RealGM

YOUR Washington Bullets are down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

They return to the Verizon Center for an elimination game vs. the #1 seeded ATL Hawks.

Game 5 was the ugliest of the series for both teams. We've seen and know why Al Horford got the putback. Wall made his return but was gassed in the 2nd half. Wittman hasn't expanded his bench during this postseason and the calls for a Humphries sighting are growing louder as Game 6 approaches. Nene looks done. Gortat bounced back, Paul Pierce had 2 CLUTCH 3 pointers in the final minute but had his worst shooting night in the playoffs, Beal's defense has been great, Otto has hit a lull with missed layups + free throws and Gooden looks useless.




The Wiz are RIGHT BACK in the same position as they were one year ago exactly. They dominated Indiana in Game 5 only to return to the Verizon Center being down all game to come back with a slight lead in Game 6 that vanished as David West and the Pacers went on a 20-6 run to end the 2014 Playoffs for the home team.

The Wiz also have not played a Game 7 since 1979 and have lost 6 straight home playoff elimination games. 1997 to the Bulls, 2005 to the Heat, 2006-2008 to the Cavs, and 2014 to the Pacers.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/jorgeccastillo/status/598938980860690433[/tweet]

Can the Wiz muster up another big performance? Will Wall's hand respond well? Can the Wiz bigs finally grow a pair and impose their will on the ATL Bigs?




-------------------------VS-------------------------

Last game:

Wizards @ ATL Hawks (L) 81-82


Lineups:











Bench:











r

Oh and for the record, I'm 1-1 on game threads this series

And I'm pretty sure I have a winning record for the season despite my negative proclamations and expectations. It's just cause of #SoWizards.

So have at it, folks.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/jorgeccastillo/status/598911444445483008[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/jorgeccastillo/status/598908306938318848[/tweet]

Pretty much: https://youtu.be/2uEpcfonkt4?t=20s

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BulletsForever/status/598926811976835072[/tweet]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH65jS-EseQ[/youtube]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/jorgeccastillo/status/598913642474708994[/tweet]

I want a pony for X-mas. Go Wiz!

(Edited to remove inappropriate reference. LR)

fishercob wrote:Pretty much: https://youtu.be/2uEpcfonkt4?t=20s

Yes!!!!! I believe.

My fantasy is that DC sports fans will wake up and show up PRIOR to the game starting tomorrow, singing and chanting their lungs out.

The energy outside the 'booth was great the other night. Let's make it happen -- inside and from the start.

I feel good about this too, but I felt good about last game so who knows. I think Wall was gassed early-mid 3rd last game and couldn't do much offensively over the last quarter+ as his decision making & handle got a little sloppy. He made a floater and a jumper but couldn't get to the rim even when we went small in the 4th. I think that's also why the full court pressure really made an impact. I suspect Wall will have his legs more under him next game and that Wizards win game 6 without needing last second heroics.

Let's be real

"I believe that we will win" may be the most cringeworthy chant of all time. It's awkward and lacks conviction. Sounds like something written up by a team of lawyers. "I BELIEVE THAT WE MAY POSSIBLY WIN, BUT NOTHING IS GUARANTEED OF COURSE"

A real DC chant would be "BEAT THESE BAMMAS BEAT THESE BAMMAS"

I'll be there tomorrow.....God help us all!

AFM wrote:Let's be real

"I believe that we will win" may be the most cringeworthy chant of all time. It's awkward and lacks conviction. Sounds like something written up by a team of lawyers.

agree. sounds like a frat chant

The key word here is "precedent". Im usually a guy who prepares for the worst and that way the best is the icing on the cake. I truly think we wouldve been a tough out and easily have gotten past the Hawks if Wall never got hurt but he did. Then he comes back, he has to find a rhythm, the team has to find a rhythm with him, and everything is thrown out of sync. TThen Im also a believer that you have to win the games you are suppose to win. There are certain games in a series that you are suppose to win and if you dont then it almost seeems like you have to beat the opponent 5 times because that game shouldve been a win. Thats what happen in game 5. The Hawks have won every game they are suppose to and we just gave them one that we definitely shouldve had.

Now, if we are the typical Wiz teams/franchise then we lose game 6 either by blowout or a lackluster dull performance that is at arms length but we never make a true run. If we are an improved Wiz team/franchise then we win game 6 and lose respectfully in a disapointing game 7 where we all debate what couldve been if Wall never missed 3 games or we didnt blow game 6. However if we are the real deal new and improved Wiz then we win game 6 by any means necessary whether its ugly or a grind out come from behind victory and then look great in game 7 in winning on the road to make it to the ECF in the first time in forever. For that to happen, I was looking for recent precedent. I looked at some recent series but not too many because my laptop was acting up. I couldnt find many that lost game 5 but then won game 6 and 7. Then all the one's I found that actually did it were in reverse where it was the higher seed coming back to beat the lower seed at home in the game 7. I also didnt want to just find lower seeds winning like us but I wanted to find specifically one where the lower seed blew a late lead in game 5 but still won the series without the HCA.

I finally found a series that was almost identical to ours and I had to look no further then our current players in Pierce & Gortat. It was the year the Magic beat Boston in the ECF. Infact, the series went pretty much exactly like this one. Even the margin of victory were similar. Boston was the higher seed who lost games 1 and 3 just like the Hawks. Game 5 came back in Boston. Orlando like us had a nice lead. They were up by 14 in the 4th and even by like 10 with just over 4min left and lost the game to go down 3-2 in the series. Came back home and trailed a lil early in the 1st but finished strong in the 4th for a close victory and then blew Boston out in game 7 in Boston. It looks bleak but when both teams have played at high levels, we have been better and we have proven that we can give anyone fits on the road.

Dont doubt just yet. Atl better put us away or else we will be coming into game 7 with alot of momentum and all of Wall's rust, fatigue, and hand problems will be better under control by then and I see him playing very well in that game while they have a nervous crowd once we jump on them that will filter down to the players. The problem is that could happen to us tomorrow so this will be interesting but this isnt the same ole Wiz so I think these guys will pull it off. I just hope Witt doesnt go down with the ship. If you have a plan then cool but if its not working out then go to something else quickly. Dont just keep letting leads fall without making moves or having us get behind and always have to come back

I already bought beer for game 7 ... don't disappoint me guys pls

we win easily tomorrow, id say 15+ point victory .

To all the Washington guys that were complaining about the refs in game 5. NBA report / review from Game 5 says that Washington last 5 points should not have counted. There was an illegal screen by Gortat which I saw when it happened and was like man that's an illegal screen. Then some other play where they said Pierced traveled. Anyways, I just happen to come across this. So in hindsight my Hawks got jobbed by the refs officially acknowledged by the NBA. Game 6! Good Luck...

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/basketba ... hav/nmGtD/

Al horford clearly travled on that last play, what a joke

pierce got fouled by korver that wasnt a steal

We need to stop the unforced turnovers on our side and capitalize on scoring when the Hawks commit turnovers. I think it's a different dynamic than last postseason and we have a chance to win game 6 tonight at home. Wiz shoot 60%+ from 3pt land, out rebound ATL, Wall goes for 24/14 and the Wiz win by 12. Let's get this win tonight and push it to game 7.

JudBuchler wrote:Al horford clearly traveled on that last play, what a joke

pierce got fouled by korver that wasnt a steal

funny.. right.

Its like.. look over here at what we missed that gave the Wizards the lead so you can ignore we missed the final play that game ATL the game.