Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks 2017 NBA Playoffs: Paul Millsap Complains About Physicality, But Wizards Must Continue

Washington Wizards dominated the Atlanta Hawks in Game-1 of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, causing Paul Millsap to complain about the physicality.

Paul Millsap drove the ball inside, took a single dribble and went up for the layup. Markieff Morris stood right next to him, accepted the contact and blocked his shot. Millsap, an All-Star, quickly recovered and got the offensive rebound. He went up for another layup, but was met by Morris, who blocked his shot again.

During the regular season, the Washington Wizards lacked physicality. Less talented teams, like the Miami Heat, regularly trounced the Wizards by being more active and aggressive. Sometimes, the only thing keeping the Wizards from getting blown out was sheer talent.

But in the NBA Playoffs, talent can only take a team so far.

The game is officiated differently in the postseason, making it almost a changed sport than the one that’s played throughout 82 games. Plays that usually end with a player at the free throw line are typically let go by the referees. The notion of “let them play” is often how the referees command the game.

In Game-1 against the Atlanta Hawks, the Wizards found an aggressiveness they lacked during the regular season – an aggressiveness that’s needed to make a serious push in the playoffs.

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Washington’s big men, particularly Markieff Morris, set the tempo by letting their presence known inside, not allowing the Hawks to get easy baskets, even if it did result in a few fouls and a 22 free throw disparity.

Atlanta – a well-oiled team known for its ball movement and fluidity – was stifled by the Wizards’ physicality.

The passing was stagnant and the Hawks’ offense broke down.

Sunday marked Morris’ first appearance in the postseason, but he seems to understand the value of each possession, especially on the defensive end of the floor where stops are treasured.

“The ball is like gold now – every possession counts, so I’m going head first every play, it is what it is,” said Morris following the Wizards’ victory. “We’re going to jostle the whole series and that’s what it’s going to be.”

Morris’ energy was contagious.

The normally calm duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal became vocal, gesturing to fans after each successful offensive possession. When the Wizards got a stop, each player looked for their closest teammate to acknowledge the play. The team seemed to bond over the intensity, some of which was provided by the sold-out Verizon Center.

“It was great,” said Beal of Morris’ performance. “He accepted the challenge with (Paul) Millsap from the get-go. On offense, he was a beast. He played with tremendous focus and confidence and energy on both ends of the floor, not just offensively. I think he did a great job of guarding Millsap down the stretch and throughout the course of the game.”

The one-sided win caused some Hawks players, like Millsap, to voice their complaints about the way Washington played.

“The difference in the game was we were playing basketball and they were playing MMA,” Millsap said.

Next: Wizards Look To Avenge Loss To Hawks In Playoffs

Washington outscored the Hawks by 7 points and won the first game of the series. The result looks and feels like a basketball win. The extra – the MMA, as Millsap called it – is what the Wizards need to move onto the semifinals for the third time in four years.