Washington Wizards: 3 Players that must perform in the postseason

Washington Wizards that must perform in the postseason: Daniel Gafford

The Washington Wizards finally gained the rim protector they had been hoping for when they acquired Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline. While Robin Lopez has recently been doing a fantastic job at the center position, Gafford is a defensive presence that has been the key to the Wizards’ recent success.

Since Gafford arrived in the capital, the Wizards have gone 6-2 in games where he has played 17 minutes or more. When he has been given fewer minutes than that, the Wizards’ record has been well below .500, with seven wins and ten losses.

While it seems the simple solution would be to play Gafford more, his current playing style has made that tough.  One of Wizards fans’ favorite things about Daniel Gafford is his shot-blocking, a trait that has been missing from the Wizards lineup for the past few seasons.

However, Gafford’s hustle and high energy on defense had a negative impact recently. In the Wizards’ last matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on May 16, he found himself in foul trouble very early in the first half. Gafford was flying around as usual, but this time he was picking up fouls along the way. Because of this, Gafford found himself with limited playing time in what ended up being a close game against Charlotte. Had he not been in such foul trouble, the Wizards could have really used his defense in the final minutes.

If Daniel Gafford can continue his strong start with the Wizards and avoid drawing so many early fouls, he’ll be able to contribute to important defensive possessions down the stretch this postseason.