Who would you rather play? Indy or Atlanta? Why?

[nate33]

I would prefer to play Atlanta. I know they're playing well and handling Indy right now, but I still fear Indiana's defense. I think Atlanta is making them look bad because Antic can draw Hibbert out of the lane, but we don't have that advantage. When we play Indy, we're going to face their usual stingy defense. If they're holding us to 90 points a game, I think it's possible they could have 4 decent offensive games when somebody gets hot, and beat us in 7.

I look at Atlanta's roster and just wonder how they're going to stop us. They don't have an answer for our large front line. Atlanta will probably score at a decent clip, but they won't keep us from scoring.

[Rafael122]

I would prefer to play Atlanta, home court, success against them in the regular season. Indiana, while struggling, still has a guy or two who can take over and score unlike Chicago. I have no doubt our defense will be there against either team, but I think the Wiz can beat Atlanta in 5, while an Indy series could go 6, could be grueling and physical and may not have a lot left in the tank should they advance.

[FAH1223]

Would prefer Atlanta because they don't have shot blocking and Wall/Gortat pick and roll was really successful vs. them in the regular season. I also think we can matchup and close out on their shooters.

Indiana might just wake up in the next round when they realize they're only one series away from a date with Miami to get revenge for last year. And we all know, Indiana has been obsessed with MIA all season and believes they can beat them. Plus, when was the last time the Wizards won in Indiana? It feels like forever.

[Rafael122]

The whole notion that the Wizards should be favored over Indiana, which is what some pundits are saying, is false. Indiana could sweep us and it wouldn't surprise me.

[pineappleheadindc]

Atlanta.

I like home games. Not just for the "advantages" of being the home team -- actually, the HCA hasn't been too pronounced for the Wiz. But the home games add so much energy and excitement in the community for the Wizards that it's good to see.

[FAH1223]

The whole notion that the Wizards should be favored over Indiana, which is what some pundits are saying, is false. Indiana could sweep us and it wouldn't surprise me.

We play them better at home for some reason... I think it'd go 6 or 7.

We just can't win in Indiana.

[Saqs]

Atlanta by far.

The regular season Indy games were ugly......

[dobrojim]

trick question - a case could easily be made for/against either one.
Probably ATL but IND is playing soooo poorly, they don't strike a lot of fear.
But if IND comes back to win their series, maybe they'll then have righted themselves.

IND would be similar in some ways to CHI. Strong D, limited O (putting it mildly).
We've shown we can beat a team constructed to play that way.

We'd have HCA vs ATL, but we've not, so far at least, shown ourselves to be a dominant
home team. Milsap and Teague are legit challenges. Korver can absolutely hurt you. Antic
is a capable matchup vs Gortat.

Whoever wins their series is the better team and we'd be better off facing the other one.
But the playoffs work in exactly the opposite way.

Force me to pick and I guess I'd have to say ATL.

[dlts20]

are you guys serious? Am I the only guy who wants to play quote on quote, the best? I guess you guys rather have Mia lose also and if we make it to the finals, play the worst team in the West? I dont want to do that. i want to go through the best. I dont want to beat the bulls without MJ, the lakers without Magic, the C's without Bird. I want to beat the best and go through the best. You get more respect like that anyways.

Now if we play the Hawks then we play the Hawks. Obviously they will have deserved to win, would be considered a better team than Indy right now, and it would be exciting as they like uptempo and Wall could get his scoring going but I want the so called bigger challenge. I would love to say that we knocked off the Bulls, Pacers, Heat, and a WC big dog. If we beat the Hawks and lose to the Heat then their would be a ton of people saying this was a fluke run and doesnt mean squat for next year

[dlts20]

The whole notion that the Wizards should be favored over Indiana, which is what some pundits are saying, is false. Indiana could sweep us and it wouldn't surprise me.

its people like you on this forum that was saying that before the playoffs started when people were talking about tanking to face them in the 1st round. Then someone responded by saying that they were speaking of if the Pacers return to the early season team and I said that team is gone. Not only is it gone but it was a fluke anyways. They are not a bad team at all but they arent 33-7 good. This is the Pacers team that has been this way for a couple of months and that team is not sweeping literally any team in the league, let alone us the way we are playing right now

[miller31time]

are you guys serious? Am I the only guy who wants to play quote on quote, the best? I guess you guys rather have Mia lose also and if we make it to the finals, play the worst team in the West? I dont want to do that. i want to go through the best. I dont want to beat the bulls without MJ, the lakers without Magic, the C's without Bird. I want to beat the best and go through the best. You get more respect like that.

