Washington Wizards: 3 Adjustments To Make In Game 5

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Apr 19, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) reacts on the court against the Atlanta Hawks in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

The Washington Wizards return home for a crucial Game 5 against the Atlanta Hawks. Here are three keys.

The Washington Wizards lost two straight road games after jumping out to a 2-0 lead over the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Hawks beat the Wizards 111-101 Monday night, evening the first-round series at 2-2.

The Wizards haven’t looked the same since traveling to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4 of the series. Point guard Jose Calderon and shooting guard Kent Bazemore combined for 26 of the Hawks’ 32 bench points in Game 4.

As a team, the Wizards are scoring 99.5 points per game and shooting 42.0 percent from the field in the past two contests. At home, they averaged 111.5 points and shot 45.2 percent from the floor. Overall, they’re shooting an abysmal 29.7 percent from three this series.

Defensively, they haven’t been the same team either since traveling to the Hawks’ place. While they averaged 9.0 steals and 9.5 blocks per game at home in the first two contests, they have averaged 6.5 steals and 4.5 blocks per game on the road.

Game 5 Wednesday night will be a critical game for the Washington Wizards as they look to get past the Hawks. Gone is the back-and-forth, gone is the trash talk. Now it’s time for the Wizards to put up or they’ll be sent home packing earlier than usual.

Here are three adjustments the Wizards need to make to get back in the win column.