Game Thread #5, Round 2 Wizards @ Hawks 5/13 8PM (TNT/99.1 FM)

[barelyawake]

Pretty sure you are the only one freaking out, Hands. I'm very glad the way the season went, and hope we make a large move soon. We could have earlier, but that still wouldn't have won us a championship because we needed to develop. This season was a great developmental stage. Now, we need to make some major moves to make that step up. I'm very relaxed. I'm also hoping management doesn't rest on what we have.

[Dat2U]

basketball reference box score: http://www.basketball-reference.com/box ... 30ATL.html
interactive shot chart: http://www.basketball-reference.com/box ... 30ATL.html

QUite simply, the Wizards lost because they shot poorly.

.398 ef as a team!
4-17 from 3.
Nene and Otto were 4-24
Gooden and Sessions were 0-8
We were just 11-16 from the line

Otto hurt us for sur e -- just 2-7 from in really close. Love the 10 boards and +6.
Drew Gooden on the other hand helps in no appreciable way if he isn't making shots. And he hasn't made shots in what seems like forver. I can only assume that Humphries remains physically limited by his injury, otherwise he really belongs on the court on Muscala or Antic -- neither of whom are blow-by threats.

I am interested and frustrated by the fact that the WIzards don't post Gortat up much but they do post Nene. Nene post ups nearly always lead to bad results -- either turnovers or missed shots.

Look, the Wizards laid an offensive egg, but their D was so good that they almost pulled it out. I think while we could all see the benefits with our eyes of having John back, it was a bit jarring for some guys to change roles again midstream. I think there's reason to believe they'll play better offense tomorrow.

I love the collective guts and moxie of this team. I think they find a way to claw out a W tomorrow at home. And then we're in a game 7 and we have Paul Pierce. I still like our chances here.

Deep breaths, fellas.

Yep, we laid an offensive stinker. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. And as you mentioned & hands11 correctly has pointed out all year (and yes I give credit where it's due), Wittman's preference for Nene in the low post is mind-bloggling. I think it's because Gortat P&Rs aren't nearly as effective when Nene is in the game at PF but that just means Nene should not be on the floor with Gortat together for a significant bulk of time. But Wittman is deathly slow to adjust... even when faced with Nene having a bad matchup that he's had little to no success with. Nene should have been coming off the bench all year and in that role he could be more of a go to guy on the 2nd unit abusing backups... but that never happened.

[Sluggerface]

Humphries needs to make an appearance in this series. No excuse to not play the teams BEST rebounder against a team that is having its way on the offensive glass.

[LyricalRico]

Humphries needs to make an appearance in this series. No excuse to not play the teams BEST rebounder against a team that is having its way on the offensive glass.

Preaching to the choir, my man. I don't understand it, either. Especially considering the way Gooden and Nene (aside from Game 3) have been playing. Does Randy pull out all the stops in an elimination game?

[fishercob]

Humphries needs to make an appearance in this series. No excuse to not play the teams BEST rebounder against a team that is having its way on the offensive glass.

Preaching to the choir, my man. I don't understand it, either. Especially considering the way Gooden and Nene (aside from Game 3) have been playing. Does Randy pull out all the stops in an elimination game?

I believe he is hurt. Why else would he be ahead of Gooden in the rotation all season, but not now?

[Mickstix]

Damn, Nene MUST engulf that rebound.. Guy that size gets 2 hands on the game winning ball.. Lets go Caps?

[dobrojim]

Humphries needs to make an appearance in this series. No excuse to not play the teams BEST rebounder against a team that is having its way on the offensive glass.

Preaching to the choir, my man. I don't understand it, either. Especially considering the way Gooden and Nene (aside from Game 3) have been playing. Does Randy pull out all the stops in an elimination game?

I believe he is hurt. Why else would he be ahead of Gooden in the rotation all season, but not now?

I think the answer is because Gooden had been shooting it well. Clearly he has now cooled off.
But Gooden was stroking it when the postseason started through the TOR series and IIRC,
modestly effective in games 1-2. That's just my guess.

[hands11]

Humphries is not hurt. Where did that idea come from ?

Gooden has played fine until the last two games.

Otto hasn't scored well the last two games either.

[ATLHawksfan21]

http://m.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball ... hav/nmGtD/

Interesting. The NBA says the Wizards last 5 points shouldn't have counted. Can you all finally give up on blaming the refs now?

