Even before the news that Wizards point guard John Wall has multiple fractures in his left hand and wrist, the Hawks said they won’t approach Saturday’s Game 3 differently if he plays than if the All-Star game starter does not.
After Wall scored 18 points with 13 assists and seven rebounds Sunday in Washington’s Game 1 win, the Hawks didn’t appear to have a unique plan to slow Ramon Sessions when he started and Wall sat out the Wizards’ Game 2 loss.
Sessions led Washington with 21 points — the most he’s scored for the Wizards since he was acquired Feb. 19 from Sacramento for Andre Miller — on 8-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-5 3 pointers.
“No, they play pretty similar,” Hawks point guard Jeff Teague said when asked if the plan would change if Wall misses Saturday’s game in Washington. “They’re both pretty aggressive, pushing it and trying to get out in transition.”
Washington officials announced Thursday afternoon that Wall has five non-displaced fractures in the wrist and hand, which he injured with 3:05 left in the second quarter of Sunday’s 104-98 win.
Wall held his left wrist frequently after falling hard on it as he missed a hard-charging layup, yet did not miss any playing time. He managed 12 of his 18 points, eight of his 13 assists, and five of his seven rebounds after the injury.
His wrist was badly swollen by Thursday, though, and Washington coach Randy Wittman decided about an hour before tipoff that he would not play.
Washington officials did not say whether Wall will play Saturday.
“Honestly, (I) have no idea if John will play,” Washington guard Bradley Beal told ESPN Thursday afternoon. “Praying for the best, but prepared for the worst.”
Wall and Sessions play differently. Wall is one of the NBA’s fastest players with the ball and a lightning-quick attacker. He leads all NBA players with of 12.6 assists per playoff game.
Sessions is more deliberate, and a better shooter.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said that, “The preparation doesn’t really change. (Wall) is such a good player, you have to prepare as if he will play. There’s a lot of things that we do defensively night in and night out, opponent to opponent. We need to be prepared for (Sessions), and we prepared for Wall, and do what we do well.”
The Wizards’ results are much different with Wall (50-34, including Sunday’s win) than without (1-3, including Tuesday’s 106-90 loss).
The Hawks might want to reduce the disparity between points scored by starting backcourts. The Wizards’ combination of Wall-Beal and Sessions-Beal has outscored Teague-Kyle Korver 87-45 in the first two games.
Wall and Beal were 1-2 in scoring against the Hawks in four regular-season games, averaging 21.0 and 16.3 points respectively. Beal scored 28 points in Game 1 and 20 in Game 2.
“I feel like I’m chasing myself around,” Korver said. “It’s like we’re wearing each other out. A lot of screens … he’s a high-energy guy, always in motion. They got some big bodies for screens so that’s a challenge.
“I’ve tried not to shift off of him too much (to help elsewhere on defense), and the three times I did he hit a 3.”
The Hawks have focused more on Washington’s interior game. Wizards power forward Nene, who averaged 15.0 points against the Hawks in three regular-season games, has scored just two points total. Center Marcin Gortat is averaging 11.0.
Teague, who has struggled to 7-of-26 shooting with a sprained right ankle, said the Hawks can win the series with Wall/Sessions and Beal putting up numbers.
“That’s what we want; we’re playing for them to be aggressive,” he said. “We don’t want Paul Pierce and those guys getting easy 3’s and Gortat rolling to the rim. As long as we win, I don’t care.”
Forward Paul Millsap said, “I don’t think our defense is going to change too much whether (Wall) is in or not.”
