Game 1: Keys for the Wiz

As the Wizards get set to take on Indiana tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the vibe of the team hasn't been more positive since... well, maybe the minutes leading up to drafting Kwame Brown in 2001 -- before Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Joe Johnson, Jason Richardson, Zach Randolph... okay, you get the point.

A 4-1 sweep of the Bulls proved all but one ESPN analyst wrong and set new standards for this young team that is seemingly done "building."

The Wiz are for real, and here's why:

1. Travor Ariza is a defensive playmaker. If he can D up LeBron, Paul George isn't really a question. Will George get his 20+ each game? Most likely. But it will be a fatiguing process, with Ariza contesting every jumper, drive, and dish.
2. Nene and Gortat are too much for Hibbert and David West. I've said it before, but the Wizards' big men compliment each other so well. Nene is more polished offensively; Gortat gets scrappy points off boards and backdoor cuts. Both give 30-35 real minutes each game and have been altering offenses all season. Obviously, this isn't news to Indiana -- the key here is how Hibbert responds after a rough series - although relatively productive Game 7 - against the Hawks sin Al Horford.
3. PG John Wall is the polar opposite to SG Lance Stephenson, in a way that unquestionably favors Washington. Wall is a calm, controlled leader who does it all and doesn't create unnecessary controversy on or off the court. Stephenson isn't afraid to let his emotions show, despite being, at the end of the day, an average guard at best. When he's hot, he's a star -- when he's not, he's dysfunctional and takes away from the good of his team. Good thing the Pacers have PG George Hill to balance him out and handle some of the offensive load when Stephenson's shot isn't falling.

The Wizards deep bench may meet its match with Indiana's PF Scola, C Mahinmi, SF Turner, and PG C.J. Watson accustomed to playing 15-25 minutes each on any given night.

The headlining story for Indy has been Hibbert's resurgent Game 7, in which he stayed out of foul trouble to log 31 minutes, scoring 13 and collecting 7 boards and 5 blocks to disrupt any offensive that the Hawks thought they had.

Hibbert must return to his 2012-13 form if the Pacers want to maintain home court advantage.

Not surprisingly, four ESPN analysts predict the Wizards to win the series -- all believe it will take 6 games. That's only 25% of ESPN's experts, but the takeaway here is that the Wiz are finally getting some respect. Whether it's based off their recent play, the slump the Pacers' have been staggering through, or a mix of both is all heresy.

All I know is that tonight at 7:00, I'll be donning the nation's colors as John Wall and His Friends take their game to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to put on another show for the NBA, this time against the #1 seed in the East.

Prediction: 99-92, Wizards

NBA Playoff Implications, Quick Movie Review

What a relief it is to have a series wrapped up while everyone else is either trying to close out a 3-2 lead or come back from a 2-3 deficit. Tonight is HUGE for the Wizards, as the Hawks try to close out the series against the first seeded Pacers in Atlanta.

Let's talk about Atlanta.

At the end of March, the Hawks had no business even eying the playoffs. A six-game losing streak was finally snapped by a March 31 victory against the lowly 76ers, a team that tied the NBA record with a 26-game losing streak. Had the Hawks lost this one, the team and fan base's energy would have been all but drained.

Instead, that W sparked a 7-3 record over the last 10 games to lift Atlanta -- despite a 38-44 record -- into the Eastern Conference playoffs as an 8 seed.

Clearly, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague had other plans for their 2014 season.

Now, one win away from becoming the fifth eight-seed in NBA history to knock off a #1 - the most recent coming in 2011 when the Grizzlies beat the Spurs in the Western Conference.

The difference in this series, in my eyes based off the couple of games that I've watched, has started in the post. Millsap has scored in double-digits in every game. On the flip-side, Hibbert has zero 10+ games scoring through the first five games.

Guards have a significantly higher opportunity to dominate and create space when the inside game is working. Even without Al Horford (torn pectoral), the Hawks have enough presence in the paint to disturb Indiana's Hibbert and David West - although West has been a veteran thus far, putting up a 13-5-5 line of averages in the postseason.

I see the Hawks riding momentum and a home crowd to bust out early and send the reeling Pacers home to their couches until next season.

Prediction: 93-88, Hawks


On an unrelated note, I watched Don Jon last night after my girlfriend enthusiastically informed me that it was finally available for Netflix streaming.

Honestly, I had never heard of the film until she introduced me. Then I saw the cast of JGL (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Scarlett Johansson and all other priorities instantly faded to grey for the evening.

The premise: JGL is a New Jersey guido stud portrayed as a grown frat star, bringing home someone different at his leisure. Then he meets Scarlett and instantly turns into a relationship kind of guy, despite her demanding, high-maintenance style of living.

There's a problem, though...

JGL is a porn addict. He likes porn more than the real deal, and it's not even close. Some days, he watches more than 40 videos -- that's after starting with still pictures as a warm up.

Honestly, JGL did an incredible job in both his acting and directing (but what else would you expect from the guy who can pull off a dying cancer victim in 50-50 and Christian Bale's go-to as Robin in Batman?).

It definitely isn't your average chick flick. There is actual character development.

A short 90 minutes flies by and the ending is a good one. I recommend it to supplement your 10-hour weekend binge sesh of whatever drama you've run into on Netflix recently.

TLDR;

1. Hawks will pull off the win tonight
2. Wizards get home-court and a shot at an Eastern Conference Finals matchup
3. Don Jon is worth the 90 minute investment
4. It finally stopped monsooning on the East coast.