I will say that I disagree with the report since it doesn't mention the Korver travel.

[Tricky_Kid]

Nene is being pathethic for a long time, i wonder how Randy can't try Hump instead of Nene. Drew is non factor this series too....

Take a look at the box scores of our wins -- Gooden has played great ball.

Yeah.. Gooden has played well in the playoffs.

Now that the court can get spread more again with Wall back, hopefully he hinds a better grove again.

Both he and Otto have had back to back poor shooting nights.

That said, Randy should be more nimble. Nothing wrong with giving Hump or Kev some mins for Nene or Gooden.

Nene should not be getting 30 mins.

Gooden was huge vs Raps but average at best vs Hawks. Do U really guys really can't see He is non factor in last games? Boxscores doesn't say everything.

[Tricky_Kid]

http://m.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball ... hav/nmGtD/

Interesting. The NBA says the Wizards last 5 points shouldn't have counted. Can you all finally give up on blaming the refs now?

I will say that I disagree with the report since it doesn't mention the Korver travel.

go away man, Horford travelled and we lost game 5, earlier foul on Gortat which even Steve Wonder could see it but not the refs. Phantom foul on Korver in game 4 when He triped over of own legs etc

[ATLHawksfan21]

http://m.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball ... hav/nmGtD/

Interesting. The NBA says the Wizards last 5 points shouldn't have counted. Can you all finally give up on blaming the refs now?

I will say that I disagree with the report since it doesn't mention the Korver travel.

go away man, Horford travelled and we lost game 5, earlier foul on Gortat which even Steve Wonder could see it but not the refs. Phantom foul on Korver in game 4 when He triped over of own legs etc

Still crying about the refs? There were several calls last night where I had to rewind on DVR and we were all amazed at how blatantly made up they were. You lost fair and square. Take it on the chin and hope for a better season next year.

You all have some promising young talent. You just need to find some bigs that aren't washed up and you will be a real contender in the Eastern conference. See you in the Southeast next season where I expect our teams to finish 1,2 once again.

[nuposse04]

http://m.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball ... hav/nmGtD/

Interesting. The NBA says the Wizards last 5 points shouldn't have counted. Can you all finally give up on blaming the refs now?

I will say that I disagree with the report since it doesn't mention the Korver travel.

go away man, Horford travelled and we lost game 5, earlier foul on Gortat which even Steve Wonder could see it but not the refs. Phantom foul on Korver in game 4 when He triped over of own legs etc

Still crying about the refs? There were several calls last night where I had to rewind on DVR and we were all amazed at how blatantly made up they were. You lost fair and square. Take it on the chin and hope for a better season next year.

You all have some promising young talent. You just need to find some bigs that aren't washed up and you will be a real contender in the Eastern conference. See you in the Southeast next season where I expect our teams to finish 1,2 once again.

So long as you guys keep Carroll and Milsap ya'll should be solid next season. I do think a decline from Korver is looming...but maybe that can be offset by Schroder's growth as well as teague.

Do the hawks have sufficient cap space to keep Carroll and Milsap?

[ATLHawksfan21]

go away man, Horford travelled and we lost game 5, earlier foul on Gortat which even Steve Wonder could see it but not the refs. Phantom foul on Korver in game 4 when He triped over of own legs etc

Still crying about the refs? There were several calls last night where I had to rewind on DVR and we were all amazed at how blatantly made up they were. You lost fair and square. Take it on the chin and hope for a better season next year.

You all have some promising young talent. You just need to find some bigs that aren't washed up and you will be a real contender in the Eastern conference. See you in the Southeast next season where I expect our teams to finish 1,2 once again.

So long as you guys keep Carroll and Milsap ya'll should be solid next season. I do think a decline from Korver is looming...but maybe that can be offset by Schroder's growth as well as teague.

Do the hawks have sufficient cap space to keep Carroll and Milsap?

They do. RIght now, the Hawks have 43.6 mil on the books for next year. That leaves them around 23 million under the cap. I know they have the early bird rights for Carroll and Millsap but I don't know exactly how all of that works.

My guess is the Hawks will resign Carroll, Millsap and Pero and will bring Walter Tavares over from Europe. He will fill Elton Brand's spot and then John Jenkins will be replaced by our #15 pick. Mike Scott or Mack could be traded for a roster spot if the Hawks find a player that interest them on the Fa market.