The Washington Wizards have arguably been the most impressive team in the 2015 NBA Playoffs.
The Wizards were considered underdogs against the Toronto Raptors, but after stealing both games away from home at the beginning of the series, it became evident that Washington is hitting their stride at the perfect moment.
Paul Pierce proclaimed that he didn’t want to go through customs in Toronto again, and the Wizards made sure they wouldn’t have to after sweeping the higher seeded Raptors.
Led by John Wall, Bradley Beal, Pierce and Marcin Gortat, the Washington Wizards have played their best basketball of the year during the playoffs.
Their defense, which was already elite, has become consistent.
Their archaic offense has suddenly become fluid and up-to-date.
Players like Beal and Otto Porter have shown the confidence that was often missing during the regular season. And of course, Randy Wittman has finally utilized a small-ball lineup that Washington Wizards fans have been clamoring for since October.
The end of this game featured some basketball that makes you put the Wizards in the conference finals.
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) April 28, 2015
While there was similar optimism last season after they beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round last year, this year’s optimism actually seems to be warranted.
The Washington Wizards pummeled a healthy Toronto Raptors squad and the coaching staff has finally utilized their players correctly. The addition of Paul Pierce has given Washington the swagger that was missing last season, especially against the Indiana Pacers.
As a Washington Wizards fan, I’m always going to have an irrational amount of confidence in the team. But something about this year just seems different.
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That’s because it is different.
Wittman’s squad has been playing a style of basketball that’s conducive to winning, which we didn’t see during the regular season.
Even more importantly, though, they’ve gained an extraordinary amount of confidence that’s needed to make a legitimate playoff push.
The Wizards will have about a week to prepare for their next opponent.
Prior to the All-Star break, the Atlanta Hawks were supposed to be a team to be reckoned with in the NBA Playoffs. In the playoffs, though, neither the Hawks nor their opponent, the Brooklyn Nets, have played particularly great basketball.
Most NBA pundits believed that the first seeded Hawks would dismantle the Nets in four games, but after four meetings, the series is tied 2-2.
The Hawks are dealing with a number of injuries to their key players and limped into the playoffs. Brooklyn won both of their games at home.
Deron Williams scored 35-points in last night’s win over Atlanta and it seems like the Nets are beginning to play winning basketball, albeit not nearly as consistently as coach Lionel Hollins and the rest of their staff hoped.
Regardless of who wins, Washington is going to play a tired, banged up, and quite frankly, a less talented team.
Atlanta, when healthy, should be considered the best in the Eastern Conference. But the fact of the matter is, they’re not healthy. Their flawless offense hasn’t been so flawless in the playoffs.
After making roughly half of his three point shots during the regular season, Kyle Korver has made just 33 percent of his threes against Brooklyn.
Jeff Teague‘s field goal percentage has dipped to just slightly above 40 percent.
Paul Millsap and Al Horford, both of whom are dealing with nagging injuries, haven’t been efficient.
The Nets, on the other hand, don’t have the depth nor consistency to realistically contend.
If they do upset the Hawks (I don’t think they will), they would far exceed their expectations.
Pierce recently commented about his time with the Nets, and needless to say, his words weren’t flattering:
"“It was just the guys’ attitudes there. It wasn’t like we were surrounded by a bunch of young guys. They were vets who didn’t want to play and didn’t want to practice. I was looking around saying, ‘What’s this?’ Kevin [Garnett] and I had to pick them up every day in practice,” Pierce told MacMullan.“If me and Kevin weren’t there, that team would have folded up. That team would have packed it in. We kept them going each and every day.”"
The Washington Wizards have hit their stride at the perfect moment.
Pierce no longer has to do all the heavy lifting. He’s instilled Wall and Co. with the confidence that’s needed to make strong playoff push. The Wizards have played their best basketball on the biggest stage in the NBA.
The other two teams, well, they’ve left a lot to be desired.
If there’s ever a time to make a serious push in the playoffs, the time is now.
The Washington Wizards have nothing to be afraid of.
Next: Series Recap - Wizards Run Through The 6 With Their Woes