GT: Wizards @ Hawks (12-28-11)

[miller31time]

@

Away: Washington Wizards (0-1)
Home: Atlanta Hawks (1-0)

Date: Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
Time: 7:30pm (eastern standard time)
Television: CSN, CSNHD, NBALP (free preview)
Radio:106.7FM

Place: Phillips Arena
Location: Atlanta, GA
Capacity: 18,729
Opened: September 18th, 1999

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Starting Lineup: Washington Wizards (road)

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Starting Lineup: Atlanta Hawks (home)

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Game Preview - Powered by WashingtonWizards.com

The Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards each made headlines after their first game of the season, but for much different reasons.

After a dominating victory, Atlanta opens its home schedule Wednesday night looking for its seventh consecutive win at Philips Arena over the drama-plagued Wizards.

The Hawks (1-0) wasted little time in proving they plan to contend in the Eastern Conference, crushing New Jersey 106-70 in their opener Tuesday.

Vladimir Radmanovic led six players in double figures with 17 points as Atlanta led 28-11 after the first quarter and never trailed.

"I'm really pleased with the team effort," coach Larry Drew said. "Having six guys in doubles is a great sign of playing like a team. We've been preaching since camp that we have to play together."

Tracy McGrady scored 12 points in his first game for the Hawks, who began a stretch of nine games in 12 days due to the lockout-shortened 66-game season.

"This was big," McGrady said. "We wanted to start out the season the right way, especially with the amount of games we have (coming up)."

Atlanta hasn't given up fewer points in a regular season game since a 76-65 win at Cleveland on May 2, 1999.

"We can cause some problems for teams defensively," said Al Horford, who had eight points. "We have that ability to disrupt people. Josh (Smith) is so quick and Marvin (Williams) and I are so long. Guys can go flying around the floor defending shots."

Washington also built a large lead against the Nets, but couldn't hold it. The Wizards blew a 21-point cushion in Monday's 90-84 loss in their opener.

Following the game, Andray Blatche voiced his displeasure with how he was utilized after shooting 5 for 13 and scoring only 11 points.

"You can't keep having me pick-and-pop and shooting jump shots. Give me the ball in the paint. That's where I'm most effective at," Blatche said. "I've been saying that since training camp: I need the ball in the paint. I don't want to be the pick-and-pop guy that I used to be. It's not working for me."

Coach Flip Saunders said he wants Blatche to talk to him about his role, but he's not forcing anything upon him.

"He also has to understand that just because you get (the ball) at 17 feet, you don't have to shoot it either," Saunders said. "I'm not twisting his arm to do that."

Regardless of where Blatche or anyone else is shooting from, second-year guard John Wall just wants to make sure Washington is passing the ball and not settling for the 1-on-1 situations it did against the Nets.

"We have nobody on our team that's THAT great," Wall said.

The Wizards (0-1) must quickly get over their petty problems and focus on an Atlanta team they haven't had much success against in recent years.

Washington's lone victory in the series since January 2008 came in the most recent meeting, when it earned a 115-83 win April 9 at home behind a game-high 23 points from Blatche and 19 from Wall.

The Hawks had won the previous 12 meetings, holding the Wizards to fewer than 100 points in each contest. Atlanta has won six straight in the series at home by an average of 12.0 points, outrebounding Washington by 8.9 per game.

McGrady's 24.5-point career average against the Wizards is his highest against any team.

Andray Blatche "Boneheaded Quote of the Day"

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"Every body need to shut up I didn't call out my coach or team mates I said I had a bad game need it n the post instead of jump shots"

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I agree he needs it in the post, and does not need to shoot jump shots. If it is true that he's getting pushed out and doesn't fight to stay in (per Nivek) that's a different story.

If Blatche gets early post position, Wall should give him the ball quickly. Blatche should kick it back out and RE POST. The inside out should help Blatche and the Wall get better shots. What I think Blatche is referring to is Flip's offense is designed to get the PF the same kind of shots KG took at Minnesota--perimeter shots.

For those sick of Blatche, the one thing I will say is he routinely takes it up soft and/or fades away even when he gets it inside. He is limited offensively. I think he should focus a lot on rebounding, defense, and then making sure he's working hard offensively inside.

I don't dislike what Blatche said in theory. He shouldn't be on the perimeter exclusively. I also am GLAD Flip and he are at odds now. Less Blatche/Flip love can only help the Wizards.

[willbcocks]

If Blatche kicks it out and reposts, I promise Unicorn steaks, on me, for everyone.

[closg00]

ATL is on a B2B, that gives us a fighting chance right?

[queridiculo]

The Wizards can prove tonight whether they have the capacity to fight back. Guys like Pachulia typically destroy the Wizards front court.

[queridiculo]

I agree he needs it in the post, and does not need to shoot jump shots. If it is true that he's getting pushed out and doesn't fight to stay in (per Nivek) that's a different story.

I don't dislike what Blatche said in theory. He shouldn't be on the perimeter exclusively. I also am GLAD Flip and he are at odds now. Less Blatche/Flip love can only help the Wizards.

“His reputation has been for six years that he won’t go in the post,” said Saunders, who once suspended Blatche two seasons ago for getting belligerent when the coaching staff demanded him to go inside instead of settling on jumpers.

