Washington Wizards: 3 Things To Improve Before 2017 NBA Playoffs

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Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

OFFENSE FROM THE FRONTCOURT

One of the factors that helped Washington turn its season around in December and January was the play of its frontcourt.

Markieff Morris had a spectacular beginning to the new year. Gortat was rattling off double doubles seemingly every game. Otto Porter was leading the league in three point percentage (although he still is). Yet, something has been different post All Star.

Porter, while still no.1 in three point percentage, is only shooting 37.5% in those last 12 games, as opposed to 46.6% before the break.

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Porter has still contributed in other ways, but the team will need his shooting come playoff time.

Although he leads the league in percentage, teams still routinely leave him wide open on the opposite side of the court, instead focusing off ball attention towards Bradley Beal.

When Porter is hitting his shot, the defense must shade further his way, leading to more driving lanes for the guards.

Gortat’s recent play seems pretty tied to two factors: The emergence of Mahinmi as his backup and fourth quarter center on occasion, and possible fatigue from the high amount of minutes he played early on with Mahinmi hurt.

The averages are somewhat skewed because of him playing 8 less minutes per game, but then again from actually watching his play, that decrease in minutes is certainly warranted.

His true shooting percentages have dropped from 61% to 50% looking at pre-All Star vs. post, and he’s now a -2.7 in his time on the floor, opposed to a +6 before. There was similar play two years ago when Nene would finish the game at center instead of Gortat, causing some wonder if part of his struggles are mental.

Morris’ recent play has been more reminiscent of November than any other month of the season.

Through 12 games post break, Morris is averaging 10.9 points. His lowest month of the season besides March (9.8) is 12.4, meaning he’s going through possibly his worst stretch of the season.

Morris is also struggling from three, where he had been about average before the break (36%). Post break he’s hitting 26% of his three point attempts.

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Looking back at his great play over recent months, Morris had four 20 point games in both January and February, yet his highest scoring game of March so far is 13.

The team has played many more road games this month than road, but Morris’ shots and percentage are down.

On March 7, he had his chance at a revenge game in Phoenix, but was replaced in the lineup by Jason Smith.

Gortat, another former Sun, struggled as well, leaving Mahinmi to finish the game. Morris and Gortat, who average a combined 25 points per game, finished the game with 12 points and were a combined -48 when on the court.

For Washington to advance far in the playoffs, the team needs the front court to return to its high level of play from before the break. Having five starters who have legit offensive repertoires is a huge advantage, and one that Washington will certainly look to exploit. Morris has shown that he’ll “put nuts on the line,” and now the team just needs to see the return of consistency.

Bradley Beal and John Wall have been lights out since the break, making up for slack from the other starters.

Beal is averaging 27 points with TS of 63% since the break, and Wall is at 24.8 points and 11.3 assists. If they can keep up their performances in the playoffs, Washington might have a legit case as the best backcourt in the league.

For a little comparison, Stephen Curry is the only guard in NBA history to average at least 27 points , with a TS of at least 63%, while shooting 40% from three or better. He did that in last season’s unanimous MVP campaign. In fact, only one other player has ever done that: Kevin Durant. Twelve games is certainly a small sample size, but Beal is playing his best basketball at the right time.

If you extend Wall’s numbers after the break for the entire season, he’d be one of the only players in league history to average at least 24.5 points , 11 assists, and 1.5 assists. Oscar Robertson, Tiny Archibald, and James Harden are the others.

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