:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60505901/136213702.0.0.jpg)
| 2011/12 NBA Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| 28-20 | 11-35 | |
| March 24, 2012 | ||
| Verizon Center | ||
| 7 PM | ||
| CSN | ||
| Starters: | ||
| Jeff Teague | PG | John Wall |
| Kirk Hinrich | SG | Jordan Crawford |
| Joe Johnson | SF | Chris Singleton |
| Josh Smith | PF | Trevor Booker |
| Zaza Pachulia | C | Nene |
| PREGAME READING: Peachtree Hoops SB Nation D.C. | SB Nation Atlanta | ||
The Wizards and Hawks will meet for the first time at Verizon Center this season in what will be the first game of the first Wizards back-to-back-to-back of the season. Despite this, Randy Wittman doesn't plan on limiting his players' minutes any more than usual.
"We're not going to do anything drastically different. The guys who are playing, other than John, we'll keep to 33 minutes, 32 minutes. [But] it's a situation that's dictated by the game. I'm not too worried about having to really look at the minutes. We're going to come out and try to win tonight. Tomorrow is another day. We'll look at tomorrow after how we do tonight."
That includes Trevor Booker, who will play despite having plantar fasciitis on his left foot.
"It depends on how he's feeling," Wittman said. "If he's feeling fine, which yesterday he seemed to be really good, we'll monitor that as he gets back out there in the flow."
Other notes:
- Andray Blatche went through a workout before the game, doing defensive drills with bricks in his hands to help improve his strength. "He's working," Wittman said. "That's what he's going to continue to do. We just started. It's a process he's going to continue to do and he's doing a good job at it."
- Hawks coach Larry Drew gave a detailed explanation of how having Nene changes how the Wizards are defended. "Whenever we played this Washington team, our primary concern has always been the transition game, having to get back and make sure we didn't give up a lot of easy fast-break points. With Nene, it gives them a solid big man they can post up, and we're going to have to do a good job of defending the post, not allowing the easy catch, not allowing a lot of paint catches. It's going to be important that we try to get him off his sweet spot."
- Tracy McGrady and
Zaza Pachuliawill not play for the Hawks tonight, while Vladimir Radmanovic is currently a game-time decision. CORRECTION: Pachulia is playing and starting. - The Wizards will honor several former players tonight as part of the second annual Washington Bullets & Wizards Alumni Association reunion. Among those in attendance: Bob Dandridge, Kevin Grevey, Wali Jones, Stan Love, Tom McMillen, Tracy Murray, Truck Robinson, Jerry Sachs, David Vanterpool and Gus Williams.