Washington Wizards: Raptors Casey, ‘The Wizards Punched Us’

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Head Coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors speaks with the media during a press conference after the game against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Head Coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors speaks with the media during a press conference after the game against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: Marcin Gortat #13 of the Washington Wizards plays defense against Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: Marcin Gortat #13 of the Washington Wizards plays defense against Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Marcin Gortat

Before the game, Gortat posted a picture that he cut off his Mohawk. What could that mean? Was that a gladiator move done to inspire fear into Raptors and dragons alike?

No, it came courtesy of his Markieff Morris. According to the Polish Machine:

"“Keef for the past week was bringing clippers to the practice and he was trying to shave me after practice, but I was always dipping…You know what, I’m done fixing it. You know, it takes a lot of time to maintain that, so I shaved it. It worked. I was a lot smoother out there.”"

Yes, Gortat was smooth on the floor. If smooth means coming out shooting with an incredibly high efficiency of 8-for-10 from the field.

Smooth, that you even handed out an assist. Smooth that you came out gates looking to rough up any big in your way. Until Keef had to remind you that he was on his team.

Yes, Gortat you played smooth today. The Polish Machine never ran so well this series. Keep rolling over the bigs and banging the boards.

Gortat finished the game with 16 points and 5 rebounds.

During his postgame comments, the first thing Brooks said was–“Glad I didn’t listen to any of you guys”.

I think he meant every other writer except me. A game that was full of such fun, that had to be the funniest moment.

Touche, Mr. Brooks. Touche.

I also had a feeling that he couldn’t wait to take out at least three rows of the media. I loved it, even if I was included. Because it meant that not only were the Wizards fighting for their team on the court, the coach was fighting for them off the court.

It wasn’t that moment. The moment came in the first quarter when I saw—these are the Wizards that we have been waiting for. These are the Wizards that battled in Boston last postseason. Welcome back, we have been waiting for you.