Not sure how anybody can take anything Blatche says at face value.

[TheBigThree]

I hate how we match up with the Hawks. Not expecting us to keep this one close.

[Benjammin]

I hate how we match up with the Hawks. Not expecting us to keep this one close.

Uh, that's definitely true, but honestly, we match up well with very few teams, the Hawks are usually just even more difficult.

[LyricalRico]

The Wizards can prove tonight whether they have the capacity to fight back. Guys like Pachulia typically destroy the Wizards front court.

Hopefully this is where Turiaf will come in handy.

[verbal8]

I think this is a wizards loss 88-103. I think the Washington back court could have a big game, but I think the Hawks front court will dominate.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I agree he needs it in the post, and does not need to shoot jump shots. If it is true that he's getting pushed out and doesn't fight to stay in (per Nivek) that's a different story.

I don't dislike what Blatche said in theory. He shouldn't be on the perimeter exclusively. I also am GLAD Flip and he are at odds now. Less Blatche/Flip love can only help the Wizards.

“His reputation has been for six years that he won’t go in the post,” said Saunders, who once suspended Blatche two seasons ago for getting belligerent when the coaching staff demanded him to go inside instead of settling on jumpers.

Not sure how anybody can take anything Blatche says at face value.

Took what my ex-wife said when I met her at face value.

Sometimes being analytical is a mother. I don't always see the worst first, but i am getting much better at figuring things out.

Flip is more the bad guy here. If AB won't go in the post Coach Saunders, why in the heck do you play him so many minutes? If AB is only on the perimeter and you are a great coach then bench the dude! Oh, wait, Saunders does like perimeter bigs. See the minutes Yi Jianlian got. Flip has also coached with great success Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett, two great perimeter bigs.

I think they are both at fault in some ways. I took Blatche's comments at face value and I obviously get it wrong, too. I just like that he was saying he wants it inside and the perimeter game is not working for him anymore. I know I have seem him fade away on shots for years and years and years. Andray cannot go over guys and he is a finesse player. He has drifted out on his own a bunch IMO. I want to see Blatche go inside and get to the line. Andray really needs to work on the boards as well as get tougher.

I just took his comments after game one as perhaps some epiphany Andray experienced and him not wanting to play Flip's style any more. I don't vilify the guy totally because the day everybody discounts what he has to say is the day Andray is right. Also, Blatche has enough skill and size that IMO he's a better than average player.

I want to see Flip show how he averaged near-50 wins before becoming Wizards coach.

[dobrojim]

I don't think we match up that badly with them.

Their recent history is one of relying on length and athleticism
and not so much on teamwork and execution (and BBIQ). To the
extent that that is still true the fight is on turf that we should
recognize.

All that said, the fact that they just crushed the team that
beat us doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence.

[7-Day Dray]

If Flip is smart, he won't have Dray guard Smith, and will put McGee on him, and Dray on Pachulia. J-Smoove killed Dray last year because Dray didn't have the quickness to match-up with him.

[dobrojim]

and N1 should start...he has much better size with which to contend with
JJ

[queridiculo]

CCJ, that's my main complaint as well. Why is he getting so much burn especially in light of alternatives? I don't know much about front office and headcoaching dynamics but it's pretty clear to me that least from a management perspective there is a vested interest in giving the guy a chance...

Based on comments to close out last season though I'm hopeful that this is Blatche's last season, although I wouldn't mind seeing an accelerated approach to phasing out that loser.

It can't be good for locker room dynamics when other players bust their tails for playing time and this self proclaimed leader is wasting his opportunity on the court. I'd rather see Turiaf get the 25-30 minutes and the rest split between Booker and Seraphin.

[sfam]

Two things I want to see:

1. I really would like to see some continued effort here tonight. I get that Blatche won't be able to beat a 5 year-old at wind sprints in the 4th, but the rest of the team has to continue to show they care about winning.

2. John Wall doing a FAR better job of distributing the basketball. His occasional drives to the rim are great, but I want to see 8-12 assists tonight.

[7-Day Dray]

CCJ, that's my main complaint as well. Why is he getting so much burn especially in light of alternatives? I don't know much about front office and headcoaching dynamics but it's pretty clear to me that least from a management perspective there is a vested interest in giving the guy a chance...

Because Flip is a dumbass and can't see when someone's lack of effort is killing the team. He insist on benching McGee when he makes mistakes, but at least he plays with good energy for most of the game. When Blatche is tired he totally shuts down, But Flipper leaves him in, and it costs us games.

I completely agree with everything CCJ has been saying lately.

[dobrojim]

It seems clear that cutting back Dray's minutes would probably
be to our benefit. When he plays HARD, he's not that bad.
But as we all know, that's about half the time.

Here's to hoping that Vasely can play soon.

[Zonkerbl]

Start Dray but take him out when he's gassed. Duh!

I anticipate we will get CREAMED. CREAMED!!!!!

[REDardWIZskin]

I think the game will be close, and McGee will play well tonight. I'd like to see Book get some time against Smith and Horford. Would also like to see sing check Slow Johnson. I WANT TO SEE IMPROVEMENT!!!!