Washington Wizards: Anatomy of a Wizards’ Loss

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May 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal (3) shoots guarded by Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) during the first quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Bradley Beal.

Beal did not show up in any shape, form or fashion. He did attempt more three-point shots, which is good, but he went 1-9 from behind the arc.

Basketball is 50% mental, and 50% talent. Mentally, it was as if Beal never even checked himself into the game.

Last week, during the Wizards’ first round against the Hawks before Game 5, Beal said, it’s like they’re playing against thousands, when they play in Atlanta.

It doesn’t matter how many people are in the away crowd, you’re only playing against the 5 people on the floor.

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Beal let the ruckus Boston crowd take him out of the game. That lack of mental toughness that Beal showed in Game 2 doesn’t bode well.

If he doesn’t shake out of the mental funk, then there is no way he’s going to be able to shake himself out of the shooting slump that he is in.

Beal did a great job getting to the free throw line, and was 5 for 6 from the charity stripe. Getting to the line and making your free throws are good practice to help your outside shots to start falling.

Yet, Beal ended the night with only 14 points and 5 rebounds.

Otto Porter.

Credit must be given to Porter, because he returned to the game after blood cascaded from his nose. The physical toughness on Porters’ part is definitely there.

Porter also finds himself in a shooting slump. Porter appears to be a ghost of the one-time, number one 3-point shooter in the league this season.

Although Porter only had 2 free-throw attempts, he was perfect from the charity stripe, but only had 13 points to end the game.

Wizards did not shoot well

Washington, as a whole, was terrible offensively. They did not match the Celtics’ new-found fire power.

The Celtics second-unit combined for 33 points, while the Wizards bench only had 22 points. Those 22 points only came from two players, Kelly Oubre, Jr. and Jason Smith.

The Wizards were woefully undermanned against Boston, because Washington’s bench did not show up.

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Just recently, David Aldridge recounted a story about the 2000 Celtics, in his Morning Tip:

““But Rick Pitino was in no laughing mood after his Boston Celtics lost a buzzer beater to the Toronto Raptors in 2000, when asked how he planned to keep his players’ spirits up.

“Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans,” he said. “Kevin McHale is not walking through that door. And Robert Parish is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they’re gonna be gray and old. What we are is young, exciting, hard-working, and going to improve.””

The toughness that the Wizards’ collectively lose when Keef is off the floor, just opens the door for the Celtics to attack the Wizards. Again, the Wizards allowed the Celtics to bring the fight to them.

The aggressiveness that Keef brings to the Wizards, walks off the court with him during the game.

That loss of aggression is hurting Washington, and they’re getting crushed inside the paint, both offensively and defensively.

When Coach Scott Brooks wasn’t mic’d up, he was probably saying, “Nene isn’t walking through that door”.

If your outside shots aren’t falling, looking at you Beal, Porter and Bogdanovic, then attack the rim.

You either make your shot, draw a foul, or try to get the rebound. But at least give the team a fighting chance.

Wall, Keef, Gortat, Oubre and Smith showed up. But 5 players do not a playoff team make, especially against the number 1 seeded Celtics with a deep bench.

There was no fight in the Wizards. None at all.

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Washington Wizards: Anatomy of a Wizards’ Loss – Round 2

By Jen Julie Smith | May 3, 2017

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