Washington Wizards’ Ian Mahinmi To Miss Start of 2017 NBA Playoffs
By Ben Mehic
Washington Wizards’ Ian Mahinmi has dealt with leg injuries all season long and suffered another setback, sidelining him for the start of the NBA Playoffs.
Over the past decade or so, the NBA has become a league dominated by versatility and speed. The successful teams all rely on up-tempo offenses centered around 3-point shooting.
But through the transformation, defense has remained the primary difference between the haves and the have-nots.
This past summer, the Washington Wizards signed Ian Mahinmi to a $64 million deal with hopes of stabilizing the team’s defense. The year prior, Washington saw their defense slip after being a top-10 defensive team under Randy Wittman for three consecutive seasons.
Mahinmi, who’s known for his rim protection and pick-and-roll coverage, was supposed to compete with Marcin Gortat for the Wizards’ starting center position, but knee injuries hindered his start, forcing him to miss much of the beginning of the season.
Scott Brooks relied on Jason Smith, who posted a -7.14 player efficiency rating.
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Washington’s struggles defensively continued and the team plummeted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 2-8 record.
Eventually, the team found its rhythm and won 17 straight at home.
Smith, who was virtually unplayable, got accustomed to the system and became a legitimate 3-point threat.
Once Mahinmi returned to Brooks’ lineup, the Wizards were already in the middle of the playoff picture.
His transition was seamless given the Wizards’ place in the standings and their ability to count on Smith.
After the All-Star break, Mahinmi was averaging 6 points and 5 rebounds on 60 percent shooting, but his contribution went beyond the stat sheet. He solidified the team’s front court rotation, providing relief when Gortat was slumping.
Mahinmi flashed his surprising touch around the basket and became somewhat of a go-to option off the bench. He gained chemistry with Brandon Jennings and the two connected for momentum changing plays every game.
Heading into the playoffs, the Wizards seemed to have gotten what they expected from their prized off-season signing.
But on Wednesday night, Candace Buckner of the Washington Post reported that Mahinmi will be missing the start of the playoffs with another leg injury – this time with a strained left calf.
Buckner reported that Mahinmi will be evaluated in about a week.
Washington will be matched up against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the postseason. Gortat has typically had trouble defending Dwight Howard. The Wizards signed Mahinmi for these sort of purposes; for when they needed a big who could defend physical, athletic centers inside the paint.
Smith, once again, will be thrust into the Wizards’ rotation. While he’ll continue to provide efficient offense, the Wizards will miss Mahinmi’s physical presence and size against Howard.
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An injury like this could end up swinging the entire series, given the nature of the postseason. Mahinmi will likely miss the first three games against Atlanta.