Washington Wizards’ Wall & Morris Make NBA’s Top 60 Clutch Shots List
By Ryan Eugene
Washington Wizards starters Markieff Morris and John Wall were featured in the NBA’s Top 60 Clutch Shots video for the previous season. The Wizards were on the bad side of a few clutch shots as well.
While the 2016-17 NBA season has been over for more than a month now, the NBA has been releasing compilation videos recently. The most recent video featured the most clutch shots of the regular season and postseason combined. The Wizards made the list three times.
Power forward Markieff Morris made the list, at number 43, for his game winner in Portland. The shot made the list despite Morris clearly stepping on the out of bounds line prior to releasing the ball. The NBA, and Morris himself, admitted that the shot shouldn’t have counted, but there was nothing the league could do. The Wiz escaped with a win, during a high-scoring west coast road trip.
John Wall had two plays on the list. First, he came in at number 53 for his game winner against Chicago in January. It was Wall’s first game winning shot with 5 seconds or less in a game. It also kept Washington undefeated at home since mid-December.
His second shot on the list came in at number 8. While Wall’s shot only came in at number 8, it was one of the most clutch shots in franchise history. He gave the Wizards life and extended that series to a pivotal Game 7 in Boston. Because it happened in the postseason, it may have warranted a higher spot, but that can be debated.
Some Wizards lowlights were included in the list. These included Russell Westbrook hitting a three-pointer over Bradley Beal to send the game into overtime, a game the Thunder would win, at number 57. Kawhi Leonard also hit a game winning basket over Otto Porter at number 59.
A shot I had forgotten about, and wanted to forget about, was Thaddeus Young, taking Markieff Morris to the rim for a floater at number at number 40. Morris also got bested by his twin brother Marcus Morris on a tip in at number 20.
Lastly, among the lowlight, was the absurd bank turn-around three-pointer by one LeBron James at number 4. It probably was the most difficult of any of the shots hit, and was especially defeating for the Wizards.
While Bradley Beal and Otto Porter didn’t make the list, they had plenty of clutch shots during the season, including towards the end of that game against the Cavaliers. James by the way, like Morris, may have stepped out of bounds prior to his shot attempt.
Next: Wizards 2017 Season Review: John Wall
Next season, expect Beal and Porter to have more chances at making the 2017-18 list, and Wall to add more clutch baskets as well.