How The Hawks Steal a Game in DC This Weekend

The Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards’ second round series heads to the nation’s capital this weekend for Games 3 and 4. Since Atlanta lost Game 1 104-98 Sunday afternoon, the Hawks must steal a game on the road in DC if the team wants to play in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time. I fully expect that this series will go six or seven games. Here’s how the Atlanta Hawks can come away victorious in either Game 3 or 4 this weekend.

Pound the Rock Inside to Horford and Millsap.

Coach Bud might want to take a few plays out of Dave Joerger’s Grit N’ Grind Grizzlies playbook this weekend at the Verizon Center. The best way for the Hawks to exploit the Wizards offensively is to pound the rock inside to Al Horford and Paul Millsap. By using their superior quickness in the low post, it should make for a rough night defensively for the Polish Hammer Wizards PF/C Marcin Gortat. The Hawks went after Gortat in Game 2 Tuesday night, resulting in the Wizards’ big man to foul out halfway through the fourth quarter. Getting Gortat in foul trouble early will complicate Washington’s playoff rotation as Paul Pierce will have to play more at the four to give the Wizards a boost offensively as Nene has been largely ineffective all series.

By being the aggressor in the paint, Atlanta can then expand its perimeter game and really stretch out Washington’s defense. It is imperative that Horford and Millsap go into Saturday evening’s game ready to attack the Wizards in the low post. Atlanta cannot rely solely on their perimeter game to beat Washington on the road.

Let Bradley Beal Beat You.

If you have to let one perimeter scorer beat you, choose wisely. Through the first two games in this Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup, Bradley Beal has been a high volume shooter for the Wizards. Keep letting him take those highly contested shots of his as he is shooting under 40% from the field (17-44 in Games 1 and 2). Paul Pierce continues to sink three after three in this year’s playoffs and will have his way with whomever is guarding him. John Wall plays his best when he attacks the paint and distributes the basketball as any facilitating point guard should. As long as Kyle Korver uses his height to his advantage defensively and makes Beal continue to take tough shots, the Hawks have a good chance of procuring defensive rebounds inside if they embrace playing aggressive.