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

Jen Julie Smith

May 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) during the fourth quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Wizards continue to make history for an already historic team, the Boston Celtics.

In the Wizards’ first loss of the second round series, they gave up 19 three-point shots, allowing Boston to tie their franchise high of three-point shots in a playoff.

In Tuesday’s loss, Isaiah Thomas also had a historic night, registering 53 points,

The Wizards again started the game with a double-digit lead, ending the first quarter with 42 points, and yet again blew that lead.

So what went wrong?

May 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal (3) tries to recover a ball that Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) knocked loose during overtime in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics Crushed the Wizards.

Literally. This game was much more physical than the first, bodies and blood were flying everywhere. But the Wizards did not match the Celtics physicality.

Markieff Morris who had to leave Game-1, in the second quarter, after rolling his ankle falling on Al Horford’s foot after a jump shot, returned for Game-2. Morris didn’t care what the medical staff assessment was he was walking through that door.

Keef is one player that former Coach Randy Wittman cannot call soft.

On Sunday, Horford took Keef out of the game, and the second Keef was out, Boston smelled blood in the Boston Harbor.

Once Keef is gone, the Celtics know that the Wizards have lost the toughness and edge that Keef brings.

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But in Game 2, just like the regular season, it was Keef who took himself out of the game by getting into early foul trouble.

Again, once Keef sat, the pendulum swung, and the Celtics started to dominate the Wizards, erasing Washington’s double-digit lead.

Celtics Make Dirty Plays look Clean

Much has been talked about whether Horford placing his foot in the position, where a player would land coming down from his jump shot was intentional.

And CSN-Mid Atlantic found archival footage, where Horford while playing for Atlanta, did that same thing to Bradley Beal.

David Aldridge brought up the 2015 incident during the game, with the old adage, “Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is a habit.”

During, the last melee during the regular season, Thomas was nowhere near it and did not even know it was happening.

When the Celtics returned to the locker room, Thomas reminded them that they’re ‘not built for that, Floyd Mayweather who was sitting courtside is, let’s keep it hoop.’

The Celtics are not a dirty team. But Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley are smart enough to make a dirty play to look clean. That’s what they do. And the Wizards have to stop falling for that.

There was a play where John Wall was driving to the basket, and Horford hip-checked him. The ball went out of bounds, Wall put his hands up but the referees didn’t see that. No foul.

Avery Bradley, while the Wizards are running offense towards their basket, pushes Beal, who does not have the ball, before they even reach the timeline.

Bradley Beal argues with the referee, asking where’s the foul in that.

On one of Thomas’ corner-threes, Horford holds Wall in an arm lock, so Wall is unable to guard Thomas. No foul called.

Give the Wizards some credit, they’re out in the open about it when they get physical. For example, Keef asked Horford before the game started, if Horford rolled his ankle on purpose.

A minute into the game and after that exchange, Keef lifted Horford off the ground and threw him onto the Wizards’ owner Ted Leonsis who was sitting courtside.

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Obviously Keef didn’t mean for Horford to have a soft landing onto the Leonsis. But at least he kept it real.

Keef sent Horford a message, whether it was intentional or not, you’re not going to be reckless with me. Horford got the message loud and clear, that he better not make it a “habit”.

When Porter went up for a layup, Crowder just took him out, and Porter was on the floor cradling his arm. The screen panned to Wizards’ President Ernie Grunfeld, who had a few words not fit for print.

The screen also showed Celtics President Danny Ainge rubbing his hands together, when it was called a common foul instead of a Flagrant -1.

While Crowder looked at the referee with bewilderment as if he didn’t do anything wrong.

The aforementioned crew makes dirty plays look clean. The Wizards don’t have to get down in the mud with them, but they have to match their physicality with physicality.

The Celtics just can’t just go around giving body blows to the Wizards

The luck of the Irish has run out. First, the Chicago Bulls lost Rajon Rondo who was able to help the Bulls steal the first two games at the Celtics. Keef makes his own luck.

