Washington Wizards: Wizards Take Game 3 from the Raptors
By Joye Pruitt
The Washington Wizards went home and took care of business as Toronto has for the past two games to start the first-round series.
The Washington Wizards went home and took care of business as Toronto has for the past two games to start the first-round series. It was a must-win for the Wizards, because dropping three straight to the Toronto Raptors would have done all but seal Washington’s chances of going home early.
With that in mind, both John Wall and Bradley Beal led the team to victory with a 122-103 win at home. The Eastern Conference Playoffs has stepped up this year in parity with the Raptors looking to lay claim.
The Wizards proved in Game 3 that they have enough pride in themselves to show up at home. That’s step one. The Toronto Raptors have a one-game series lead and home-court advantage, which they have taken care of.
Still, in the light of a possible elimination Game 4, players like Kelly Oubre, Jr. and Otto Porter brought back an energy that made the Wizards contenders against the Raptors to begin with. The matchup looks geared to be what fans thought it would.
Series has yet to start
The consensus is that an NBA Playoffs game does not start until a team wins on the road. Neither team has toppled that task. As complete as the Toronto appeared at home, the Wizards were able to take away their offensive spacing and movement. Washington had the opportunity in the first two games to steal a road win but couldn’t close on either chance. The Raptors led early in the Capital One Arena, but when the Wizards were able to capsize Toronto, they did not look back. A few runs allowed the Raptors to close in offensively, but home court for both teams is still protected.
There is no more 1A and 1B. Wall is the alpha male on this team. When things are going sour for the Washington Wizards, the question often surfaces, “Who’s Washington’s leader?” After watching both Wall and Beal in the first few games, that question has been answered. Wall is the leader of this team.
See, normally the stars on a team will show out in the postseason, regardless of the venue. Home or away, the more skilled players in the league perform in high pressure situations. Wall often accepts the challenge. Specifically, in Game 2 against the Toronto Raptors. The Wizards were out of contention for primarily most of the game. Until deep into the 3rd quarter when Wall started to play like a man on fire and put the team on his back. He got to the free throw line consistently and stayed aggressive. Beal, on the other hand, went 0-of-4 in the fourth quarter.
Beal was disengaged and out of sorts throughout the entire game so much so that Coach Scott Brooks needed to have a heart to heart with both of his All-Star guards going into Game 3.
At home for Washington is where the role players should have showed up – as they did. As did Beal. He came out, swung early and connected from beginning to end. Beal finished with 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. He returned to true form – at home. There should be no more confusion. Wall is numero uno. At least while he’s there.
Playoff Mike Scott is becoming a thing
It’s a 2018 super-cliché, but Mike Scott is stepping forward night in and out for the Washington Wizards. In Game 3, he was active defensively, significantly in the paint. Scott is great on defensive switches, like those that pit him against Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas all in one offensive Toronto run. He runs the floor and keeps the defense rotating, giving playmakers like Wall the room to create. Scott can even clean house with a true three-point shot from either corner, hitting 6-of-7 from beyond the arc in this series thus far.
As underrated as he is, it would be a mistake to move him to the starting lineup. Scott Brooks was previously rumored to consider this option. It may interrupt any chemistry or confidence Marcin Gortat has with the team. However, he should get more minutes with Wall and Beal on the floor to try to brand a different method of offense. When he’s present, Toronto feels it.
Toronto is still the same Toronto, sort of. Dwane Casey and the Raptors came together and decided that it was time for a change. Well, Coach Casey decided it was time for a change and he got his stars to buy in. It was shaky at first, as the stars have publicly attested to. Still, the results are undeniable.
The Raptors are ridiculously potent, offensively. They have figured out how to win without DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry having to play like monsters every night.
But, there was a glimpse of the old Raptors in Game 3. The Washington Wizards were aggressive and overly chirpy – and it worked. Beal poked at Valanciunas after an offensive foul when he tried to take possession of the ball, assumedly to set up a fast break. That resulted in a delay of game, which is where Serge Ibaka and John Wall were involved in a mutual disagreement of their own.
The Wizards were in the Raptors’ space and they were feeling it. Scott took up a lot of room around Ibaka and the Raptors’ forward only attempted four shots. He attempted 11 in Games 1 and 2. Washington took away the open looks and changed the pace of the game. When the game got physical, the Wizards had an advantage and that should be a bit part of the plan going into Game 4.
Washington will probably even up the series in Game 4. They found their center at home. A return to routine helped them put an aggressive and efficient brand of basketball on the floor that resulted in the Wizards outrebounding the Raptors for the first time in the series (39 rebounds).
Otto Porter was more productive behind the three-point line as well. Washington needs that from him to air out the Raptors’ defense. At least one of the things. Beal’s return to form at home should give Wall the help he needs offensively to stave off Toronto for one more game in Washington.