That would make sense if our team was the heat or the spurs but we're the freaking Washington Wizards. I don't care about "proving" a damn thing, nor do I have a "to be the best, you gotta beat the best" mentality. Not now, not with this team. If we could get a cakewalk path to the NBA Finals and face a weak West team (which is impossible - they're all great), I'd crap myself in excitement.

First you get good, then you can start wanting to beat the best. Until then, any win is a good win.

(This is all my opinion, dlts20)

[montestewart]

Agree with opinions that Atlanta is likely the easier path to the ECF, but I think a win over the Pacers (even with their recent problems) to get there would mean more to the team's confidence and to the way the team is viewed by press, fans, refs, FAs. Guess I'll go with Pacers as likely the greater but potentially much more rewarding challenge.

[Rafael122]

The whole notion that the Wizards should be favored over Indiana, which is what some pundits are saying, is false. Indiana could sweep us and it wouldn't surprise me.

its people like you on this forum that was saying that before the playoffs started when people were talking about tanking to face them in the 1st round. Then someone responded by saying that they were speaking of if the Pacers return to the early season team and I said that team is gone. Not only is it gone but it was a fluke anyways. They are not a bad team at all but they arent 33-7 good. This is the Pacers team that has been this way for a couple of months and that team is not sweeping literally any team in the league, let alone us the way we are playing right now

All it takes is a game to figure stuff out. I didn't want to play Miami, Toronto, or Indiana in the first round. We would probably be sitting here talking about the offseason by now. Chicago was our best match up. Asking for Indiana b/c they're struggling now is just asking us to be bounced in 5 or 6 games.

[queridiculo]

Definitely Atlanta.

No disrespect to them, the work they've done this season is absolutely remarkable. Chase Budinger is my coach of the year when taking into consideration what he had to work with, and where he got the team.

That said, I think Washington matches up with Atlanta extremely well. We have bigs that can move, which may negate some of the things Atlanta used to exploit the matchup with Atlanta, and our team can score inside and out, unlike Indiana, who haven't gotten anything from their bigs inside in their series.

[dlts20]

are you guys serious? Am I the only guy who wants to play quote on quote, the best? I guess you guys rather have Mia lose also and if we make it to the finals, play the worst team in the West? I dont want to do that. i want to go through the best. I dont want to beat the bulls without MJ, the lakers without Magic, the C's without Bird. I want to beat the best and go through the best. You get more respect like that.

That would make sense if our team was the heat or the spurs but we're the freaking Washington Wizards. I don't care about "proving" a damn thing, nor do I have a "to be the best, you gotta beat the best" mentality. Not now, not with this team. If we could get a cakewalk path to the NBA Finals and face a weak West team (which is impossible - they're all great), I'd crap myself in excitement.

First you get good, then you can start wanting to beat the best. Until then, any win is a good win.

(This is all my opinion, dlts20)

regarding your last sentence, sometimes that happens all at the same time which alot of people think about us right now. They think we underacheived and are peaking at the right time. Again, in those last 4 games of the regular season, we had ball movement like Ive never seen since Witt has been here. Then we always had good D and anyone could see us turning that up a notch in teh playoffs when the guys have no reason to coast or rest.

All of this happening at the same time Wall's scoring touch is in a slump. If he gets that back and you add that with what I just mentioned then I think we could compete. Not to mention, we give teams like the Heat matchup problems anyways. Plus, I dont care what yall say, there is nothing better then coming out on top in a slugfest. The Bulls series looks like a mismatch in highdsight but watching those first 2 games, werent you standing on your seat and applauding how we stood up to every punch of the bully and shocked the world?

