Wiz of Awes
Fansided

Washington Wizards 2017 NBA Playoffs Schedule: Dates and Times

By Ben Mehic

Mar 22, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) shoots as Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 104 - 100. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) shoots as Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 104 - 100. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Washington Wizards released their 2017 NBA Playoffs schedule against the Atlanta Hawks for the first round of the Eastern Conference.

On Wednesday night, the Washington Wizards opted to rest John Wall, Bradley Beal and Markieff Morris against the Miami Heat, essentially punting on the chance to win 50 games for the first time since 1979.

Following the loss in Miami, the Wizards have officially finished the 2016-17 NBA season with a 49-33 record.

Washington became the first team in the league’s history to go 15 games above .500 after starting the season 2-8. The Wizards have also secured their first division title for the first time in almost four decades.

Washington is now locked into fourth place in the Eastern Conference and will have home court advantage in the first round. The Wizards did not have home court advantage in 2014 nor 2015, so this season will mark the first time they’ll have it in John Wall’s career in D.C.

The Wizards will be facing the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs – a team that’s given them some fits over the past several years.

More from Wiz of Awes

Atlanta defeated Washington in the second round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs in six games.

Wall broke his hand/wrist, forcing him to miss a game, which basically ended the Wizards’ hopes of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

This year’s Hawks team has underwent a makeover, though.

Al Horford, who dominated the Wizards in the final moments of the 2015 series, is no longer on the roster.

Coach Mike Budenholzer has been forced to change his team’s style of play, as Dwight Howard was signed to replace Horford in Atlanta’s starting lineup.

The Hawks, while still effective from the perimeter, can’t space the floor like they used to, but have added physicality inside the paint with Howard.

Matchup-wise, the Wizards will have significant advantages in the backcourt. John Wall and Bradley Beal have both elevated their games in the postseason in the past and, at least on paper, will have an edge over Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore.

However, the Wizards will be disadvantaged in the front court. Paul Millsap, a multiple time All-Star, gets the talent nod over Markieff Morris. The same is true for Howard over Marcin Gortat. Washington will also be without Ian Mahinmi for the start of the series as he recovers from a calf injury.

On Wednesday, the Wizards released their official playoff schedule with dates and times.

  • Game 1: April 16, Atlanta @ D.C.: 1 p.m, CSN/TNT
  • Game 2: April 19, Atlanta @ D.C.: 7 p.m, CSN/NBA TV
  • Game 3: April 22, D.C. @ Atlanta: 5:30 p.m., CSN/TNT
  • Game 4: April 24, D.C. @ Atlanta: 8 p.m., CSN/TNT
  • Game 5: April 26, Atlanta @ D.C.: TBD
  • Game 6: April 28, D.C. @ Atlanta: TBD
  • Game 7: April 30, Atlanta @ D.C.: TBD

Next: Why the Wizards Could Get To the NBA Finals

The first game of a series usually sets the foundation of the rest. Washington stole Game-1 on the road against the Toronto Raptors in 2015, eventually leading to a series sweep. So while the Wizards do have home court advantage, that doesn’t necessarily mean the series is a lock for victory.

Home/Wizards News