Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards: Matchup to Watch
The Atlanta Hawks are looking to get back on track when they go on the road to take on the Washington Wizards. Which matchup could decide the game?
The Hawks look like a bad basketball team right now.
They have lost four consecutive games and were blown out in three of those four losses. Paul Millsap has also gone down with an injury and the team is 0-5 in games played without him this season (per ESPN Stats and Information). His status for this game remains up in the air.
Now more than ever, the Hawks need someone to step up to the plate and help the team collect some wins. They are just 3.5 games ahead of the ninth-place Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings and the playoffs are no longer a forgone conclusion.
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Their next game will come on Wednesday night when they visit the Washington Wizards in a game that not many expect them to win.
And it is fairly obvious who will have to do the stepping up in this contest.
As John Wall goes, so goes the Wizards. Dennis Schroder needs to step up and seize the moment against one of the league’s best point guards if the Hawks are to have a chance.
Wall has almost all of the tools that many would look for in a point guard.
He is big, fast, an elite passer, a great attacker of the rim, and an explosive playmaker on both ends of the floor. This season has been one where all of those tools have come together for Wall and has been the best campaign of his career thus far.
The former Kentucky standout is putting up career-highs in points (22.9 per game), assists (10.8 per game), steals (2.0 per game), and field-goal percentage (44.6 percent). He has also been blessed with good health for himself and his team, leading to the maximization of his talent.
Wall presents a matchup nightmare for almost every point guard in the league. Schroder will need to play one of the best games he’s played this season in order to neutralize Wall’s impact.
But in three games against the Wizards this season, Schroder has not looked good. He has averaged just 14.3 points and 3.3 assists per game on 41.0 percent shooting from the field and Wall has owned him.
But physically, Schroder can matchup better than many other guards.
The German dynamo has the speed and length to slow down Wall if he remains focused defensively. On offense, Schroder must pick his spots in attacking the paint and will need to get others some easy shots. Because Schroder will not be lighting up Wall for large amounts of points.
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This matchup is not one that is favorable for the Hawks. But it is one that is essential for a Hawks win. A win that they desperately need to get back on track.