NBA Playoffs: 5 takeaways from Game 1 between Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers
By Ethan Smith
Game 1 Takeaway #4: More three-point attempts
The Washington Wizards, one of the least effective three-point shooting teams during the regular season, made eight of their 20 attempts from beyond the arc in game one. All in all, that’s a pretty respectable 40 percent and a better shooting night, percentage-wise, than the 76ers had. Philadelphia shot just 31.2 percent from behind the arc. However, the 76ers attempted far more threes, 32 in total. So they actually scored more points from long range than the Wizards did (30-24) despite shooting less efficiently. In terms of points per shot, the Wizards barely had an edge when it was all said and done. The Wizards averaged 1.2 points per three-point attempt, and although they shot a lesser percentage, the 76ers averaged 0.95 points per three-point attempt.
The Wizards don’t have nearly the caliber of shooters that the 76ers have. During the regular season, the 76ers ranked in the top ten in three-point percentage and had seven players shooting over 35 percent from three and averaging at least 2.5 three-point attempts per game. With the Wizards, it’s Bertans, Beal, and then…Neto? Rui Hahcimura did make his two three-point attempts in game one, but he passed up more three-point looks than he took. Garrison Matthews may be able to even the three-point scales, but he didn’t get any minutes in game one, and neither did Anthony Gill. As Scot Brooks cut the rotations down for the playoffs, he may have cut out the Wizards’ ability to threaten teams from three.