Washington Wizards: Is Physicality Good for the NBA?

Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris has brought physicality during the NBA Playoffs. The Wizards will need more of it to stay alive in the series.

Loose ball!

Markieff Morris and Boston Celtic Al Horford demonstrate what playoff hustle looks like as they plow toward the baseline. Horford establishes position – obtains possession of the ball – but Morris promptly throws him into the crowd. However, no fight ensues.

During this second-round series between the Wizards and the Celtics, an elbow knocked Isaiah Thomas’ tooth out during Game 1 and the back of his head produced a stream of blood from Otto Porter’s nose in Game 2. Morris rolled his ankle in Game 1 and has talked non-stop trash to everyone in green.

As the Wizards aim to comeback from their 2-0 deficit, expect the scrappiness to rise, the testosterone to elevate and the whistles to be frequent. If tension rises between these playoff teams and it leads to violence, will that physicality be good for the NBA?

More from Wiz of Awes

Let’s be real.

As sports fans, there is nothing we love more than drama. We value underdogs and Game 7’s, but we also love breakups and genital-kicking. It brings a new perspective to the game that is basketball. A new reason to care about a game. A new reason to love or hate a team. But for the National Basketball Association it should be all about one thing: Money.

Fighting creates storylines. Whether positive or negative, any publicity is good publicity. John Wall gave Jae Crowder two love-taps after the Wizards loss at The Garden on Jan. 11. In their next meeting, the Wizards emerged from the locker room in all-black labeling that game “the Celtics’ funeral,” a game they won 123-108.

Two slaps to Crowder’s right cheek turned a regular season game into a statement game. A game that drew national interest. More people watching means more fans, which (hopefully for the NBA) means more tickets purchased and apparel sold.

What is preventing more emotional responses? Expensive fines. For this “altercation,” Crowder was fined $25K while Wall was fined $15K – for two slaps.

So often, the media brings up the physicality of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Kevin McHale clotheslining Kurt Rambis in Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn and Hall-of-Fame point guard Isiah Thomas being labeled the “Bad Boys” because of their aggressive, bully-basketball playstyle. Reggie Miller bumping Michael Jordan warranting a confrontation and empty benches. Two Hall-of-Famers fighting during a game in February. Why?

They wanted to win. Their emotion and effort not only excited the fans, but defined an attitude of winning. The Lakers and Celtics combined for eight championships from 1980-1990. The Bad Boys went back to back in ’89- ’90.

Reggie… He won two games in the NBA Finals, but he more importantly, he is a Hall-of Famer. My point is fighting expresses anger and violence, but it comes from the love of the game and a players’ yearning to win. The last legitimate brawl I remember was when Nate Robinson and J.R. Smith tackled each other into the photographers during a Nuggets and Knicks game.

That was 2006. Now, players get technical fouls after staring down a player they dunked on. Now, players flop and whine. Should we encourage violence, probably not. However, freedom of expression is a part of the game.

The emotion released on the court is raw and attractive to the public. It displays how much love they have for the game, for the team, the city, the fans and if fighting is a result, let it happen.

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

Markieff leads players in playoff fouls and is known to be a hot-head. Maybe it’s what the Wizards need. They need something because if the Wizards don’t win Game 3, history tells us it’ll be their funeral.