GT #4, Round 2: ATL Hawks @ Wizards 7 PM (TNT/99.1 FM) [5/11/15]

[FAH1223]

So YOUR Washington Bullets HAVE A 2-1 SERIES LEAD OVER THE #1 SEED ATLANTA HAWKS.

The Wizards had a 20 point lead in the 4th quarter of Game 3 without JOHN WALL

The Hawks stormed back and cut the lead to eventually tie the game in #SoWizards fashion.

Then, The Truth set everything free. Game 3 was the Wizards/Bullets first home win in the Eastern Conference Semifinals since the 1979 NBA Playoffs.



[tweet]https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/597212377772326912[/tweet]

So, do the Wizards have another one in them? Can they beat the ATL Hawks again to maintain homecourt advantage? Without John Wall? Does Coach Bud go with his bench again to blow the game open?





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

Last game:

ATL Hawks @ Wizards (W) 101-103


Lineups:











Bench:

[LyricalRico]

Question now is who will be next to step up. Not sure we can count on Nene again, especially since we have to assume Milsap will be feeling better.

[montestewart]

Coincidence?

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyQa3H_tqvg[/youtube]

http://www.washington post.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/bullets/articles/launch/94open.htm



Pierce's shot may be more important at the moment but the Rex Chapman game winning shot against the Magic was way more difficult.
2 seconds left on the clock plus having to inbound the basketball over/around a 22 year old Shaquille O'Neal.

[nate33]

I don't want to jinx anything, but I'm feeling way more confident after watching Game 3. It really seemed like we have figured Atlanta out and they can't score anymore. Some of it may be that Millsap was sick and he's their best matchup, but still, we were up 20 after 3 quarters.

We didn't win Game 3 because of hot shooting like we did in Game 1. We shot just 10-28 from 3-point range. But the key is that we got off 28 3-point shots, and probably about 25 of them were really good looks. We are just out playing them. We are getting more good looks then they are and that bodes well going forward.

A loss is certainly possible. All it takes it bad shooting and careless ball-handling. But I really do think that if both teams play a B+ type of game, the Wizards will win. I really think we are the better team.

If all goes well, we win Game 4 without Wall. Wall can then sits out Game 5 as well. We then get to Game 6 with Wall back and us up 3-2 in the series.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

We'll see. The Hawks did seem to figure out that our remaining Pgs can't defend and our bigs can't hedge too much for fear of giving up the three.

It's a difficult situation. Atlanta has two point guards better than anyone we have other than Wall.

Sessions can hold his own. In many ways, Bynum is key. Can he be productive in the few minutes we can afford to have him out there?

[keynote]

We would really benefit from Temple flashing back to his early-season hot streak. He may not have Wall spoon feeding him as many open corner 3s, but he's gotta hit the open Js we do give him. That will allow us to match up better on the defensive end.

[exculpatory]

I will be there AGAIN in Section 111.

Beat these mother **** & go up 3-1, goddammit!

Truuuuuuth!

Feed Millsap some botulism-infected fish from Alaska!

Flatten that little prick Teague the next time he goes to the hoop.

Schroeder reminds me of Rondo before he became a scrub. He may be as fast as Wall - without the height & strength. But I need to email the little **** a You Tube showing Paul's 30 buzzer beaters. Luck my ass!

[closg00]

We'll see. The Hawks did seem to figure out that our remaining Pgs can't defend and our bigs can't hedge too much for fear of giving up the three.

It's a difficult situation. Atlanta has two point guards better than anyone we have other than Wall.

Sessions can hold his own. In many ways, Bynum is key. Can he be productive in the few minutes we can afford to have him out there?

Teague - 18 Pts, 7 assists
Schoeder - 18 Pts, 5 assists
--------------------------------------
Sessions - 8 Pts, 6 assists
Bynum - 9 Pts, 1 assists

If Bynum could just settle-down, he could be key especially in the 4th quarter down-the-stretch. It's going to be tough winning in ATL with these ^ meager numbers.

