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Coming back later to fill in game info.

I'm going to move this photo to #2 post this thread.

Wizards Gameplan:


Hawks Gameplan:


Result:

Atlanta will play well for at least 3 quarters but Wall will be too much. I really want Mahimi for the 2nd and 3rd round but Smith/Morris maybe better for this series anyways

Go Wiz!

Eat. Some. Face!

Eat some ass!

Go Wiz!

Finally, so called ESPN experts are siding with us.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19146280/2017-nba-playoffs-eastern-conference-predictions-first-round

Not sure many of them would pick us in the 2nd round and ECF (I know!), but proving them wrong is a beauty of being underdog, I guess.

PRE GAME HYPE TRACK:

I expect this series will go 7 games, and the Wizards will squeak past the Hawks.

Or Not...(My head says MAYBE Hawks surprise and win in 6!!!)

Here's a link to and a couple factoids from one playoff preview (NBA.com's)
http://www.nba.com/article/2017/04/14/playoffs-numbers-preview-washington-wizards-atlanta-hawks

-The Hawks were the only Eastern Conference team that held the Wizards under a point per possession this season

-The Wizards committed 19 or more turnovers 11 times this season. Three of those 11 games were against the Hawks..

Tough matchup right off the bat.

I feel compelled to be an alarmist and to say this is probably a worse matchup for Washington than any team other than Cleveland. Atlanta is well-coached, and they have players who routinely seem to elevate their games against the Wizards.

I THINK the Wizards will win because of a couple things: 1)Home court advantage, and 2)Ratings. Washington will get the calls in crunch time. Wall and Beal are stars. Millsap not so much. Otherwise, I think the Wizards' defense is HIGHLY suspect. Atlanta knows how to hang with and to get on the Wizards nerves.

I won't be shocked to see the Wizards overconfident and drop game one.

(Best thing I can do is predict tough loss. Trust the reverse juju!)

Expect to see ATL's best 5 together in the playoffs:

Dennis Schroder, Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard played with 14 different pairs of guards/wings. Among those that played at least 100 minutes with the three full-time starters, the best pair, by far, was Tim Hardaway Jr. and Thabo Sefolosha. That five-man unit outscored its opponents by 27.3 points per 100 possessions.

The key to the Wizards IMO is to be able to outplay Hardaway Jr/Sefolosha when they are with the other three.

AFM wrote:CCJ, DO YOU WANT TO BE PLACED ON IGNORE? MAYBE YOU HAD ONE TOO MANY HAWAIIAN TEQUILA SUNRISES TODAY!

Say what, AFM?

Just following my expect the best but do be prepared in case the worst happens...

(The five-players for ATL have been darned effective. Might as well game plan against their A-team).

I have no idea, the way we ended the season wasn't exact inspiring, OTOH Wall and Beal will be hungry.


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Two out of three things have to happen for the Hawks to win A single game in this series:

1. Howard has to obliterate Gortat and go for 20/20+

2. Hardaway Jr. needs to score 25+ on good efficiency.

3. Millsap has to go off and get a double/double with 30+ points.

I expect Gortat to lose the matchup with Howard he just can't afford to get dominated on the boards by Dwight or consistently get in foul trouble.

Offensively Hardaway Jr. is the one guy the scares me. If he struggles it will be hard for Atlanta to put up enough points to win.

The Hawks will lay down if things are not going well. Especially Schroder and Howard. Jump on them early and it could get ugly. If we manage a 3-0 lead in the series, I guarantee the Hawks will mail it in for game 4.

I expect good-Keef during the playoffs, especially against Millsap. Our defense will be better partly because Keef will put in a better effort on D and actually rotate on shooters to challenge shots. Additionally I expect Wall to defend and fired up to embarrass Schroder.

If this series goes more than 5 color me shocked. It could easily be a sweep. If Mahinmi was playing I'd be more confident in a sweep but I could see Howard going off one game with Gortat, Smith & Morris the only options at C.

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:

AFM wrote:CCJ, DO YOU WANT TO BE PLACED ON IGNORE? MAYBE YOU HAD ONE TOO MANY HAWAIIAN TEQUILA SUNRISES TODAY!

Say what, AFM?

Just following my expect the best but do be prepared in case the worst happens...

(The five-players for ATL have been darned effective. Might as well game plan against their A-team).

Too pesimistic. Don't their last 3-4 game streak fool You.
We got this in 6.

Good Luck Charms:







https://youtu.be/VKYY8DxVZHE

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:I expect this series will go 7 games, and the Wizards will squeak past the Hawks.

Or Not...(My head says MAYBE Hawks surprise and win in 6!!!)

Here's a link to and a couple factoids from one playoff preview (NBA.com's)
http://www.nba.com/article/2017/04/14/playoffs-numbers-preview-washington-wizards-atlanta-hawks

-The Hawks were the only Eastern Conference team that held the Wizards under a point per possession this season

-The Wizards committed 19 or more turnovers 11 times this season. Three of those 11 games were against the Hawks..

Tough matchup right off the bat.

I feel compelled to be an alarmist and to say this is probably a worse matchup for Washington than any team other than Cleveland. Atlanta is well-coached, and they have players who routinely seem to elevate their games against the Wizards.

I THINK the Wizards will win because of a couple things: 1)Home court advantage, and 2)Ratings. Washington will get the calls in crunch time. Wall and Beal are stars. Millsap not so much. Otherwise, I think the Wizards' defense is HIGHLY suspect. Atlanta knows how to hang with and to get on the Wizards nerves.

I won't be shocked to see the Wizards overconfident and drop game one.

(Best thing I can do is predict tough loss. Trust the reverse juju!)

Expect to see ATL's best 5 together in the playoffs:

Dennis Schroder, Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard played with 14 different pairs of guards/wings. Among those that played at least 100 minutes with the three full-time starters, the best pair, by far, was Tim Hardaway Jr. and Thabo Sefolosha. That five-man unit outscored its opponents by 27.3 points per 100 possessions.

The key to the Wizards IMO is to be able to outplay Hardaway Jr/Sefolosha when they are with the other three.

Meh, I think that the 1st game is the hardest, 2nd is a Lil easier, and 3rd is a blowout. We will finish them in 4 or 5

diaboliQ_Mo wrote:Finally, so called ESPN experts are siding with us.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19146280/2017-nba-playoffs-eastern-conference-predictions-first-round

Not sure many of them would pick us in the 2nd round and ECF (I know!), but proving them wrong is a beauty of being underdog, I guess.

Well I know that Frank Isola and Mitchell (drawing a blank on his last name) picked the Hawks