I want to see that in every round. People picking against us, then us not backing down, and going at there throat. There is no better feeling then that. Then winning on the road in a hostile enviornment against a great team. Nothing is better then that

[dlts20]

The whole notion that the Wizards should be favored over Indiana, which is what some pundits are saying, is false. Indiana could sweep us and it wouldn't surprise me.

its people like you on this forum that was saying that before the playoffs started when people were talking about tanking to face them in the 1st round. Then someone responded by saying that they were speaking of if the Pacers return to the early season team and I said that team is gone. Not only is it gone but it was a fluke anyways. They are not a bad team at all but they arent 33-7 good. This is the Pacers team that has been this way for a couple of months and that team is not sweeping literally any team in the league, let alone us the way we are playing right now

All it takes is a game to figure stuff out. I didn't want to play Miami, Toronto, or Indiana in the first round. We would probably be sitting here talking about the offseason by now. Chicago was our best match up. Asking for Indiana b/c they're struggling now is just asking us to be bounced in 5 or 6 games.

Toronto didnt even look great til the last game and a half, Indy is losing to a sub .500 team, and Miami had a cake walk after Al got hurt in the opening minutes of the series. They still went through hell in the first 2 games. None of those teams looked super great in round 1.

Im always a big believer in that it only takes one game but you can also say that about us. Maybe we just got it overnight. Also, its one thing to say one game but this has been months. Hibbert has been nearly the worst player in the league for awhile now. George shot like 33% for the season after that crazy start. Again, I wont argue with anyone that says they win but it wont be easy. They routed us without Nene just like the Bulls did in the last regular season game and again, our ball movement is crazy different right now. They wouldnt stop us as easily. Also, the Bulls lack there talent but they are still the best tuneup for the Pacers in the whole league. No other team would prepare you as much for that defense

[Nivek]

Hoping to write about it today, but I projected odds of Wizards winning a 7-game series against Indy, Atlanta and Miami. I estimated Wiz having a 67% chance of beating Indy, 78% chance against Atlanta and 27% against the Heat. I'd rather get the Hawks next for the extra home game.

As a total aside, I read something the other day that suggested Hibbert may be suffering from lingering concussion effects after that shot he took from Lebron right after the All-Star break. Interesting theory.

[FAH1223]

Definitely Atlanta.

No disrespect to them, the work they've done this season is absolutely remarkable. Chase Budinger is my coach of the year when taking into consideration what he had to work with, and where he got the team.

That said, I think Washington matches up with Atlanta extremely well. We have bigs that can move, which may negate some of the things Atlanta used to exploit the matchup with Atlanta, and our team can score inside and out, unlike Indiana, who haven't gotten anything from their bigs inside in their series.

OR...

Mike Budenholzer?

[Dat2U]

Anyone can beat Indiana as long as Hibbert is going to continue to be the invisible man at C. It's not just Antic pulling Hibbert out to stretch the floor, it's Hibbert regressing to the point where he's a self-check offensively and being completely worthless in terms of defending or rebounding in space.

Indy is getting nothing at C. Hibbert's backup, Ian Mahinmi is about as offensively skilled as Hibbert is on his worst day. And the lack of scoring & rebounding at the C position isn't being made up by anyone else.

[dobrojim]

are you guys serious? Am I the only guy who wants to play quote on quote, the best? I guess you guys rather have Mia lose also and if we make it to the finals, play the worst team in the West? I dont want to do that. i want to go through the best. I dont want to beat the bulls without MJ, the lakers without Magic, the C's without Bird. I want to beat the best and go through the best. You get more respect like that anyways.

Now if we play the Hawks then we play the Hawks. Obviously they will have deserved to win, would be considered a better team than Indy right now, and it would be exciting as they like uptempo and Wall could get his scoring going but I want the so called bigger challenge. I would love to say that we knocked off the Bulls, Pacers, Heat, and a WC big dog. If we beat the Hawks and lose to the Heat then their would be a ton of people saying this was a fluke run and doesnt mean squat for next year

Do you want the best chance of winning or having the better bragging rights
once you do win? 2 different things.

I think most here clearly want to win. Championship banners don't come with asterisks.