Wiz of Awes
Fansided

Washington Wizards: The Wizards are Who We Thought They Were

By Garrison Cole

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 17: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors defends against the Washington Wizards in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round in the 2018 NBA Play-offs at the Air Canada Centre on April 17, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Wizards 130-119. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 17: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors defends against the Washington Wizards in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round in the 2018 NBA Play-offs at the Air Canada Centre on April 17, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Wizards 130-119. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Wizards are now 0-2 against the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Playoffs. For anyone thinking that they can dig themselves out of this hole, I’m going to give you a dose of reality.

The Washington Wizards spent the better part of 48 hours lamenting their porous defense after losing to the Raptors in Game 1. In that matchup, Toronto made 16 three-pointers on 30 attempts in where the Wizards simply did not guard the three-point line.

Game 2 was not any different as the Wizards defense showed little resistance on the way to 130-119 defeat. The Raptors hung 44 points and 7 three-pointers in the first quarter and didn’t look back, despite a comeback attempt from the Wizards.

Now down 0-2, the Wizards will now head home to lick their wounds and attempt to find a way to climb back into this series.

After the game, Washington predictably said all the right things after the defeat, noting they were in this same situation against Boston last year. They would draw on that experience this time against the Raptors.

Players and fans alike have done that frequently this season, harping on the season a year ago in which the Wizards played so well and gave this season such high expectations.

However, with 84 games now played this season it’s time for all to realize this sobering truth—the Wizards are who we thought they were.

Throughout a mediocre season in which the Wizards have dropped too many games to count against sub .500 opponents, we’ve been conditioned that come playoff time this team would resemble the one that we all saw a season ago. Shame on us.

Shame on us to think that a team that had issues way before John Wall banged knees in a home tilt against the Dallas Mavericks, would suddenly flip an imaginary switch and become world beaters in the second season.

Shame on all involved who thought after the Wizards lost games against the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic—teams trying to lose, would run through a really, really good Raptors team.

This team has been teetering all season long. Sure there have been bright spots. The play of Bradley Beal, Mike Scott, and Tomas Satoransky all come to mind, but there have been sore spots too.

The starting point guard and the starting center, Marcin Gortat, had a mini-Twitter feud. There was the report that Jodie Meeks (yes, that Jodie Meeks) wanted to be traded because of lack of playing time.

Shame on all who witnessed all of that and still thought the Wizards would rise up and play much better than their regular season form.

This video from Game 2 encapsulates it all.

There is a saying that says when someone shows you who they are, believe them. So why would any level-headed individual look at the pathetic, uninspired, disheartening way the Wizards played the regular season and believe that there would be a change?

What has this team done to deserve that type of faith? What in their recent and not so recent history have they done to warrant this type of faith?

They haven’t and we all need to come to grips with that reality. This team as currently constructed, from what we’ve seen, is nowhere near good enough to upset a team hitting on all cylinders.

Don’t shoot the messenger.

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