Play-in Preview: The 3 keys to victory for the Washington Wizards
By Alex Saenz
Washington Wizards keys to victory: Attention to detail off the ball
The Celtics don’t put any pressure on the rim. For the third time in four seasons, the Celtics finished in the bottom-seven in the NBA of frequency of shots at the basket, per Cleaning the Glass. They survive on an unhealthy diet of tough shots, which is why Washington can’t afford to gift them easy layups or “system buckets.” So what does this mean?
First off, communication and staying connected on screens away from the play is critical. Boston knows that the Wizards usually switch everything 1-4, and they capitalized on this by slipping out of their split cuts and other off-ball actions in previous matchups this season.
Maintaining focus is paramount against Boston’s motion-based offense as well. Watch here as Westbrook relaxes for a split second, assuming that his man Kemba Walker will set a back-screen, allowing Walker to get a head-start into a pick-and-roll. Another key will be defensive rebounding, as Boston feasts on the offensive glass at an elite rate with either Thompson or Williams on the floor. The Celtics grabbed 38 offensive rebounds total across the three previous meetings this season. The Wizards will need to do a better job of limiting Boston’s second-chance opportunities in the play-in game.