Washington Wizards Roundtable Reactions: John Wall’s Injury

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

5) If John Wall doesn’t return before the conclusion of this series versus Atlanta, can the Wizards win?

Nithin: I suppose the Wizards can win but it doesn’t seem very likely. 

Many people will point to the fact that they were within 5 with 6 minutes to play in Game 2 but the Hawks spent the entire game holding a lead that felt insurmountable.  For Washington to pull off an improbable victory they’ll need Bradley Beal to continue to make strides as the primary ball handler/playmaker (a role he’s not comfortable with yet) and the shooters around the perimeter to be breathing fire the rest of the way out. 

Game 3 will be pivotal for the Wizards.  A win means they’re back in the series.  A loss probably sends them packing into the summer sooner rather than later.

Matt: Assuming Wall misses the rest of the postseason (which, unfortunately, seems likely), the Wizards are in big trouble. They’re 10-40 all time without him, if that tells you anything.

The Wizards rely heavily on Wall’s electric playmaking to generate most of their looks, and as solid as Sessions has been, he just isn’t the same type of facilitator. They’ll miss him on defense too, especially his ability to ignite the transition game. The Hawks haven’t looked like a 60 win juggernaut, but Millsap and Horford are dominating inside, especially since Nene and Drew Gooden have been virtual non-factors on defense.

If their shots start falling with more frequency, it could get ugly. Game 2 was encouraging, but it’s hard to see the Wizards earning three more wins without Wall.

David: Without John Wall, the Wizards are deader than Abe Lincoln.

DC needed a herculean effort from Ramon Sessions just to stay competitive in Game 2 – we can’t ever count on him playing like that again, and neither he nor Beal are the all-around playmakers that the Wizards need to keep that offense functioning.

There’s probably a slight chance that the Wizards can band together, brave souls all, and make it competitive, but I can’t see them winning three more games against the Hawks without John Wall. He’s just too valuable.

Also, why is it that every time I think I’m done seeing Garrett Temple get meaningful minutes, he has to jump back in there? Now we’re getting Playoff Temple, and I think I taste blood.

Oz: First let me start off by saying there are only a few things worse than jumping on Twitter in the middle of the day to see the breaking news that John Wall has a fractured hand/wrist in the middle of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

But yes, the Wizards can beat the Hawks.  Three of the next four games are at home in what amounts to a best of five series. If the Wizards manage to protect home court, they win.  This is not the 2006-2007 Washington Wizards team that went into the playoffs without Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler versus Lebron James.

Next: 4) How Does The Gameplan Change?