[keynote]

Bynum is who he is at this point. He's lost a step since his DET days, and a 5'10" waterbug-style player can't afford to lose a step. And he wasn't a great defender during his DET days anyway.

The best-case scenario for Bynum is that he gets hot and gives us 10-12 points off the bench. But to get that, we're gonna have to live with bad D and a TO or 3.

[gambitx777]

[thricethefun]

What do you guys think about this report saying John is unlikely to return this postseason? http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantas ... /25180244/
Seems like a lot of speculation to me.

[LyricalRico]

We would really benefit from Temple flashing back to his early-season hot streak. He may not have Wall spoon feeding him as many open corner 3s, but he's gotta hit the open Js we do give him. That will allow us to match up better on the defensive end.

Agree on this. Temple actually made some good offensive plays early, but either couldn't finish or missed the FTs. If he can just convert those kinds of plays, it'll be a big help.

[bealwithit]

Bynum is going to be you take what you get out of him. If he can hit that rainbow 3 two or three more times then you've got something. Sessions can play better than he did in Game 3 and I think Randy will make sure getting him going for Game 4 is in the gameplan.

[Illmatic12]

What do you guys think about this report saying John is unlikely to return this postseason? http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantas ... postseason
Seems like a lot of speculation to me.

Didn't see the link but that's probably accurate, just based on the nature of the injury.

While non-displaced fractures aren't generally too problematic, having five of them in one hand is a high chance of reinjury when playing.

[pineappleheadindc]

I will be there AGAIN in Section 111.

Beat these mother **** & go up 3-1, goddammit!

Truuuuuuth!

Feed Millsap some botulism-infected fish from Alaska!

Flatten that little prick Teague the next time he goes to the hoop.

Schroeder reminds me of Rondo before he became a scrub. He may be as fast as Wall - without the height & strength. But I need to email the little **** a You Tube showing Paul's 30 buzzer beaters. Luck my ass!

Absolute gold here (above)

exculpatory, after the Truth retires, I hope you still hang around these boards. Love your enthusiasm.

[exculpatory]

I will be there AGAIN in Section 111.

Beat these mother **** & go up 3-1, goddammit!

Truuuuuuth!

Feed Millsap some botulism-infected fish from Alaska!

Flatten that little prick Teague the next time he goes to the hoop.

Schroeder reminds me of Rondo before he became a scrub. He may be as fast as Wall - without the height & strength. But I need to email the little **** a You Tube showing Paul's 30 buzzer beaters. Luck my ass!

Absolute gold here (above)

Exculpatory, after the Truth retires, I hope you still hang around these boards. Love your enthusiasm.

Thanks much. Appreciated!

I have been a Celtic fan for my entire life, & will always be a Celtic fan.

However, 1) I live in DC; 2) I am developing an affection for Wall, Beal & Otto; & 3) there is no rule preventing me from having a second team. :0)

PS Please call me Ex or Rob.

[FAH1223]

What do you guys think about this report saying John is unlikely to return this postseason? http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantas ... /25180244/
Seems like a lot of speculation to me.

It makes sense.

John's health is more important long term.

[hands11]

Question now is who will be next to step up. Not sure we can count on Nene again, especially since we have to assume Milsap will be feeling better.

I'm actually most concerned here myself.

Im also more concerned going into this game then I was going into last game. Last game I expected a win. Specially once i heard Milsap was sick. And I expected wins in game 1 and game 2. I have Wizards in 5 or less with sweep potential.

But this next game. After seeing Randy changed his rotations. Gortat was not used down the stretch in the forth the same and Nene was instead. And after seeing how ATL took advantage of them down the stretch.

If I hear Wall is available on the sideline I will feel much better about this next game. Right now.. I have a real MEH feeling about it.

[Sluggerface]

The only way I see Wall coming back is if they actually MAKE the finals. The finals start on June 4th, that would give Wall close to 5 weeks of recovery time, which is only a week away from the typical recovery time for things like this.