Game Preview: Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks
After three consecutive losses, Atlanta is quite hopeful to make a comeback in their next home ground match, against Wizards at Philips Arena. This match is the second of four meetings between the Wizards and Hawks. Wizards are 0-6 and have lost five in a row to Atlanta.
Preview
The Wizards will be feeling ecstatic about themselves, after a dubious win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, at Verizon Center, Washington. Washington was trailing by 14 at halftime, but they were right back into the game by, the great effort of Wall. Wall had two 3-pointers and scored points of the free-throws, which forced the game into overtime. In this way the Wizards got a golden opportunity to present themselves in a better way. Things have not been as gratifying for Hawks as they lost three of their previous games in a row and seven of their last nine matches. A day after getting overpowered by the Boston Celtics, Atlanta again lacked quality against New Jersey Nets on Tuesday, giving up with the game in overtime (107-101).
Players to be watched
Wizard’s Point guard, John Wall had a great time in the previous match, against 76ers.He scored 25 points and grabbed six assists while only turning the ball over once. John Wall is the first Wizards rookie, to score 25 points off of the bench since Nick Young, who scored 27 points on March, 2008 vs. Los Angeles Lakers. In addition Javale McGee had his best game of the season, posting 24 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks in the plucky win of Wizards. He is averaging career-highs in points and rebounds blocked per game, in the current season. Nick Young is providing the Wizards with some offensive power-off, of the bench in the last six games. Young is averaging 15.5 points to boost his season average to 10.5 points per game. Young nailed a three-pointer with 7.6 seconds left in the overtime.
Hawks, Josh Smith "J-Smoove", led the team with 20 points and seven boards in the previous match against Nets. Smith never made more than 34 percent of his shots from 16 to 23 feet in his five previous seasons. So far this year, he is shooting 40 percent from 16 to 23 feet, which is about the league average for all players. While Center / Power Forward, Al Horford, had another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He's averaging a career-high 11.3 shots per game now, but also a career-high 63.7% field goal rate.
Quotable
"We just have to keep working," "We can't feel sorry for ourselves. As you go through the course of the season, there are going to be some ups and some downs. You learn how to handle adversity. These are the types of situations that will make you stronger as a team. You don't fragment. You pull together" Hawk’s coach Larry Drew said.
While talking about the previous game, Wizard’s Gilbert Arenas said,
"That game was really pulling teeth," "We didn't come out
and play well. We played well. We didn't play hard. We played hard. It was oneof those roller-coaster games."
Numbers
The Wizards are shooting 45.1 percent from the field and the Hawks are predicted to shoot 47.9 percent. The Hawks have the rebounding benefit at 45 to 37.8.They are commending smaller amount of turnovers at 12.4, while on the other hand Wizards are handing over 14.5.The Wizards are also making 4.9 three pointers on 35.6 percent from three point range, at the same time the Hawks are making 6.1 three pointers on 36.9 percent.
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