Game Thread: Wizards in Atlanta

[Jamaaliver]

Washington looks to continue win streak as they face Atlanta

The Wizards will play the Hawks twice this week



The Washington Wizards (32-36) only have four regular-season games left and they will conclude their road trip with two games against the Atlanta Hawks (37-31). The Wizards matched up against the Hawks once this season, resulting in a 100-116 loss. In that Jan. 29 game, Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook scored 26 points each. The Wizards didn’t have a great night offensively. They made just 31-out-of-85 shots (36.5 percent) and 7-out-of-28 (25 percent) three-pointers. Atlanta didn’t shoot great but they shot better than Washington. Trae Young finished the night with a team-high 41 points.

Wizards SB Nation

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[shakes0]

Need two things to happen tonight. Hawks to beat WAS obviously, but also need Cleveland to beat Indiana. That would keep WAS ahead of IND for the #9 seed and hopefully give them a reason to sit Beal for both Hawks games.

[Jamaaliver]

Sounds like both Hawks/Wizards games will be televised nationally. A great chance to win over some skeptics and make a statement going into the last week of the season.

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[jayu70]

Need two things to happen tonight. Hawks to beat WAS obviously, but also need Cleveland to beat Indiana. That would keep WAS ahead of IND for the #9 seed and hopefully give them a reason to sit Beal for both Hawks games.

Beal is listed as out for both games and will be re-evaluated on Friday.

[HMFFL]

Hawks are a 7.5 point favorite.

Russ going for career highs tonight.

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[CP War Hawks]

Let's effing go Hawks, sweep this lowly Washedington team and be the latest team to get to 40 wins!!

[ducler]

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[jayu70]

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[Jamaaliver]

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[jayu70]

We need to play some defense in the 2nd half.

this shot by Bogi - WOW!

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[HMFFL]

Excellent third period

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[Jamaaliver]

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[DirtybirdGA]

They didn't choke , maybe Wednesday they won't allow 45 damn points in a quarter.

[CP War Hawks]

Trae played well quarters 1-3 but tried to play hero ball to one up Westbrick in the 4th which won't go well in the playoffs. Hunter looked good out there. Collins and Bog were players of the game for the Hawks. I really hope Bogdan can keep up this pace in the playoffs.

[jayu70]

Trae played well quarters 1-3 but tried to play hero ball to one up Westbrick in the 4th which won't go well in the playoffs. Hunter looked good out there. Collins and Bog were players of the game for the Hawks. I really hope Bogdan can keep up this pace in the playoffs.

I get that Trae is the easiest guy to pick on but we gave up 45 point in the 4th quarter. That is why the game was as close as it was - we were up 17 to end the 3rd when Trae sat. He returned with 7:55 left in the 4th, Hawks were up by only 4. In a 4 minute span, the bench did nothing.

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[D21]

Especially after the L Vs IND, this one was needed. Done and good to see Hunter back, but... there are several things that were hard to watch, mainly around this last WAS comeback :
- the team mainly dominated except this moment, and who was on the floor ? Hill who finished with a -23 PlusMinus in 9min
Please Nate, stop it sooner the next time
96-79 at the start of 4th quarter with Williams, Huerter, Hill, Gallinari and Oknogwu
at 9:37 left : 100 - 90 -> Capela in, replacing Okongwu
at 8:45 left : 100-93 -> Bogi in, replacing Huerter then at 07:55 left Young replaced Williams and Collins replaced Gallinari
at 7:03 left : 101-100

6 seconds later, so after 5min in the 4th quarter and a 21-5 run for WAS, Hill is benched.
In the 2nd quarter, WAS had already scored 18pts in less than 5min when Hill was on the floor, so I think Nate knew he was a bad matchup in this game, but Hill was the last player replaced from the 5 guys starting the 4th ? it's a joke
Stop taking too much risk like that! OK, they need chemistry, but not at the cost of a game when the goal is to get this 4th spot.

- still in the 4th, once Bogi entered, not sure at all that keeping him guarding Bertans was the right choice from Nate, Bertans is too much long and was shooting like Bogi was not there. I think Nate could have at least tried to put John and see if it was better like that.

- last point that may have impact ATL players (I would have been if I was on the floor at this moment, for sure) and help WAS to make a comeback : after Westbrook got his 8th rebound, how is it possible that, at home, you can hear the crowd like never this season, but instead of pushing ATL players, is pushing Westbrook to get this triple-double ?

Seriously ? I'm not sure if it was only on TV, or if the TV crew put 20 microphones around WAS bench,... I hope they don't allow the TV to play some recording on arena speakers, and that it won't happen again on Wednesday

Lucky they were that once again, Westbrook was a monster but unable to hit the winning shot

[shakes0]

Trae played well quarters 1-3 but tried to play hero ball to one up Westbrick in the 4th which won't go well in the playoffs. Hunter looked good out there. Collins and Bog were players of the game for the Hawks. I really hope Bogdan can keep up this pace in the playoffs.

no, Trae was the player of the game. The player of the game for Washington was Lou Williams.

