Washington Wizards: A Look At 4 Potential Playoff Matchups

Washington Wizards: A Look At 4 Potential Playoff Matchups

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:16 p.m. ET

Mar 22, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) shoots as Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 104 – 100. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Wizards have clinched a spot in the playoffs, their fifth appearance since the 2006-07 season. However, the playoff race is heating as their current playoff opponent is a toss up.

The Washington Wizards have overachieved this season, considering the odds. Under first-year head coach Scott Brooks, they have looked like a top team in the Eastern Conference to the surprise of many.

Point guard John Wall and shooting Bradley Beal have finally managed to co-exist on the floor. They have emerged as one of the best backcourts in the NBA with a 45-28 record to show for it.

ADVERTISEMENT

If they can win five or more games in their final nine of the season, they'll will have their first 50-win season since 1978-79, back when they were the called the Washington Bullets.

The Wizards still have a chance at moving up in the playoff picture. But the Boston Celtics are on a three-game winning streak and the Toronto Raptors on a five-game winning streak of their own, making the final stretch of games an important one for Washington.

The Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers are currently tied first place in the East. The Raptors trail the Wizards by just a game for third place in the Eastern Conference. Below them, the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks all have identical records at 37-36.

While all three teams have identical records, the Hawks are fifth, Pacers at sixth and Bucks seventh in the East. With a few games left, all that could change. Especially with the Miami Heat lurking at eighth, two games behind the Hawks, Pacers and Bucks.

As the regular season comes to a close, here's a look at four potential playoff matchups for the Washington Wizards.

Mar 17, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have been a conundrum in the Eastern Conference and are currently in seventh place. They were on a three-game winning streak before losing 109-94 to the Chicago Bulls on March 26.

Now, they are 37-36 despite the strong play of Most Improved Player candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is averaging 23.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.7 steals per contest this season for the Bucks.

wizards

Hoops Habit 5dWashington Wizards: Current Skid Shows Wizards Have Work To Do

More headlines around FanSided:

5d - 2016-17 NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Take No. 1, Warriors Return In Week 225d - Washington Wizards Should Consider Resting Starters Before 2017 NBA Playoffs6d - Boston Celtics Show the Wizards Who's Boss6d - Washington Wizards Three Takeaways: Washington Walloped by the Boston Celtics1 w - Washington Wizards Mailbag Monday: Why Marcin Gortat Could Be Traded In The Off-SeasonMore News at Wiz of Awes

Against the Washington Wizards, Milwaukee went 1-3. The Wizards won three games by an average of 5.3 points while their only loss was by 27 points.

Washington won both games at home, but split the road games, winning one and losing one. While it bodes well they won during the regular-season series, in a seven-game series, containing The Greek Freak is priority No. 1.

Antetokounmpo played in three of four games against the Wizards this season, but he averaged 29.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 61.3 percent from the floor.

He scored a game-high 39 points along with eight rebounds, six assists and two steals in the Bucks lone win as well.

In the other matchups, he was held to less than 30 points and the Washington Wizards won. Granted, the Wizards were without their newest acquisitions Bojan Bogdanovic and Brandon Jennings. With Jennings and Bogdanovic on the roster, the matchup favors the Wizards even more.

Mar 23, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat have been one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference next to the Washington Wizards. The Heat are 25-13 since the start of January, shaking off a 10-24 start.

Led by point Goran Dragic and center Hassan Whiteside, the Heat are fifth in opponents points per game, allowing just 102.1 points per contest.

    With a 35-38 record, they have a chance to move up a few spots despite being in eighth place currently. They're 1.5 games back of the Hawks, Pacers and Bucks for fifth place. However, the Heat have lost their last two games, including a 112-108 loss to the Celtics on March 26.

    On the other hand, the Heat are 2-0 against Washington already this season. The Washington Wizards lost 114-111 back on Nov. 19 and 112-101 on Dec. 12. The Wizards lost to them earlier in the season as part of their slow start.

    But with a different rotation and a renewed focused, there could be a different outcome this time around.

    The Wizards still have to play Miami twice, once at home and once on the road. With two of their remaining games of the season coming against the Heat, the Wizards should expect a playoff-like atmosphere come April 8 and 12 when the two teams meet.

    As the final game of the season, the Wizards and Heat could give us preview of a potential No. 3 vs. No. 6 first-round matchup in the Eastern Conference.

    Mar 24, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

    Indiana Pacers

    The Indiana Pacers are another team that has sleep-walked through the NBA season. In head coach Nate McMillan's first season as head coach, the Pacers have a 37-36 record.

    It doesn't look like they'll surpass their 45-win total a season ago under Frank Vogel, but Paul George and Myles Turner have still managed to play well of late.

    George leads the Pacers this season in scoring with 22.6 points a contest along with 6.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 66 games. Turner is averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 assists in his second NBA season.

    Turner has emerged as a force in the paint on both ends for the Pacers. George has been a team's leader

      The Pacers have a 12-22 record against teams who would currently qualify for the 2017 NBA Playoffs. The Washington Wizards posted a 3-1 series record against the Pacers during the regular season as well.

      Washington won twice during the Pacers six-game losing streak dating back to Feb. 16.

      After dropping their first matchup 107-105 on Dec. 19, the Wizards have won the last three meeting between the teams. In the Wizards most recent win 111-98 at Indiana, Otto Porter led the way with 25 points on 6-of-10 shooting from three.

      All five Wizards starters scored in double figures, outscoring the Pacers starters 97-59.

      If the Wizards face Indiana in the first round, they'll have a favorable matchup on their hands. It will allow Washington to use its depth to its advantage in pushing for a deep run in the playoffs.

      Mar 22, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) shoots as Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 104 – 100. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

      Atlanta Hawks

      The Atlanta Hawks are slumping as the end of the regular season quickly approaches. They have lost seven straight games and currently have a record of 37-36.

      The Hawks are 3-7 in their last 10 games. They lost 107-92 to the Brooklyn Nets on March 26. The loss marks the sixth time in seven games Atlanta has failed to score 100 points or more in a game.

      More from Hoops Habit

        During the regular season, the Washington Wizards posted a 3-1 record against the Hawks. The Wizards allowed just 98.0 points per game when facing Atlanta this season.

        In the Wizards' 112-86 win back on Jan. 27, the Hawks shot just 36.1 percent from the floor and 29.0 percent from the three-point line as a team. Otto Porter paced the Wizards once again, this time with a double-double, registering 21 points and 11 rebounds.

        In their 104-100 victory on March 22, the Wizards willed their way to a win behind 28 points from Bradley Beal and 22 points from John Wall. They also out-rebounded the Hawks 55-44 behind a 10-rebound performance from Ian Mahinmi, five of them on the offensive glass.

        It bodes well for the Washington Wizards, showing they can beat the Hawks in a close game as well in blowout fashion. The Wizards are prime for a playoff push.

        In the first round of the NBA Playoffs, they've posted 4-0 series wins and 4-1 series wins in their past two playoff appearances.

        With homecourt advantage on the horizon, a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks could produce a favorable result. After all, it was the Atlanta Hawks who eliminated the Washington Wizards 4-2 in the 2015 Eastern Conference semifinals in their last playoff meeting.

        share