The Washington Wizards are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Barely. After coming out victorious over the Indiana Pacers in the final play-in game, the Wizards secured their right to take on the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs by clinching the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
An eighth seed hasn’t taken down a top seed in the playoffs nearly a decade. The Philadelphia 76ers were the last to do it when they toppled the Chicago Bulls after Derrick Rose went down with an ACL injury in the 2012 playoffs. Scott Brooks, however, has some confidence in his team (not surprisingly) because of their backcourt. With Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, he has a right to be confident. Few teams are trotting out two players that can match those two. But the Philadelphia 76ers can with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
The Washington Wizards will have a few secret weapons at their disposal during their first-round series vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.
Stopping Embiid should be priority number one for the Wizards and the defensive matchup of Simmons on Beal and/or Westbrook will help define the series. However, if the Wizards want to make some real noise, they’ll need to get contributions from the other guys, guys who haven’t made All-Star games and aren’t on the path towards All-NBA accolades.
One of the many beauties of the NBA playoffs is watching seemingly random role players step up in big moments. The Wizards will need at least a few performances like that if they want to pull off the first-round upset. Here are three secret weapons that could make all the difference in round one.
Washington Wizards secret weapon #3: Garrison Mathews
Where did Davis Bertans go? Throughout the entire season, Bertans has been underwhelming, but recently, he’s nearly disappeared. In the play-in tournament, Bertans made just two of his 13 three-point attempts. Yuck.
Luckily, the Wizards do have another sharpshooting option if Bertans’ long-range troubles continue into the playoffs. That would be Garrison Mathews.
Despite averaging barely 16 minutes per game, Mathews is fourth on the team in three-point attempts per game this season, behind Bertans, Bradley Beal, and Russell Westbrook. His three-point shooting percentage of 38.4 ranks behind only Bertans and Raul Neto. His true shooting percentage (63.5) is the best among non-centers on the Wizards. His role may be small, but Mathews’ impact is big.
It doesn’t take much for Mathews to get hot and he’s learned to capitalize on the few chances he gets while on the court. If Mathews gets the ball with some space along the arc, expect that shot to go up. Even when he doesn’t make it, Mathews’ quick trigger has a way of drawing fouls beyond the three-point line, leading to either three free throws or the rare four-point play.
Mathews may not be able to completely take over a game, but his shooting has the potential to drastically alter one. If Bertans continues to struggle from deep, the Wizards would be smart to loosen the leash on Mathews.
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.
Washington Wizards secret weapon #1: Raul Neto
Revenge game? How about a revenge series. One season removed from being a backup point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, Raul Neto has a chance at revenge against his former team.
Neto has seen his role and responsibility grow since leaving the city of brotherly love. With the Wizards, Neto has played both point and shooting guard in addition to being a part of some three-guard lineups. If the Wizards were giving away end-of-season superlatives, Neto would win “Most Versatile” or “Swiss Army Knife”.
The results speak for themselves. In his first season with the Wizards, Neto is recording career-highs in minutes (21.9), rebounds (2.4), and points (8.7) per game. He’s also posting the best true shooting percentage of his career (57.5).
While it’s impressive that Neto has been able to increase his volume and efficiency, it is his defense that has been the most welcome contribution this season. Neto has become one of the Wizards’ best perimeter defenders. He’ll certainly be called upon to stop the 76ers, who have a full arsenal of weapons that can make you pay from outside, including Danny Green, Seth Curry, and more.
The Wizards don’t need jaw-dropping highlight-reel plays from Neto. They need smart, sound decision-making and gritty, aggressive energy. It’s what Neto’s been giving them all season, and it’s what he’ll need to continue giving them throughout the playoffs.