The Washington Wizards dominated their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors and looked like a completely different team. The Atlanta Hawks eventually came around against the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round, but didn't look like the team we saw for the first 3½ months of the season. Something seemed like it had to give as we moved into the second round and for a half, it looked like things would go back to "normal."
However, the Wizards weathered the storm of the Hawks' ball-movement offense, rode some good performances from key reserves and grabbed control of the game in the second half. They improved to 8-1 on the road in the playoffs over the past two years, and are now looking to really put the pressure on the Hawks in Game 2. The 104-98 victory over the Hawks was the perfect way to start the second round.
Here's what we learned from Game 1 of Wizards-Hawks:
1. THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS' BACKCOURT IS RIDICULOUS
John Wall and Bradley Beal were calling themselves the best backcourt in the NBA during the offseason. While Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have probably staked claim to that honor for now, Wall and Beal showed just how potent they can be as they picked apart a pretty good Hawks defense. Wall was the floor general we expect him to be. He did a great job of breaking down the defense and finding a quality shot for himself or for a teammate. He didn't turn the ball over much, and he played fantastic defense both on the ball and in help.
John Wall soars for the emphatic rejection! #NBARapidReplay http://t.co/sIGUbB1B0F
— NBA (@NBA) May 3, 2015Beal was just as good and just as important in the way he took it to the Hawks. He eventually had to leave the game with a ugly ankle sprain but he was great at creating scoring opportunities for himself. Beal finished with 28 points on 9-of-22 shooting -- 2 of 5 from 3-point range -- and was 8 of 10 from the free throw line. And considering he was just 5 of 15 on uncontested shots in this game, it could have been so much worse for Atlanta in trying to stop him.
If these two play like this for the rest of the series (assuming Wall's wrist is OK and Beal's ankle doesn't hurt him too much), the Hawks will have to really force other Wizards to beat them and try to lock down one of the best backcourts in basketball.
2. THE ATLANTA HAWKS' OFFENSE WAS INCREDIBLE ... FOR A HALF
The movement and the passing of the Hawks was back. After posting an offensive rating of at least 112 points per 100 possessions in the final three games of their series against the Nets, the Hawks looked to be in sync in the first half. The Hawks shot 52.2 percent from the field, 52.9 percent from 3-point range, and 19 of their 24 made shots were assisted in the first 24 minutes of the game. DeMarre Carroll was destroying the Wizards' defense and had 21 first half points.
In the second half, the offense became stagnant as the Wizards did a solid job of getting them out of rhythm. After scoring 37 points in the first quarter, the Hawks had just 35 points in the second half. The Hawks went 13 of 52 (25 percent) from the field in the second half and 4 of 21 from 3-point range. They just couldn't hit anything, including a single possession in which they missed five attempts with almost all of them coming at the rim. The Wizards defense was good in the second half but the Hawks also just missed a lot of open shots period.
Atlanta went 15 of 53 (28.3 percent) on uncontested shots in Game 1. Is it possible to be too open?
3. THE WIZARDS ARE REALLY GOOD WHEN THEY SHOOT 3'S
The criticism with the Wizards' offense all season long was how basic and out-of-date it seemed. They just didn't believe in the 3-point line and seeked out midrange jumpers like it was 1975. Instead of keeping with that style of play in the playoffs, they've embraced a small-ball lineup and it has opened up their offense. They've increased their 3-point attempts per game by nearly eight through their first five games in the playoffs, and it's pushed them to an attempts per game total that benefits them.
Washington made 9 of 25 from 3-point range in Game 1 against the Hawks. That 25 attempts number is golden for them. When they take at least 25 3-pointers in a game (including the playoffs), the Wizards are now 6-3. Three of those wins and zero of those losses have come in the playoffs. They've completely changed how they approach spacing the floor in the playoffs and it's working so far.
Game 2 is Tuesday in Atlanta as the Wizards look to go up 2-0 heading back home for the second straight series.
SERIES SCHEDULE, RESULTS
Game 1 -- Sun May 3
Washington 104, Atlanta 98 -- Wizards lead series 1-0
Game 2 -- Tue May 5
Washington at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3 -- Sat May 9
Atlanta at Washington, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4 -- Mon May 11
Atlanta at Washington, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5 * Wed May 13
Washington at Atlanta TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 15
Atlanta at Washington TBD
Game 7 * Mon May 18
Washington at Atlanta TBD
