[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

Looking forward to this! A chance for mini-redemption for my Wizards, who lost to the Hawks in the second round of the playoffs two years ago. Things have changed quite a bit for both teams since then, though. The Wizards have seven players (see: bench guys) with zero playoff experience. 

For me, the X-factor in this series is Gortat. With Mahinhi getting more minutes, Gortat has struggled to find consistency the past month. How he and Morris and contain Millsap and Howard, to me, will determine if the Wizards win the series. Mahinmi is inactive Game 1, so I’m expecting Gortat to play well. Wizards also have to capitalize on home games, as they were not good on the road in the regular season. 

For the Hawks, the key will be to control the tempo at ALL times. If you let Washington get uptempo, with Bojan and Beal hitting threes in transition, it can feel like an avalanche. Also, the Wizards have a tendency to get out to early leads and fall off in the second half of games. If the Hawks can capitalize on the Wizards’ stretches of bad second half play, they can steal some games.

[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

Wizards are coming out strong, playing like they really want this. Playing a little out of control at times, but I like their intensity and desire to chase down rebounds. Hawks are playing, to me, at a more sustainable pace, but early missed free throws could hurt. 

Edit: 10-0 run by Hawks. This is the stuff I hate. Wizards come out with so much energy and can’t sustain it

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 I really like Oubre Jr…has some serious 2 way potential. 

[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

 I love his intensity too, but as far as this game, he’s been out of control. Can’t seem to hit a jumper either. It’s his first playoff game of his career and it shows

[SubZeroParticipant]

Refs have been awful in the 1st half. Fouls were called on half of the Hawks’s possessions for about a quarter and a half, then all of the sudden Markieff just laid on top of Millsap and it was fine. That plus the Wizards shooting horribly and them only being down 3 is a good sign

Speaking of refs, when’s the last time you’ve seen a tech as bad as the one on Giannis yesterday? Absolutely awful, and it was by Monty McCutchen who has reffed hundreds of playoff games so you would think he knows to let them play a little bit in the playoffs (even though it’d be an unforgivable call even in an exhibition game)

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Kieff and Kelly stepped up today. Wall played great 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Wall proving once again that he’s the best PG in the East. I don’t see how it’s a debate anymore

[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

In terms in pure talent, it would certainly seem that way. I think the doubters are just waiting for him to get this team to an ECF before crowning him with that label. Should the Wizards win this series, how Wall does vs Thomas will either get everyone else on the bandwagon on reinforce what everyone already believes. 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Do more people think it’s IT or Kyrie? Because after the Finals last year everyone christened Kyrie as the next big thing, and Chauncey Billuos earlier in the season even said he was the 2nd best player in the East and couldn’t believe that Jalen Rose disagreed with him. Wall’s just been unlucky on account of not being able to play with Lebron and getting hurt in the middle of a series that they were probably going to win and get to the conference finals in 2015. Hopefully they take care of business because I want him to get the credit he deserves

[MatosParticipant]

 Its Wall with Kyrie in second right now. Wall does so many things.

[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

Game 2: Long story short, Wizards had a horrible third quarter, but the refs are dominating the game, spurring fans to chant "Refs, you suck!" 

It’s playoff basketball, guys. Let the players play.

[Author]

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