[shakes0]

Especially after the L Vs IND, this one was needed. Done and good to see Hunter back, but... there are several things that were hard to watch, mainly around this last WAS comeback :
- the team mainly dominated except this moment, and who was on the floor ? Hill who finished with a -23 PlusMinus in 9min
Please Nate, stop it sooner the next time
96-79 at the start of 4th quarter with Williams, Huerter, Hill, Gallinari and Oknogwu
at 9:37 left : 100 - 90 -> Capela in, replacing Okongwu
at 8:45 left : 100-93 -> Bogi in, replacing Huerter then at 07:55 left Young replaced Williams and Collins replaced Gallinari
at 7:03 left : 101-100

6 seconds later, so after 5min in the 4th quarter and a 21-5 run for WAS, Hill is benched.
In the 2nd quarter, WAS had already scored 18pts in less than 5min when Hill was on the floor, so I think Nate knew he was a bad matchup in this game, but Hill was the last player replaced from the 5 guys starting the 4th ? it's a joke
Stop taking too much risk like that! OK, they need chemistry, but not at the cost of a game when the goal is to get this 4th spot.

- still in the 4th, once Bogi entered, not sure at all that keeping him guarding Bertans was the right choice from Nate, Bertans is too much long and was shooting like Bogi was not there. I think Nate could have at least tried to put John and see if it was better like that.

- last point that may have impact ATL players (I would have been if I was on the floor at this moment, for sure) and help WAS to make a comeback : after Westbrook got his 8th rebound, how is it possible that, at home, you can hear the crowd like never this season, but instead of pushing ATL players, is pushing Westbrook to get this triple-double ?

Seriously ? I'm not sure if it was only on TV, or if the TV crew put 20 microphones around WAS bench,... I hope they don't allow the TV to play some recording on arena speakers, and that it won't happen again on Wednesday

Lucky they were that once again, Westbrook was a monster but unable to hit the winning shot

as bad as Hill is/was, Lou Will was even worse last night. He 100% is the reason the bench sucks. He has no clue how to play PG and isn't good enough to be calling his own number as often as he does. Both he and Hill suffer from the same disease of thinking they are better than they are. It's the worst disease an NBA player can have and both of them have a Stage 4 version of it.

[jayu70]

Especially after the L Vs IND, this one was needed. Done and good to see Hunter back, but... there are several things that were hard to watch, mainly around this last WAS comeback :
- the team mainly dominated except this moment, and who was on the floor ? Hill who finished with a -23 PlusMinus in 9min
Please Nate, stop it sooner the next time
96-79 at the start of 4th quarter with Williams, Huerter, Hill, Gallinari and Oknogwu
at 9:37 left : 100 - 90 -> Capela in, replacing Okongwu
at 8:45 left : 100-93 -> Bogi in, replacing Huerter then at 07:55 left Young replaced Williams and Collins replaced Gallinari
at 7:03 left : 101-100

6 seconds later, so after 5min in the 4th quarter and a 21-5 run for WAS, Hill is benched.
In the 2nd quarter, WAS had already scored 18pts in less than 5min when Hill was on the floor, so I think Nate knew he was a bad matchup in this game, but Hill was the last player replaced from the 5 guys starting the 4th ? it's a joke
Stop taking too much risk like that! OK, they need chemistry, but not at the cost of a game when the goal is to get this 4th spot.

- still in the 4th, once Bogi entered, not sure at all that keeping him guarding Bertans was the right choice from Nate, Bertans is too much long and was shooting like Bogi was not there. I think Nate could have at least tried to put John and see if it was better like that.

- last point that may have impact ATL players (I would have been if I was on the floor at this moment, for sure) and help WAS to make a comeback : after Westbrook got his 8th rebound, how is it possible that, at home, you can hear the crowd like never this season, but instead of pushing ATL players, is pushing Westbrook to get this triple-double ?

Seriously ? I'm not sure if it was only on TV, or if the TV crew put 20 microphones around WAS bench,... I hope they don't allow the TV to play some recording on arena speakers, and that it won't happen again on Wednesday

Lucky they were that once again, Westbrook was a monster but unable to hit the winning shot

as bad as Hill is/was, Lou Will was even worse last night. He 100% is the reason the bench sucks. He has no clue how to play PG and isn't good enough to be calling his own number as often as he does. Both he and Hill suffer from the same disease of thinking they are better than they are. It's the worst disease an NBA player can have and both of them have a Stage 4 version of it.

I said before having Lou run the point as opposed to be the gunner/microwave off the bench will not work. Let Lou do what he does score and in doing so he will be a more effective passer - letting him try to run the offense is disastrous. Kevin was missing for the bench today, him and Lou works since Kevin runs point and Lou can just score.

[jayu70]

We really missed this guy:

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