Wiz of Awes
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Washington Wizards 2016-2017 End of Season Wiz of Awes Awards

By Ryan Eugene

May 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (middle) is introduced prior to a game against the Boston Celtics in game six of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 92-91, and tied the series at 3-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (middle) is introduced prior to a game against the Boston Celtics in game six of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 92-91, and tied the series at 3-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 28, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) and forward Jason Smith (14) and forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) celebrate a basket by Morris in the first quarter of their game against the Atlanta Hawks in game six of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) and forward Jason Smith (14) and forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) celebrate a basket by Morris in the first quarter of their game against the Atlanta Hawks in game six of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Charlie Gibson (@cgibson1619)

Winner: Otto Porter

Honestly when Otto Porter shot 45% from three after the All-Star break last year I thought it was basically a fluke. My one complaint with Otto was that if your point guard isn’t a knock down three-point shooter than your small forward better be.

Well Otto just shot 43.4% on a career high 4.3 three-point attempts per game.  Having two 40% three-point shooters in the starting lineup makes the Wizards offense much more potent.  

Porter was equally as efficient from two, in the paint, and in transition. He also turned the ball over an absurdly few number of times (43 total turnovers during the regular season.)  The Wizards have to keep him.  

Ryan Eugene (@ButterschotchT)

Winner: Jason Smith

Jason Smith surprised me in a variety of ways this season. This isn’t to say that I foresaw Ian Mahinmi getting hurt or Otto Porter earning a max-contract early in the season. Smith simply did things I didn’t think possible.

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First off, he started the season so terribly. He played in14 November games, shooting an abysmal 34.8% on his 46 field goal attempts. That’s definitely unexpected from a big man.

He also, attempted a only 3 three-point attempts in October-January, meaning his attempts were not out of his comfort zone. This also left us to assume that he would stay in the mid-range area or closer.

Instead, Smith improved his game over the season, and ended up shooting 52.9 % on his field goals.

The most surprising thing however, was that he ended up attempting 78 three-pointers, making 47.4%. That was the highest on the team, and the 78 attempts meant he attempted over 1 a game.

In an April win against Charlotte, Smith hit five of nine three point attempts. A week or so earlier he went four of ten against the Clippers. He took only 16 three-point attempts in his prior season with the Magic.

He doesn’t need to make this the featured part of his game, but the shooting was a nice added touch, to a guy who already proved worth his 3 year/$16 Million deal.

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