Washington Wizards @ Atlanta Hawks Game Thread 10/30/2009

[jholmbe1]

Starters


Reserves




Starters


Reserves


Key Matchups

The Hawks forced 25 turnovers last night, was that more to do with the Hawks D or the Pacers carelessness? We know from years of Eddie Jordan that gambling defenses like the Hawks are prone to give up a lot of points so this could be a high scoring game.

I did not see much of the Hawks game last night, was too busy enjoying watching the Cavs lose again, but from what I did see Horford looked pretty good (24 points, 16 boards, 4 assists, 2 blocks). Nobody else on the Hawks rebounded though, with Bibby pulling in the second most boards on the team with 4. If we can pound the boards like we did against the Mavs we could really do some damage.

I also expect 7-day-Dray to comeback down to earth a little but I also think that Caron's shooting will improve. Great opportunity for the Wiz to prove themselves again on the road against a team many thought would finish ahead of them in the Southeast.

[verbal8]

If the Wizards win tonight they put themselves in a good start for a 4th place finish/50 win season.

I expect this game will be a shootout.

[Halcyon]

I'm excited to see the Wizards play again..its been a while since I've said that. Supposedly the Hawks are a team we are competing against for that top spot in the "next tier" in the East, so this will be an important game to see where we stack up.

[closg00]

Bibby is a much better PG than Bera. The Wizards have had real problems matching-up with fast, athletic teams so this one should be a good early test to see what we are made of. This might be a good game for McGee to get some minutes in. The Hawks will out-rebound us so we need another hot-shooting night.

[pancakes3]

zippy chance Bibby can contain Gilbachi 2.0. he is rebuilt; better, faster, stronger. we have the technology. gil probably flirts with another double double and sits out most of the 4th because bibby probably can't contain foye either. the real test is to see if miller's defense is all we hope it is. he's going up against another tall guard in JJ.

i have no qualms putting our Blatche/Oberto/Haywood front line against Zaza/Smith/Horford. If anything this is an easier matchup than Dallas. Haywood has a bigger size advantage on Horford and Blatche can exploit josh smith's less-than-stellar man-to-man defense.

[nate33]

Atlants is a real good team. They are skilled and athletic at every position, and everyone but Bibby defends. This is going to be a tough one to win on the road.

Atlanta's front line is a bit undersized. Haywood needs to be physical with Horford and Blatche needs to post up Smith. We'll be playing into their hands if Blatche goes soft on us and stays out on the perimeter.

I like the guard matchup. They don't have anyone who can guard Arenas but we have a few guys (Miller, Butler, DMac, Stevenson) who can stay with Joe Johnson.

Zaza could give us some trouble. He often has good games on the offensive glass against our second unit. I don't like matching up McGee with Zaza because McGee is terrible at boxing out. Hmmm. It might make sense to have McGee guard their PF (Josh Smith or Joe Smith) when he's in the game. Hopefully, our bigs will stay out of foul trouble so we can go with a 3-big rotation of Haywood, Blatche and Oberto.

[miller31time]

If we can beat Dallas on the road with Dirk going crazy, we can beat the Hawks.

They're good, no doubt, but the tables have just been turned completely with a healthy and motivated Gilbert Arenas on the good guys' side.

[Ruzious]

Our bigs are going against a much smaller but much more athletic front court than Dallas' - it should be a good test of our versatility - and see if we take advantage of our size rather than go small ball (one thing EG got legitimately criticised for).

[crackhed]

wiz will need to defend the 3 ball and get back in transition with the hawks.

[closg00]

I wonder it this is a game in-which Orberto might be in for a bad match-up?

[Ruzious]

I wonder it this is a game in-which Orberto might be in for a bad match-up?

Good question. I think it depends on who controls the tempo. If Atlanta does, and it's run and gun, he could have trouble. Otherwise, he should be fine. I hope we take advantage of our size up front.

[conleyorbust]

Hey guys, good luck on Friday. I'd expect to see Bibby and Johnson cross-guard while Bibby is in the game. Not that Miller can't score on Bibby, just that Arenas is obviously more of a threat. In the frontcourt, Smith has had his way with Blatche at times in the past so I'd hope that happens tomorrow night. Horford was more aggressive than usual last night but if he decides to go back to being passive Al Horford, he won't have any real advantage against Haywood.

Should be a good matchup, both teams have a lot of weapons.

[no D in Hibachi]

This is a game where the Wiz really need Jamison. Smith can't float as much when he's guarding Jamison, which opens the lane for dribble penetration. If Smith is guarding Obby then he'll have one eye on the lane and one of Obby. We need another 20/7 type game from Blatche and we need Haywood to shoot a little higher than 30%. Since the Hawks front line is so athletic I'd like to see a little more McGee. Remember, last year McGee had some very effective games against the Hawks. Either way the game will be fun to watch.

[Rafael122]

Biggest game of the year so far.

[fishercob]

If we can outscore them, I think we have a great shot to win.

[Wizards2Lottery]

Do or die game. This is a must win.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I wonder it this is a game in-which Orberto might be in for a bad match-up?

Maybe so. Fouls could be a problem early on.

If Blatche doesn't look great, I'd love to see McGee at PF with Haywood at C against the Hawks.

[JonathanJoseph]

No question that Oberto is a bad matchup for the athletic, undersized Hawks. I assume that a good game by Blatche is required here for a win and I won't be surprised if Mike Miller gets untracked offensively.

But if we win w/o Jamison when we really need his matchup on the road than I will officially be giddy like a 9 year old school girl.

[nate33]

I don't like Oberto's matchup with the starting unit, but he'll do fine against Zaza and Joe Smith off the bench.

[queridiculo]

Do or die game. This is a must win.

I hope you're being sarcastic.