Official Washington Wizards @ Atlanta Hawks Game Thread

[Sticksboi05]

The Wiz head south to Atlanta to take on the Hawks in search of a 2-0 start.

Gametime - 7:30 PM

Channel - Comcast SportsNet HD

[Gator Bait]

this will be a tough game...I expect ATL to be very good this year.

[Alcoholic Zebra]

this will be a tough game...I expect ATL to be very good this year.

Cause they added Jamal Crawford? Not gonna do much. I don't see how the Hawks are gonna improve on last season.

The Hawks are a good team. But the Wiz definitely have more talent and I don't think we can stress how well they played against the Mavs, a team better than the Hawks.

If I was a betting man, I'd put money on the Wiz.

[Gator Bait]

Cause they added Jamal Crawford? Not gonna do much. I don't see how the Hawks are gonna improve on last season.

The Hawks are a good team. But the Wiz definitely have more talent and I don't think we can stress how well they played against the Mavs, a team better than the Hawks.

If I was a betting man, I'd put money on the Wiz.

I disagree....The Mavs finished a few games better than the Hawks last year....the Mavs are aging, the Hawks are maturing.

with Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Al Horford all maturing together...this promises to be one of the top 5 teams in the East this year. They also have Joe Johnson (one of the best 2 gaurds in the NBA) and added a quality role player, Joe Smith.

I'm not saying they are better than the Wizards, but don't take this team lightly

[REDALERT]

Cause they added Jamal Crawford? Not gonna do much. I don't see how the Hawks are gonna improve on last season.

The Hawks are a good team. But the Wiz definitely have more talent and I don't think we can stress how well they played against the Mavs, a team better than the Hawks.

If I was a betting man, I'd put money on the Wiz.

The Hawks have a bunch of athletic players that's going to give the Wiz problems and the Bulls are the same. Not only are they athletic, but they're young and fast.


I think the Bulls and hawks will give us the most problems in the East this year.

[Gator Bait]

I think the Bulls and hawks will give us the most problems in the East this year.

I think it will be Orlando and Cleveland

[REDALERT]

I think it will be Orlando and Cleveland

I'm not speaking of the projected top teams in the East, I'm speaking of the teams that will be fighting for that 4-6 spot come playoff time. And I think the hawks will have that 4th spot IMO. Toronto could also jump some teams this year and after watching Chicago take out the Spurs last nite, it's going to be tuff for the Wiz this year to get that 4th spot.

So, it's going to be some helluva basketball coming out of the Eastern conference this year which will make it interesting. So we're going to need AB and Orberto to really step up this year and even Mcgee when he's in there.

[Gator Bait]

I'm not speaking of the projected top teams in the East, I'm speaking of the teams that will be fighting for that 4-6 spot come playoff time. And I think the hawks will have that 4th spot IMO. Toronto could also jump some teams this year and after watching Chicago take out the Spurs last nite, it's going to be tuff for the Wiz this year to get that 4th spot.

So, it's going to be some helluva basketball coming out of the Eastern conference this year which will make it interesting. So we're going to need AB and Orberto to really step up this year and even Mcgee when he's in there.

I've got the East shaking out like this:

Cleveland - Best player in the league, Shaq will work out, good role players
Wizards - Loaded with Talent, Rise of Gilbert, Foye major player
Atlanta - young promising team
Boston - Old, injury risks, very deep, good role players
Orlando - Miss Turk, Vince doesn't stay healthy the full season
Toronto - could very well be higher, good team all around, deep
Chicago - could also be higher...someone had to drop
Miami - Dwade, Boozer at the trade deadline, can Jermain stay healthy?

to address Oberto and Mcgee...I think Oberto plays a significant role...especially in the playoffs. McGee gets spot duty and "clean up" time. I don't think he cracks the rotation unless one of the other Bigs gets hurt.

[abdcskins]

Wizards out of sync offensively. A lot of catch and shoot without passing it around, which they did excellently the first 7 minutes.

I'd like to see Foye, Arenas, and Butler on the floor together.

[REDALERT]

Wizards out of sync offensively. A lot of catch and shoot without passing it around, which they did excellently the first 7 minutes.

I'd like to see Foye, Arenas, and Butler on the floor together.

The wizards will be out of sync against better defense of teams. The mavs are a run and shoot but teams like atlanta has loads of young quick athletic players like the bulls. The wiz will play better against half cout teams but lag if those teams play better defense. Also we need to see how the wiz play with jamison in the line up. So until jamison get back its hard to tell.

[Skinned]

Miller and Oberto both getting in foul trouble early got the Wiz in trouble. Young checked in for Miller and played terribly, very nervous. The defense seemed a bit slow in rotating resulting in 3 open Atlanta 3's...Joe Smith, really?

Hopefully someone can spark us in the 2nd half and we can play some D.

[Skinned]

Uh oh...no Caron to start the 2nd half or even on the bench

[da#1skinsfan]

The elbow to the face is the best thing Young has done all night. He looks AWFUL. Why is he still in the game? That foul just now was absolutely a dumb rookie move at best.

[abdcskins]

Not seeing Butler on the sidelines is troubling. Hopefully it is nothing major.

I didn't know Paul Davis was on our team until I just saw that shot of him on the sideline.

C'mon guys....whoo Gilbert and 1 as I'm typing!

*edit* Bruised left knee for Butler. Hope that is the extent of it and nothing more.

[da#1skinsfan]

I think the Bulls and hawks will give us the most problems in the East this year.

Agreed. Its always the "almost-were's" like Hinrich, Gooden, (Mike Miller), Varejao, Joe Smith, etc that make all the little plays that kill us. On top of the fact that both teams are young and up and coming...just look at the speed and energy they are bringing tonight. Its relentless.

Great, Caron with a bruised knee.