The Washington Wizards have won 10 of their last 13 games, but have their toughest test on Wednesday night when they host the defending champs.
The Washington Wizards host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday in yet another nationally televised game. With the Warriors healthy and clicking on all cylinders, it’ll take a near perfect performance to take down the defending champs.
Here’s a few things to watch out for as the teams face off for the last time this year.
Protect the ball
This matchup features two eventual playoff teams with aspirations of winning a championship. Execution is what separates the contenders from pretenders in the NBA.
Washington plays near-flawless basketball when they commit to sound passing and dribbling. Backup guard Tomas Satoransky has been a model of consistency in terms of ball protection and leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Wizards exhibit elite execution when he’s on the floor and it’s a big part of why they’ve led the league in assists per game over their last 13.
When the Wizards fail to execute, it’s typically because of a lack of focus and messy passing mechanics. They’ve seen double-digit leads dwindle in back-to-back games during the late stages due to points off careless turnovers.
The Warriors rank top-10 in points off turnovers. The Wizards, meanwhile, allow over 16 points per game off turnovers. It’ll be imperative for Bradley Beal and the other Wizards ball handlers to value possessions and prevent fastbreak chances for the league’s top-ranked scoring team.
Control the pace
Golden State is near the top of the league in every offensive metric. Yes, they have two former MVP’s in Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, but one of the biggest reasons for their success is tempo. Only the Los Angeles Lakers play at faster pace.
Washington is capable of playing faster, but they’re playing with fire if they plan to get in a track meet on Wednesday.
The Warriors are turnover-prone and give up 18.5 points off turnovers. Only four other teams give up more points off turnovers, so if the Wizards’ want to get out in transition at some point, capitalizing off the Warriors occasional casualness is their best opportunity.
Second half adjustments
It’s easy to credit the Warriors success over the past few years to Curry and the rest of his All-Star mates, but basketball savants know that head coach Steve Kerr is just as responsible.
Specifically, his adjustments in the second half are what make Golden State so tough. Recently, teams like the Knicks and Clippers have hung in with the world champs in the first 24 minutes of action only to get blown away in the final 24.
Coach Scott Brooks will have to match Kerr in the second half if Washington wants to pull off the upset.
Tip-off is at 8 p.m. on ESPN.