NBA Playoffs: 3 secret weapons the Washington Wizards will have at their disposal vs. Philadelphia 76ers
By Ethan Smith
Washington Wizards secret weapon #2: Ish Smith
One of the point guards in Washington has been setting triple-double records all season long, the other is Ish Smith. But while Smith may not have broken any statistical record this season, his trip to the playoffs with the Washington Wizards will be the fifth different team Smith has gotten to the playoffs with. As Tom Haberstroth of Medowlark Media points out rather astutely, that feat is not easy…
The Washington Wizards are the fifth different team that Ish Smith has carried to the playoffs. That's more than Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Dirk Nowitzki combined. pic.twitter.com/DMuJx5Xqeg
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 21, 2021
And while Smith’s season may not go down in history the way that Westbrook’s will, you can argue that the Wizards would not be in the playoffs right now were it not for Ish Smith. In addition to a second season of servicable backup point guard play, Smith stepped up in a major way when the Wizards needed wins.
Check out his statlines from the last game of the regular season and the two play-in games…
- May 16 vs. Charlotte: 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, 63.6 field goal percentage
- May 18 @ Boston: 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, 75.0 field goal percentage
- May 20 vs. Indiana: eight points, four rebounds, six assists, 57.1 field goal percentage
In three games where the Wizards’ season was literally on the line, Smith stepped up. Maybe more impressive than the point totals and shooting percentages, though, is that Smith never turned the ball over more than twice in any of those three games.
Smith is one of the oldest veterans on this team and has some of the most playoff experience, as well. His production and professional demeanor will be vital against the 76ers.