NBA Preview: Atlanta wants to even up the series, while Paul Millsap may want some revenge for a post-game comment made by the Wizards’ Markieff Morris.
#4 Washington Wizards (51-34) at #5 Atlanta Hawks (44-41), Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
Line: Hawks -2.5. Total 211.5.
Series: Wizards 2-1.
Out of the eight first-round playoff series, it is fairly safe to say that the series between the Hawks and the Wizards is getting the least amount of media attention. That may change after tonight. Here are my rankings for the series the media are enamored with from most to least popular this postseason.
#1 – Oklahoma City versus Houston. The triple-double machine who is Russell Westbrook taking on his former teammate James Harden. The top two MVP candidates in the league going head to head. Up-tempo basketball that lights up the scoreboard. This series is getting the primetime slots.
#2 – Chicago versus Boston. Two big television markets with two franchises with championship pedigrees. A big-time storyline with the death of Isaiah Thomas’s sister the day before Game 1 of the series. The Bulls had a tumultuous season and were lucky to even make the playoffs. then they shock everybody by going up 2-0 over the heavily-favored Celtics. Then a twist as Rajon Rondo get hurt and Boston roars back to even the series.
#3 – Indiana versus Cleveland. Wherever LeBron James goes, the media attention follows. We have, or had a battle of superstars, James versus Paul George as those two lit up the scoreboard. Every game was competitive, too.
#4 – Portland versus Golden State. The Splash Brothers, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green garner a lot of attention wherever they go. Despite the one-sided series, people love tuning in watch Golden State.
#5 – Utah versus the Los Angeles Clippers. The Jazz finally have a recognizable face with All-Star Gordon Hayward. The Clippers have star-power with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. This series has had some major twists and turns with Utah’s Rudy Gobert getting hurt 10 seconds into Game 1. However, Utah rallied to win the game. Then Griffin gets hurt in Game 3 and is out for the season. However, the Clippers rally to win that game. Then Gobert returns, but Hayward leaves in the first half of Game 4 due to food poisoning. However, the Jazz rally to win the game.
#6 – Memphis versus San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard has become a household name, MVP candidate and superstar for the Spurs. Mike Conley is proving to be one of the top point-guards in the league as he has rallied his team from a 2-0 deficit to tie the series after a thrilling overtime win in Game 4.
#7 – Milwaukee versus Toronto. Two small-market teams. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a budding superstar for the Bucks. Consequently, the Greek Freak alone is worth the price of admission for this series. DeMar DeRozan is a scoring machine for Toronto.
#8 – Atlanta versus Washington. John Wall is really the only headliner for this series, therefore, this series has not had the primetime slots yet this postseason.
However, this series with the Hawks and Wizards is getting interesting.
The Wizards’ Markieff Morris called Atlanta’s Paul Millsap a crybaby after the Hawks 116-98 win in Game 3. Millsap said this matchup is personal now, although he added that the comment does not bother him.
Ok, let the drama begin. The media has already picked up on these comments as the sound bites are getting a lot of play on TV. If Atlanta wins tonight to tie the series at 2-2, then my #8 ranking for the popularity or intrigue this series provides for the media will change quickly.
As far as handicapping this game goes, the comment Morris made about Millsap is a motivational factor that cannot be ignored. Morris’s comment is likely to fire up the entire Atlanta team. Not that Millsap needs any more motivation. He is playing just fine. Millsap has averaged 28 points per game. 12 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists per game his last two outings.
John Wall has taken his game to whole new level this postseason. Wall is averaging 31 points per game, 10 assists per game and 4.3 rebounds per game in this series. However, the Wizards are not a strong road team. Washington is 19-23 on the road this season.
Atlanta came into the postseason playing well. The Hawks played Washington tough in DC, where the Wizards have won 27 of their last 32 home games.
I am going against the NBA Zig-Zag Theory and taking the Hawks to even this series at 2-2.
My pick:
Atlanta Hawks -2.5, laying $110 to win $100 (1 unit, normal play).
Good luck.
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