Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards: Game Four Matchup to Watch
The Atlanta Hawks will look to even their first-round series against the Washington Wizards on Monday night. What is Game Four’s key matchup?
The Atlanta Hawks are fighting their way back into the series against the Wizards.
After two tough losses on the road in the nation’s capital, the Hawks delivered a dominant home win in Game 3 on Saturday. The Atlanta offense was clicking on all cylinders and the defense smother John Wall and company.
And after the first three games of this series, there is one position matchup that the Hawks have won and really need to continue winning. Maybe even be a larger margin than they have been already.
The small forward battle between Taurean Prince and Otto Porter Jr. is one that has flown under the radar so far. But it is a clash that features two good, young players.
Through three games, Prince has clearly been the better player. The rookie from Baylor has averaged 14.0 points per game and has shot 62.1 percent from the floor. His offensive game has come together and his defensive versatility has been utilized. Prince has been used to guard multiple positions and has been mostly successful in that task.
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He has been especially successful when he has guarded Porter, who has been, for the most part, a non-factor in this series. Porter is averaging just 7.0 points per game in the series but is more dangerous than that number suggests. The fourth-year man out of Georgetown had a career year this season. He averaged 13.4 points per game and shot 43.4 percent from beyond the arc, both of which were career highs.
These two players play similar roles for their teams. They are both very solid, but not elite, athletes that can spot up, drive, and defend. Both guys represent players who have deceptively good offense in that team’s may not be worried about their presence, but both guys can put up 17+ points if given the chance.
This battle has favored Prince so far in this series and the Hawks cannot let it swing the other way. If Porter begins to outplay Prince and play like he did in the regular season, that could spell doom for Atlanta. Porter’s outside shooting paired with John Wall‘s relentless attack and Bradley Beal‘s scoring mastery is an unstoppable combination. And with Tim Hardaway Jr. struggling, Prince is providing the wing offense that the Hawks desperately need.
Next: Taurean Prince Emerges as 3rd Option
Porter vs. Prince is far from the flashiest matchup in this series. But it is one that the Hawks cannot afford to lose in any game. These two players are on similar levels from a talent perspective and are both fun to watch. But the Hawks must contain Porter in order to slow down Washington’s offense. And the Atlanta rookie must continue to play like a veteran.