Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards: Game Six Matchup to Watch
The Atlanta Hawks are on the ropes as they head back to Atlanta for Game Six. Which matchup could decide the Hawks’ fate?
The Hawks are officially in must-win mode.
After a tight loss in Game Five in the nation’s capital on Wednesday night, the Hawks are now back home to try and force a Game Seven. In all three games that have been played in Washington D.C., the Hawks have had their chances to steal a game. But they just have not been able to do so.
And there was one matchup between bench players that proved to be a crucial one.
The sixth-man battle between Kent Bazemore and Bojan Bogdanovic is very important moving forward in this series. The level of play between these two was not close in Game Five.
More from Hawks News
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic makes special dedication after FIBA win
Bogdanovic gave the Wizards a serious spark off of the bench in Game Five and has strung together a few good performances. In 24 minutes on Wednesday night, Bogdanovic scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds. He also shot 4-of-7 from the field and hit 2-of-3 three-point attempts. His scoring and size (6-foot-8, 215 lbs.) make him a problem on the wing for the Hawks.
Bazemore, after a great Game Four, struggled mightily in Game Five. He shot just 3-for-12 from the field and scored six points. This is a far drop-off from the 16 points, seven assists, and three steals that he put up in Game Four.
At his best, Bazemore is a terrific playmaker for Atlanta that can ignite a crowd and the energy of his team. But at his worst, Bazemore is an out-of-control turnover machine that can derail the team’s offense. The Hawks desperately need that spark off of the bench and with the contract that he has, Bazemore needs to be that guy.
Bogdanovic is a dangerous wing scorer for the Wizards that has scored in double-figures in the last three games and appears to be finding his groove. Outside of a great Game Four, Bazemore has struggled for the entire series. The Hawks have to get more from Bazemore if they want to stay alive. He seems to play better at home in front of the crowd so perhaps that will help.
Next: Hawks Must Win In Final Minutes Against Wizards
But one thing is certain. Bogdanovic cannot continue to outplay Bazemore off of the bench. The Hawks have an advantage when it comes to the strength fo the second unit and Bazemore is the key to unlocking that advantage.