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.

May 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives against Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) during the fourth quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

No Perimeter Defense

The Wizards can’t let Boston run the same plays allowing Kelly Olynyk, off the bench to be perfect from the three-point line, going 2 for 2. When you have bench players knocking down shots like that you know how much confidence that gives a team.

On the other hand, Bojan Bogdanovic who has gone missing in action these playoffs, and scored a whopping 0 points.

The Celtics did not put on another 3-point clinic like they did on Sunday, but the three’s they hit were crucial and determined the outcome of the game.

During the game, Boston would start defending their man before they even reached the timeline.

Alternatively, the Wizards would leave their man wide open for threes, allowing them to get clean looks.

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50-50 balls.

The Wizards are not only giving up second chance points, but third chances allowing the Celtics to knock down threes.

Wall limited his turnovers this game, and only had 4 compared to 8 in the previous game.

But there was no hustle by the Wizards, no diving for the loose ball, or disrupting the Celtics offense while they waltzed in for easy layups and uncontested shots.

It’s one thing to not contest a shot at the rim, but to not contest the three-point line, while turning Kelly Olynky into the second coming of Larry Bird.

Without revisiting the final seconds of the game, when Wall and Beal both missed their shots, and a chance to win it in regulation, and steal an away game.

It should not have to come down to the final seconds to erase a bad game full of mistakes.

May 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Scott Brooks during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Smith

Towards the end, when Boston was shooting lights out, it was incomprehensible that Jason Smith who was perfect from the three-point line, going 2 for 2, and 4-6 from the field, didn’t return to the game.

Smith has put in quality minutes and has been very valuable for the Wizards down the stretch.

It’s Not John Wall v. Celtics. Wall was the only Wizards player to be above 20 points, carrying the team with 40 points, 13 assists, and 3 steals.

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Keef who had 12 points in 11 minutes, and with his limited time in the game, had 16 points. But Beal only had 14 points, and Porter 13.

Marcin Gortat had a double-double with 14 points, and 10 rebounds.

Very early in the season when the Wizards’ bench was weak, Beal told the team that Coach Brooks is going to start benching players, and play players that want to play. Well Smith should be getting more minutes.

With the exception of Keef and Gortat, Wall is not getting any help from his starters, nor his bench.

Not from Beal who is on a max contract, nor Porter who is slated to receive a max this off-season. Wall’s assist ratio would have been much higher, if the Wizards’ starters could buy a bucket.

May 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Terry Rozier (12) defended by Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal (3) during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

What the Wizards must do right.

There’s still hope for the Wizards to pull this one out.

They must defend both the interior and perimeter. Whatever is going on with you Beal, fix it.

Porter, if you’re not playing for that max contract, at least pretend to play while you’re in the game.

The second-unit has to show up, and not put all the pressure on Wall.

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Keef don’t take yourself out of the game, by getting into early foul trouble. You’re no help to your team, as you find your way to your favorite seat on the bench, while you pick up your usual 2 quick fouls.

If Keef is not in the game, the Wizards’ must not lose their aggression, the Celtics sense that and go in for the kill.

Don’t fall into the trap whereby a Celtic will jump into you or pump fake, drawing an easy foul.

The time is now, there’s no more time left off the shot clock. Either the Wizards figure it out and get it together, or begin this weekend making their vacation plans.

I suggest a place with no cable, so you’re not sitting in your villa watching the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Next: Washington Wizards Allow Thomas to Score 53, Fall in OT Despite Wall’s 40

The Celtics should not be playing like they want this more. The Wizards can’t roll over and hand Boston this series.

Washington either you take your shot, or Boston takes your spot.

So I ask each and every one of you, which way do you want to play this?

Jen Julie Smith

Growing up in Massachusetts, I was a Lakers fan. Now my home is in Washington and my heart is with the Wizards. Wizards keep your mind sound and playoff bound.