Wiz of Awes
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Washington Wizards Must Stick Together Going Into Game-5 Against Atlanta Hawks

By Ryan Eugene

Apr 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13, left), forward Markieff Morris (5), guard Bradley Beal (3, left) and guard John Wall (2) react on the bench in the fourth quarter of their game against the Atlanta Hawks of game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13, left), forward Markieff Morris (5), guard Bradley Beal (3, left) and guard John Wall (2) react on the bench in the fourth quarter of their game against the Atlanta Hawks of game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Wizards find themselves tied with the Atlanta Hawks after gaining a 2-0 series lead. In order to close it out, they must stick together.

Hold up, wait a minute, all good just a week ago, Wiz at their house, winning the series 2-0…”  

As the Washington Wizards prepared to leave the Philips Arena court Monday night after a disappointing Game 4 loss, the message was clear: “Stick Together.”

The Wizards have overcome many obstacles this season, and sticking together has been a main reason the team finds itself as the fourth seeded team in the Eastern Conference.  

Everyone except John Wall has struggled offensively at some point during the series, and every player has struggled defensively.  

But yet, the team has a lot of reasons to be confident.

They have been great at home this season, winning 32 of 43 games in the regular season and playoffs combined.  Although the series has seemed like a lock since the tip of Game 1, these are the playoffs, and we can’t expect a sweep (although I might have).  

The most experienced players on the team are its stars, and as the stars lead, the others will eventually follow.

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Bradley Beal struggled with his shooting early in the series, but remained confident in his abilities.

He’s made sure to continue preparing the same way and taking the same shots, leading to a game high 32 points on 11-23 shooting in Game 4.

Defensively, each player needs to feel confident that they can trust each other to provide help defense, whether it be on lobs to Dwight Howard, or open drives for Dennis Schroder.  

There was some comically bad defense in the fourth quarter of Game 4, and Scott Brooks will surely make a point of that during preparation for Game 5.

Additionally, trends that have occurred over the last two or three games can’t last for seven games, can they?  Will Markieff Morris continue to miss shots and pick-up quick fouls? Maybe.

But we’ve seen the Wizards play some of their best basketball when their backs are against the wall, and the doubters begin to make noise. Wall’s two first round wins both came as the underdog.

There’s been plenty of noise this season.  Starting 2-8 led to articles from national media to trade Wall.  The team began the season winning only four of the first 17 road games.  They followed that up by winning 12 of the next 15 road games.  

They got beat down in Boston, then less than two weeks later beat Boston from start to finish, marking the 14th straight home win.  Two weeks later, the Wizards lost a heartbreaker at home against Cleveland, snapping a 17 game home win streak, and rebounded by beating Cleveland from start to finish on the road towards the end of the season.

How about being down 15+ on the road twice in consecutive nights, and winning both games in overtime?  

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The team has been up against the wall many times this season, and through it all, has stuck together to be the team many think will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Looking back on what the team has gone through, being tied 2-2 in the first round of the playoffs with game 5 at home isn’t something that will scare the team, or make them change their preparation.

This reminds me of a story that was told in Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin’s new book, Return of the King: LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Greatest Comeback in NBA History.

It recounts GM David Griffin’s email to the team after losing Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals and being down 3-1 to the 73 win Golden State Warriors.  

Griffin wrote an email to the entire organization; players, coaches, staff, management, sales and owners.  In short, Griffin told the team “of course it would have to happen this way.”  

The Washington Wizards franchise history compares favorably to the Cleveland teams of old.  The fanbase has come to expect failure, and after two tough losses, it’s hard not to point to curses and  teams that have failed to meet expectations in the past.

While I’m not trying to compare the two current teams, it does help as a reminder that nothing in the playoffs will come easily to this Wizards team and this franchise.  Teams that win the championship have adversity to overcome, as does the first team eliminated.  What helps them advance in the playoffs is a combination of execution, overcoming adversity, and sticking together as a team.  

My roommate reminded me that the 66-16, 2007-2008 Boston Celtics played seven game series in rounds one and two before eventually winning the championship.

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The Wizards have gone through plenty of bumps along the way, and now has a new set of obstacles on the doorstep.  

Remember, they are playing without backup center Ian Mahinmi, known for his defense, in a series that features an All-Star power forward and a former All-Star center.  The national media has failed to point that out.

Don’t fine me, but the team is also battling adversity from officiating. 50/50 calls seem to usually favor Atlanta, and the starting power forward can’t stay on the court and get in a rhythm.  

Coach Brooks admits that the Wizards are fouling like crazy, but noted that Atlanta has 39 more free throw attempts through four games.  Paul Millsap has attempted 43 free throws through four games. In contrast, the Wizards’ starters except Wall, have attempted 29 free throws combined.

The Wizards are a confident team, and the last two games were a definite wake up call to the team.  The Wall and Beal core has never lost in the first round, and certainly does not want to in a series they are the clear favorites.  

Next: Why the Wizards Could Get To the NBA Finals

Although a young team, Washington has shown its resilience under pressure, but must make sure to not look past the current task at hand.  Moving forward, Death Row DC will have to remain focused, confident, most of all unified.

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