On Monday, the Washington Wizards traveled to Utah to take on the Jazz, their first game of a five-game road trip. The Wizards suffered their second-worst loss in franchise history, falling to the Jazz 116-69.
The Washington Wizards took on the Utah Jazz on Monday, and played the entire game off-key. They would suffer their second-worst loss in franchise history, falling to the Jazz, 116-69.
The Wizards allowed the Jazz to set the pace, and by doing so they played the Jazz’s game and not their own.
It wasn’t a slow Jazz
Utah was just too fast for Washington. The Wizards couldn’t keep up with the Jazz, who started off the game guns blazing.
Every time a Wizard player attempted to guard their man, they were either left flat-footed or Utah passed the ball quickly. The Wizards were chasing their opponents, and were unable to stay in front of them.
Utah didn’t even give Washington time to guard them, with their quick pace and even faster ball movement. It looked like a game of “keep away”, as the Jazz passed the ball around, and the Wizards running around the court to keep up.
The quickness of the Jazz, essentially removed the element of defense from the Wizards.
Utah did their homework. They knew that John Wall sets the uptempo pace, and without him the Wizards normally play at a slow pace.
Being without their conductor, who orchestrates their offense, the Wizards were completely flat.
Marcin and Markieff still out of rhythm
Neither Marcin Gortat, who is not known for his quickness, nor Markieff Morris, who’s still not fully recovered from hernia surgery, provided a formidable frontcourt.
Gortat was scoreless, but did manage to pull down 7 rebounds. Wall does make the game easier for the Polish Machine, dishing him the well-timed assists for an easy layup.
However, without his floor general, Gortat no longer plays with a certain confidence. He gets frustrated too easy, taking himself out of the game.
While Keef had 11 points, he didn’t provide any interior defense, with only 1 rebound. Albeit, he’s not 100 percent yet, and is still in recovery mode.
Until he’s fully recovered, maybe the quicker Kelly Oubre should start. While moving Otto Porter back over to the four.
Keef would still get playing time, running with the second unit, and the starters later on during the game. Once he’s fully operational, he would return to the starting lineup.
Keef’s needed down the stretch, so there’s no need to put unnecessary wear and tear on his body.
When Keef is fully healthy, he’s one of the best power forwards in the league. Maybe, as he said, he just came back too early after surgery.
Wizards don’t have the magic touch
The Wizards were too slow for the Jazz to guard them on the defensive end. However, when the ball was in the Wizards’ hands, they tried to play the Jazz’s fast pace game.
On the offensive end, was the opportunity for Washington to slow the game down. However, when the Wizards had the ball, they passed it around about twice, then jacked up a quick shot.
Instead of taking their time, and giving everyone a few more touches, so they could take their best shot, the Wizards settled for the quick sloppy shot. That’s not the Wizards game–run and gun.
The Wizards let the Jazz control the tempo on both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor. Therefore, at no time did the Wizards have control of the game.
The Wizards couldn’t keep up with the Jazz defensively. However, they controlled the pace of their own offense, but chose to play at the Jazz’s pace to their peril.
Bradley Beal had another off night, which could be due to the eye injury he suffered against the Pistons. He ended the game with 11 points. While Porter led all Wizards’ scorers with 14 points and 6 rebounds.
Rudy Gobert, who returned to Utah’s lineup, after missing 11 games due to a leg injury, had 4 points and 10 rebounds. While Alec Burks, off the bench, led all scorers with 27 points.
On Tuesday, the Wizards continue their road trip taking on the Portland Trail Blazers.