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Washington Wizards: 4 Takeaways from the Wizards’ Game 7 Loss to Boston

By Erik Threet II

May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) shoots the ball past Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during the second half in game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) shoots the ball past Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during the second half in game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Wizards players can’t be happy with Monday night’s Game 7 outcome. Now they’ll have five months to think about what went wrong in the series and the final game. Many things played into the loss, but here are four takeaways.

Game 7: You win or you watch.

One team continues their quest for a championship while the other painfully observes. So often, Washington D.C. sports teams are subjected to this pain – Monday night was no different.

Wizards fans saw history repeat itself as they fell to Boston, 115-105.

What shouldn’t surprise you: The home team won, again. If you had a dime for every game the home team won between these teams this season, you’d have $1.10. The home team won all 11 games by an average of 14.3 points per game.

What should surprise you is my first takeaway from Game 7.

Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk, the hairy guy – who averages only nine points – off the bench, scored 26 points in 28 minutes. Celtics fans can thank Amir Johnson’s foul trouble for Olynyk’s boost in playing time, but regardless, Kelly was the hero Game 7.

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He used the dribble to take advantage of Ian Mahinmi, a poor perimeter defender, early in the game; he took advantage of space by knocking jumpers down late. In the fourth quarter alone, he had 14 points, two assists and two 3-pointers.

Olynyk finished layups in traffic and scored off pick-and-pops. But more importantly, he played elite defense on the block and was one of the reasons Marcin Gortat finished with two made field goals (FG).

What was more alarming than Kelly Olynyk being a significant factor in a Game 7, Wizards coach Scott Brooks made NO adjustments.

Olynyk had his way in the fourth quarter because he was left open. So much attention was devoted to Isaiah Thomas – rightfully so – and Monday night, Olynyk reaped all the benefits.

He outscored the Wizards bench, 26-to-5, by himself and the Wizards lack of bench production is my next takeaway. 

Bench Production

Does anybody want to claim the Wizards bench?

That’s not my bench. Five points in four quarters? There’s no way that’s my bench.

The Celtics’ bench outscored the Wizards’ bench 48-to-5. Washington’s bench has been one of its weaknesses throughout the season, but this performance was decrepit.

Bojan Bogdanovic made the only bench FG in the first half, but couldn’t guard anybody from any position. Because he and the other members of the bench were so disappointing, the starters basically played the whole game – on the court for an average of 40.8 minutes in Game 7. This fatigue was visible down the stretch.

Though the scoring advantage is very apparent, Boston’s defense made the biggest difference. Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown played with high energy and limited the Wizards backcourt by taking away their space.

They were cutting dribblers off without fouling and that forced errant passes. John Wall and Brandon Jennings were the main parties afflicted, but my next takeaway wasn’t.

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Bradley Beal

Bradley “Real Deal” Beal was the only positive takeaway from the Wizards’ season ending loss.

His footwork was sexy. When he couldn’t get to the rim, he pivoted to perfection creating enough room to get off his jump shot.

He finished with 38 points on 55 percent shooting. In the two elimination games the Wizards had this series, he averaged 35.5 points per game, but has received no love.

All the love went to the face of the franchise, who hit the game-winner in Game 6. However, if the final takeaway had the second half he did Game 6, Monday’s result might have been different. 

John Wall

John Wall still runs D.C. The fans will still praise him for his efforts this season. However, he must be held accountable for his pitiful performance.

It was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals for a team that hasn’t been there since 1979. They were coming off a comeback win, at home, against a team they don’t like. This was the biggest game since the Bullets became the Wizards.

As the leader of this team: WALL MUST BE PRESENT.

He must show out in the moments that mean the most. This was a million-dollar moment not only for this franchise, but for this city. And in the final 19 minutes of this game, Wall scored no points.

Out of the 11 shots and seven 3-pointers he shot, nothing went in. These shots were not contested either. The Celtics let him shoot – they challenged him – and they won. Wall has worked tirelessly on his jump shot, improving every year, but this game demonstrated that the mission is not complete. Unfortunately for him, the Wizards’ season is complete.

Next: Wizards Fall to Celtics in Game 7, 115-105

A season consisting of the most wins since 1979. A season of growth. But once again, it was a season where the Wizards were “so close.”

The Celtics won, so the Wizards will watch.

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