turn around three times and spit. NOW.

And you, Ji.


SMH at the both of you.

[queridiculo]

It would be awesome to get extra rest while waiting for the IND-ATL series to finish.
INDY looks beaten already. I would be surprised if they came back and won. Very surprised.
ATL wins, we have HCA in the 2nd round. Bet nobody would predicted that in OCT.

The Pacers are playing terribly, but those Atlanta wins all seem so damn fluky.

I could see Indian pushing this series to game seven, and once that happens, all bets are off.

[Jay81]

no way the wizards win 3 games in a row over Chicago in Chicago. I am extremely nervous

Yeah, I think our chances of winning this one are pretty low. Chicago will be jacked. Our only hope is that they are jacked instead of intense and lose their snap.

Ji and Zonker....W.T.F. are the two of you doing??? And Zonker, why are you participating in the Ji Jinx??? Now you (Zonker) go outside of the office -- right now -- turn around three times and spit. NOW.

And you, Ji.


SMH at the both of you.

the only time i really thought they would win was Friday night and they lost. Trust me...its better that Im negative and pessimistic. I might go to the bulls board and congrat them for winning tonight

[verbal8]

It would be awesome to get extra rest while waiting for the IND-ATL series to finish.
INDY looks beaten already. I would be surprised if they came back and won. Very surprised.
ATL wins, we have HCA in the 2nd round. Bet nobody would predicted that in OCT.

The Pacers are playing terribly, but those Atlanta wins all seem so damn fluky.

I could see Indian pushing this series to game seven, and once that happens, all bets are off.

Basketball-reference still predicts Indiana have a slight advantage to win the series. However they are probably basing that on the whole season from the teams.

[deneem4]

we will win, chicago exhuasted all options, and they lost while nene was out which hits theyre confidence...boozer jimmy and gibson will need to have huge games for chicago to win, dunleavy and dj are cold turkeys...

i expect beal to come out in kill mode, hes our most fiercest player attitude wise, wall has been beautiful facilitating i expect to see him have a 15ast game/gsweep to beat the bulls in the 1st rd of the playoffs in some years

[tontoz]

To me the key issue in this series has been turnovers. I expected them to go up playing the Bulls. Instead they have gone down by over 4 per game. In fact the Wizards are averaging the fewest turnovers of any team in the playoffs, 9.8 per game.

[pineappleheadindc]

Yeah, I think our chances of winning this one are pretty low. Chicago will be jacked. Our only hope is that they are jacked instead of intense and lose their snap.

Ji and Zonker....W.T.F. are the two of you doing??? And Zonker, why are you participating in the Ji Jinx??? Now you (Zonker) go outside of the office -- right now -- turn around three times and spit. NOW.

And you, Ji.


SMH at the both of you.

the only time i really thought they would win was Friday night and they lost. Trust me...its better that Im negative and pessimistic. I might go to the bulls board and congrat them for winning tonight

I like the way you think. Do it now, before the game starts.

[Joe_Wiz]

I haven't been commenting, but I've been watching every minute of every game, and I'll sure as heck be watching tonight. I think we'll close it out tonight, but I can't say I'm confident. We've outplayed them and they're the better team, but a free-throw shooting drought and a Bulls player or two with an exceptional shooting night are always possibilities.

I'd like to see us dominate this game and for the Bulls to capitulate (emotionally, not literally). But if it ends up being another hard fought, up-and-down game, that would hardly be something to complain about.

[nuposse04]

I keep saying it...but Wall is due for a good shooting night. Long 2 McGoo is gonna come through.

[dobrojim]

To me the key issue in this series has been turnovers. I expected them to go up playing the Bulls. Instead they have gone down by over 4 per game. In fact the Wizards are averaging the fewest turnovers of any team in the playoffs, 9.8 per game.

I think you're onto something. Keep TOs to a minimum, play tough smart D, win.

We have done an outstanding job of not committing TOs. Kudos to Wall and
the whole team.

[sfam]

Even though Indy is still beatable, I'd much rather go against Atlanta than Indy. We'd slaughter Atlanta inside.

Yeah but if we beat Indiana, people will take us seriously. If we beat Atlanta, going into Miami, we'll hear lots of lamb mews from the peanut gallery - people will be expecting a sweep. If we beat Indiana, I think we might have the confidence to put up a good showing with Miami. Who knows, injuries happen, etc.

[TheKingOfVa360]

Even though Indy is still beatable, I'd much rather go against Atlanta than Indy. We'd slaughter Atlanta inside.

Yeah but if we beat Indiana, people will take us seriously. If we beat Atlanta, going into Miami, we'll hear lots of lamb mews from the peanut gallery - people will be expecting a sweep. If we beat Indiana, I think we might have the confidence to put up a good showing with Miami. Who knows, injuries happen, etc.

That's exactly why I want Indy in the 2nd round instead of Atlanta. Indy would be a good test for our guys. Get us ready for the ECF if we can win that series.

[nuposse04]

Even though Indy is still beatable, I'd much rather go against Atlanta than Indy. We'd slaughter Atlanta inside.

Yeah but if we beat Indiana, people will take us seriously. If we beat Atlanta, going into Miami, we'll hear lots of lamb mews from the peanut gallery - people will be expecting a sweep. If we beat Indiana, I think we might have the confidence to put up a good showing with Miami. Who knows, injuries happen, etc.

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but ATL is actually playing damn well, we don't deal well with teams that space the floor as effectively as them. I wouldn't put it past this Wiz team to struggle to defend them. I think we'd score on them more effectively then INDY, but guarding ATL, RIGHT NOW, is not some simply task. They're playing better ball I think then their record should indicate. A damn shame they don't have Horford right now.