With the Washington Wizards starting the season off to a slow 0-3 start, some lineup changes may be useful. So why not give sharpshooter Garrison Mathews a chance?
During the middle of last season here at Wiz of Awes, we released an article about young Wizards sharpshooter Garrison Mathews. Mathews, who went undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft before signing a two-way deal with the Wizards last season, played well in limited action. But impressive performances weren’t winning him more minutes.
Well, here we are again, almost a year later. The Wizards are 0-3, which can be attributed to some rather…questionable decisions by Scott Brooks regarding lineups and playing time.
And throughout all of those losses, we have yet to see Mathews take the floor for the Wizards. None of Brooks’ experimental lineups have included the two-way sharpshooter. Mathews was inactive for each of the Wizards’ first three games. So as fans pull their hair out and yell, “What is Scotty doing!?” at the television, we once again ask, where is Garrison Mathews?
Garrison Mathews: By the Numbers
All Garrison Mathews has done since entering the NBA is knock down threes. He has yet to play this season, but in his limited minutes last season, he shot 42 percent from the field. 19 of the 24 shots Mathews made last season were threes.
Now again, this was a small sample size. Mathews appeared in just 18 NBA games last season. He got less than nine minutes in eight of those games. But he made his limited appearances count. When the Wizards were decimated with injury last season during December and January, Mathews exploded for a 28-point game vs. Miami and an 18-point game vs. Portland. Mathews had at least four made threes in each game and shot 66.7 percent from the field both times. You’d think if a guy is knocking down shots like that, he should get more opportunities.
One roadblock that added to Mathews’ lack of playing time last season was a lingering ankle injury. But all reports now are that he’s fully healthy.
The other roadblock was him being on a two-way contract, which limits players to only being with the NBA team for 45 days, and the rest of the season is spent with the G-league affiliate. Mathews is once again on a two-way deal this season. However, converting a two-way contract to a fully guaranteed contract is not all that hard, nor will it cost the Wizards much.
So with all of that being said, if he 1) is healthy and 2) can knock down shots. What is the deal?
Garrison Mathews: Fits Like A Glove
The Washington Wizards have come out 0-3. During the three losses, Scott Brooks has inexplicably gone away from some of the hotter handed players and better situational lineup fits.
The most questionable lineup decision has been the three and four-guard lineups he has played numerous times that feature Russell Westbrook-Ish Smith-Raul Neto-Troy Brown. When those lineups are on the floor, the Wizards have little to no outside shooting threats.
Russell Westbrook is most effective when running with multiple shooters on the floor. Brooks, who has coached Westbrook in the past, should know this. While Westbrook forces the defense to collapse to prevent an easy layup, teammates are wide open for shots along the perimeter. Pretty simple. Except the guys he’s running with on the second unit can’t hit those shots consistently. As a whole, the Wizards do not have a ton of shooting at the moment.
Bradley Beal and Thomas Bryant have shown they are very good compliments to Westbrook. However, besides that, nobody has shot particularly well. That includes sharpshooter Davis Bertans. Although he played well on opening night, he still looks a bit rusty or out of shape out there. Whatever it is, he’s been a bit off.
A 24-year-old with fresh legs who, even in his limited action, has looked automatic from three-point land would perfectly compliment Russell Westbrook on the offensive end.
With Russell Westbrook being a focal point of the offense, the proof is in the pudding that he is best suited with shooters around him. Not even having Garrison Mathews on the floor, AT ALL, next to Westbrook on the second unit seems a bit odd.
Garrison Mathews: Final Thoughts
As the season progresses, and Scott Brooks continues to tinker with lineups, we can only hope that Garrison Mathews gets his shot. He has the floor-stretching ability that the Wizards are so desperately looking for on the second unit. He is the lights-out wing they need.
Year after year, the NBA continues to adapt to new ideas and strategies. Right now, few abilities are more valuable than outside shooting. Look around the league! Everyone is looking for a specialist. The Wizards, themselves, decided to shell out $16 million/year to keep Davis Bertans around.
Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat has continued to show that when playing in a system with good ball movement and players around him who trust him, he can be a lethal contributor on an NBA Finals team. Now, I am not saying that Garrison Mathews will become the next Duncan Robinson, but Robinson’s success shows that players like Mathews, specialists that other teams have to account for, have a real place in today’s league.
Despite all of that, Garrison Mathews has not seen any extended action at any point in his early career. Yet, he knocks down shots every time he is on the floor.
With a team looking for the best possible fits on the fly as they try to make another playoff push, the Wizards may have a hidden gem riding the pine. It’s time to see what Mathews can really do.