This is the matchup of give and take. The Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards are set to face off in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. This series is going to be about the details more than anything else. These two teams have found their niches during the regular season – either through attrition and teamwork or completely by accident due to team construction. The Wizards found their groove as a team offensively in January after a sluggish start that had many wondering if the team would even make the postseason. The team hired Scott brooks after missing the postseason under Randy Wittman. Brooks’ philosophies and culture slowly began to permeate the team, and consequently, the wins came.
Atlanta lost Al Horford in the offseason to an east rival in the Boston Celtics and traded Jeff Teague to the Indiana Pacers. The team added Dwight Howard, who’s had a remarkable season individually. Ranked 5th in rebounds per game, and backlines a top five defense in the league. Head Coach Mike Budenholzer has managed to scheme his Hawks into the playoff as the fifth seed. With a defense that’s philosophically sound and an egalitarian offense – that’s just good enough – the Hawks had an impressive season.
2017 NBA Playoffs
What the Washington Wizards bring
The Washington Wizards’ offense operates at a level that Atlanta should be wary of trying to match. With the backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal, this team is able to hang with the best of offenses or outscore those who can’t. Beal’s 40% from three-point range on a top ranked 7.2 attempts per game helps direct the offense into a good space.
The pick and roll game with John Wall and Marcin Gortat is fueled by having elite shooting from Beal and Otto Porter. Porter had a most improved type year with the way he played in the regular season. He was fourth in the league in three-point percentage per game while having career highs across the board – field goal percentage, rebounds, assists, and points per game. Porter is the leader in offensive rating for qualifying players, steadily contributing to the Washington attack.
The efficiency of the Brooks offense is what keeps it afloat.
The ninth-ranked offense in terms of rating, relies on taking and making good, open shots. Washington takes very little outside shots, making the midrange, and paint area their lifeblood. They rank 2nd in two-point field goal shots and attempt the most open shots in the league at 26.1 per game.
John Wall was third in assists in the League with an eye for finding those players in the open spots. His speed and athleticism help to keep the Wizards in motion and his ability to control the pace of the offense with it makes him a remarkable threat.
Key weaknesses for the Wizards
- While they are as efficient as any team in the league, the Wizards are not as solid on defense. They rank 20th in defensive rating, allowing 107 points per game. If it wants to survive, this Wizards team needs to shore up the deficiencies. It has the track record of performing well in clutch situations. However, their defense in the clutch left much to be desired in the regular season.
- Ian Mahinmi could be out for the beginning part of the playoffs. This leaves a heavy workload for Gortat.
What the Atlanta Hawks bring
Unlike their matchup in Washington, the Hawks excel in the defensive area. They have a fourth-ranked defense which helps to mask the fact that the Hawks have a bottom three in the league offense. With Dennis Schroder manning the offense he serves as one of the team’s leading scorers. It hasn’t reached a level that could compete with those teams above it. The Hawks approach is one that has simple execution but the scheme helps to spread around the opportunity to pitch in. The team is ninth in assists and has six players that average in double figures.
That team approach on offense is what keeps their defense near elite. With Dwight Howard manning the backline, defenders such as Thabo Sefolosha, Kent Bazemore, and Paul Millsap are able to defend the perimeter and switch effectively. Atlanta ranks 10th in opponent points per game, and are able to take a game make it into a battle of wills, as they slow the game down to the pace they are comfortable at. Coach Budenholzer has kept his team to their principles on defense that can cover for the offensive. If the Hawks can grind the Wizards’ attack enough to keep pace, they might steal a couple of games.
Key weaknesses for Atlanta
- While the Wizards don’t take many threes, they make the ones they do. At 37%, they sit 8th in the league. Atlanta’s 34% sits near the bottom of the league and should help motivate the team to avoid a shootout.
- Schroder’s defense is one of the weak links on the team. If he isn’t going to be guarding Wall one on one, Atlanta may have to deploy a defend by committee approach.
X-Factors for the series
- Paul Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. are key for Atlanta in terms of constructing their offense. Schroder has skill in initiating the offense but sometimes allows the game to get away from him. Millsap is the steady hand that has the ability to lead a controlled storm that could score well enough. Hardaway Jr. has had a superb season and has been a scorer and creator for the Hawks. His offensive talent shouldn’t, and won’t be overlooked by Washington.
- Porter will have to translate his game from the regular season into the postseason. The Hawks will no doubt have a scheme ready to defend Wall and Beal, but if Porter can act as a conduit for the offense when the defense loads up on the backcourt Washington can/ will move on.
Predictions
The Wizards have a stellar starting five and a superstar in John Wall. If Wall stays healthy, he has the team surrounding him and the coach that can take the series in 5.
