Emergency thread: Wizards at Atlanta (3/21/16)

[pineappleheadindc]

Whee is Que? I put this up here now because:

1. It's past 3: 00 on game day with no thread.
2. I'll take the hit when the Wizards lose in ATL and the board needs to attack someone as a jinx. I can take it.

Go Wizards!

[nate33]

Of the 3 remaining games against Atlanta, I'm pegging this one is the most likely loss because it's a road game. It is one of the few losses I think the Wizards can sustain while still keeping playoff hopes alive.

If we lose this one, we MUST win the home game against Atlanta, and we are almost surely going to need the final game against Atlanta as well. That last game will be the final game of the season and hopefully Atlanta will have nothing to play for because their playoff seeding is set.

Basically, we can only lose 4 more games at the most. One will be a loss at Golden State, and another is likely to be a loss at Los Angeles (Clippers). We have some other tough games including the aforementioned 3 games against Atlanta, one against Charlotte, and a must win against Detroit.

[deneem4]

Triple double wall or close to it
34/7/12/3/2
If Beal plays
29
Porter should have a big game
Morris vs milsap should be a great matchup as well

102-90 wizards win

[wizfan91]

We can beat the ventriloquist dummy jeff Teague and co. Wall will be big and we will get some revenge for last year.

[queridiculo]

You're to blame if we lose pine!

I had this covered, was trying to ride my game thread procrastination to another W!

[queridiculo]

Then again, apathy is the name of the game, on s'en fout n'est-ce pas?

[closg00]

If we compete in every game and fall-short of making the playoffs, Ted will be express disappointment, but he won't make any surprise changes.

[dlts20]

I talked about it at the end of the Knicks thread but the playoffs start now. The old Hawks are back. They are 10-2 in the last 12. They basically are the East Coast Spurs in terms of system which is the hardest in the league to stop if you ask me. They are non-stop motion at high speed.

Beal needs to be right because he owns Korver if he is. This is like the Morris, Dudley measuring stick game because Milsap was too big for Pierce last year and both him & Al were far too versatile for Nene and Gortat.

It wouldn't shock me at all to see us end the game with Morris at the 5 and Dud or Anderson at the 4. Wall has to be Wallstar. Wall was an excellent post player this year and I would love to see Witt go more to that with Teague and Schroder on him but he doesn't call it anymore with Morris here.

These 3 against the Hawks will show if Wall is really top 5 because their guards and style of play is made for him to either dominate or get exposed since they play super fast and have quick hands. He could be a one man show or they could truly force him into double digit turnovers and make him the main reason for the loss

[nate33]

I talked about it at the end of the Knicks thread but the playoffs start now. The old Hawks are back. They are 10-2 in the last 12. They basically are the East Coast Spurs in terms of system which is the hardest in the league to stop if you ask me. They are non-stop motion at high speed.

Beal needs to be right because he owns Korver if he is. This is like the Morris, Dudley measuring stick game because Milsap was too big for Pierce last year and both him & Al were far too versatile for Nene and Gortat.

It wouldn't shock me at all to see us end the game with Morris at the 5 and Dud or Anderson at the 4. Wall has to be Wallstar. Wall was an excellent post player this year and I would love to see Witt go more to that with Teague and Schroder on him but he doesn't call it anymore with Morris here.

These 3 against the Hawks will show if Wall is really top 5 because their guards and style of play is made for him to either dominate or get exposed since they play super fast and have quick hands. He could be a one man show or they could truly force him into double digit turnovers and make him the main reason for the loss

Good point about Morris. He has the right body type to guard Millsap. We've lacked a player like that, which may explain why Atlanta has dominated us. Hopefully we will match up better now.

I continue to be puzzled at your expectations that we will put Morris at the 5. Why take one of our best players (Gortat) off the floor? Maybe Gortat comes off in last-second possessions when we plan to isolate Wall, but on any normal game situation, we are better with Gortat (or Nene) than without.

[dlts20]

I love Gortat against nearly everyone and I think he could work the p&r well against them with Wall but if I remember right, Al killed him last year in that series, especially defensively. He would be too quick and go right around Gortat. He also had enough range to where Marcin couldn't recover and he was far quicker to the rebounds. I just think Al is one of the if not thee worst matchup in the league for him on most occasions.

Also Wall & Sessions need to keep there quick pg's out the lane but when they get by, Gortat is usually too slow and lets them get easy layups. I have no problem with him though if he's holding his own. Hopefully the refs let them play. We don't need Morris getting ticky tack fouls

[TheSecretWeapon]

I continue to be puzzled at your expectations that we will put Morris at the 5. Why take one of our best players (Gortat) off the floor? Maybe Gortat comes off in last-second possessions when we plan to isolate Wall, but on any normal game situation, we are better with Gortat (or Nene) than without.

Agree. And taking Gortat off the floor to iso Wall also makes little sense. Wall has been poor in iso sets. The Wizards would do better to run screen/roll with Wall and Gortat with shooters spotting up from the corners and wing.

[deneem4]

I agree I want to see us Go small some point in the game...
Milsap has become less of a post up weapon...we should use Porter at the 4...if I remember Porter guarded him in the playoffs sometimes...
With Porter at the 4 we let Morris take on horford...I like Morris defense a lot and horford is essential a power forward..
Bazemore has improved this year...hopefully we can counter him with some athleticism..
Wall is going to have a field day with Teague and Schroeder...

[TheSecretWeapon]

Still definitely small sample size theater with Morris, but so far in his brief Wizards career, the best lineups that include him also include Gortat, Porter and Wall. Gortat so far shows up his best player pair.

[Ruzious]

And I continue to be puzzled as to why some people want to use Otto Porter inside as a PF to guard the likes of Millsap - who outweighs Otto by more than 40 pounds. If Millsap's playing PF against Otto, why won't he eat him for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

[nuposse04]

Hump has played well for them, and is also taking and making less 3s... I wonder if Hump's true value was doing what was most comfy for him (mid range and off. rbs) and I wonder if we sacrificed those just to make Wall's life a little easier. If Wall was a better shooter maybe Hump could have been used in many more facets... or could be a big upgrade in coaching in scheme. Prolly a mix of everything...

Still cannot fathom why we kept Gooden but gave away Hump....

[closg00]

Hey guys, this is our playoffs, every game a playoff game

[deneem4]

And I continue to be puzzled as to why some people want to use Otto Porter inside as a PF to guard the likes of Millsap - who outweighs Otto by more than 40 pounds. If Millsap's playing PF against Otto, why won't he eat him for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Milsap has become less of a post up guy...and it doesn't fit the tempo of the hawks offense...
It would be a good strategy to force Milsap into high post position and make him play with his back to the basket...I highly doubt he can take Porter of the dribble and Otto still has a length advantage

[MarcoPolo]

So from what I read Anderson is out... again. (ankle)

I start to wonder if we ever play full squad for such games that nearly decides the season for Wizards.

Its either Anderson, Beal or Nene out. Is it really so hard for them to avoid/play throught injuries??

[nate33]

So from what I read Anderson is out... again. (ankle)

I start to wonder if we ever play full squad for such games that nearly decides the season for Wizards.

Its either Anderson, Beal or Nene out. Is it really so hard for them to avoid/play throught injuries??

You seem to have the misconception that it's reasonable to expect all 3 of these guys to be healthy at the same time. We knew going into the season that all 3 of them are made of glass. You shouldn't blame injuries or bad luck when the expected happens.

Frankly, I'm pleasantly surprised at how many games Nene has managed to play and play well. He's been way better than last year.

[FAH1223]

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